LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,080,000 shares, a growth of 18.4% from the November 30th total of 4,290,000 shares. Currently, 2.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 2,580,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days.

LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance

Shares of LyondellBasell Industries stock traded up $1.09 on Tuesday, hitting $74.27. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,268,581 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,019,632. The company has a market capitalization of $24.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $80.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $90.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 2.13. LyondellBasell Industries has a 1 year low of $72.93 and a 1 year high of $107.02.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 1st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.98 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $10.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.60 billion. LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 17.05% and a net margin of 5.29%. The business’s revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.46 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that LyondellBasell Industries will post 7.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

LyondellBasell Industries Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.22%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. LyondellBasell Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 81.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robin W.T. Buchanan purchased 5,000 shares of LyondellBasell Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $76.06 per share, with a total value of $380,300.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 18,175 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,382,390.50. This represents a 37.95 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.11% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LyondellBasell Industries

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CVA Family Office LLC boosted its stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 155.9% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 261 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new position in LyondellBasell Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in LyondellBasell Industries during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 162.0% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 469 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gilliland Jeter Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 58.0% in the third quarter. Gilliland Jeter Wealth Management LLC now owns 553 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. 71.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on LyondellBasell Industries from $104.00 to $92.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $100.00 to $94.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 24th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $97.00 to $85.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, LyondellBasell Industries presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $96.27.

About LyondellBasell Industries

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology.