LyondellBasell Industries N. V.
(LYB) has delivered a remarkable stock performance in 2026, surging 71.2% on a year-to-date basis and significantly outperforming the broader market.
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The Houston-based chemical company, with a market capitalization of $24.2 billion, supplies plastics, chemicals, and fuels used in personal care, food packaging, construction, and automotive sectors.
Strong Turnaround After Underperformance
Over the past year, LyondellBasell shares gained 24%, slightly trailing the S&P 500 Index's nearly 24.3% rise.
However, the trend reversed sharply in 2026.
The stock's 71.2% year-to-date surge dwarfs the S&P 500's 8.1% gain during the same period.
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It also outperformed the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which rose 15.4% over the past year and 10.7% year-to-date.
First-Quarter Results Drive Momentum
On May 1, LyondellBasell reported first-quarter financial results that sent shares marginally higher.
Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.49, a 48.5% increase from the same quarter last year.
Revenue declined 6.3% year-over-year to $7.2 billion. For the fiscal year ending December, analysts project diluted EPS to grow 413.5% to $8.73.
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The company has a mixed earnings surprise history, beating consensus estimates in two of the last four quarters and missing in the other two.
Analyst Outlook and Price Targets
Among 20 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is "Moderate Buy," with six "Strong Buy," two "Moderate Buy," nine "Hold," one "Moderate Sell," and two "Strong Sell" ratings.
This is more bullish than the previous month's overall "Hold" rating.
On May 5, Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter maintained a "Hold" rating but raised the price target to $80, implying a 7.9% upside.
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The mean price target is $80.05, an 8% premium over recent prices, while the highest target of $100 suggests a 34.9% potential upside.
