LyondellBasell falls as BMO downgrades on weak earnings outlook

LyondellBasell Industries

15/12/2025 15:43

Updates

** Shares of chemical maker LyondellBasell LYB.N down 3.5% at $42.82 after BMO Capital Markets downgrades the stock to "underperform" from "market perform"

** Cuts price target from $48 to $36, implying an 18.9% downside to the stock's close on Friday

** Brokerage cites significant fundamental and financial pressures the company finds itself in as it heads into 2026

** Adds commodity fundamentals are worse than feared, and does not see a meaningful earnings recovery in 2026-27

** "Based on the lower earnings outlook and LYB's focus on maintaining its IG credit rating, we see a very high likelihood that management cuts the dividend significantly in 1H26" - BMO

** Four out of 22 brokerages rate the stock "buy", 14 "hold" and 4 "sell" or lower; their median PT is $50 - data compiled by LSEG

** Including session's moves, LYB down 42.4% YTD

 (Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru)

 ((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))