Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, LyondellBasell generated $2.3 billion of cash from operations, reflecting strong working capital discipline and focused cost management [14][19] - Full-year earnings were $1.70 per diluted share, and EBITDA totaled $2.5 billion [14] - The company achieved a cash conversion ratio of 95%, well above the long-term target of 80% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Olefins and Polyolefins Americas segment reported fourth quarter EBITDA of $164 million, down from the prior quarter due to higher feedstock costs and lower polyethylene margins [24] - The Olefins and Polyolefins Europe, Asia, and International segment experienced a fourth quarter EBITDA loss of $61 million, impacted by lower demand and increased competition from low-cost imports [26] - The Intermediates and Derivatives segment achieved fourth quarter EBITDA of $205 million, supported by improved propylene glycol demand [29] - The Advanced Polymer Solutions segment delivered fourth quarter EBITDA of $38 million, reflecting a 55% year-over-year increase due to operational improvements [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industry margins in 2025 were approximately 45% below historical averages, with North American polyolefins margins at their lowest levels in over a decade [12] - The company noted that global trade disruptions and low demand for durable goods were significant factors pressuring margins [12] - In Europe, polyolefin markets faced soft demand driven by increased competition and ongoing destocking [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - LyondellBasell is executing a three-pillar strategy focused on growing and upgrading the core, building a profitable circular and low-carbon solutions business, and stepping up performance and culture [9][10] - The company is advancing its portfolio transformation with the divestment of four European assets, expected to complete in Q2 2026 [9][28] - The Value Enhancement Program exceeded its original target, achieving $1.1 billion of recurring annual EBITDA in 2025, with a goal of $1.5 billion by 2028 [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging market conditions in 2025 but expressed confidence in the company's ability to generate positive free cash flow and capture significant upside once margins normalize [12][13] - The company plans to maintain strong capital discipline and focus on safe and reliable operations while pursuing selective investments in high-value growth [15][19] - Management expects modest improvements in market conditions as they move through 2026, with a focus on execution and cost discipline [35][36] Other Important Information - The company reduced its global workforce by 7%, or approximately 1,350 employees, to the lowest levels since 2018 [16] - LyondellBasell ended 2025 with $3.4 billion of cash and short-term investments, and $8.1 billion of available liquidity [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding dividend strategy and growth investments - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet while balancing cash returns to shareholders and growth investments, with ongoing discussions on capital allocation strategy [39][43] Question: Clarification on CapEx guidance for 2026 - Management confirmed a CapEx guidance of approximately $1.2 billion for 2026, with $800 million allocated for maintenance and $400 million for growth projects, reflecting a light year in terms of turnarounds [46][49] Question: Outlook on the oxyfuels market for 2026 - Management expects the oxyfuels market to normalize following a volatile 2025, with typical seasonal improvements anticipated [62] Question: Assessment of the polypropylene market - Management indicated that polypropylene is currently weaker than polyethylene due to higher exposure to durable goods, with expectations for recovery dependent on consumer confidence [66][70] Question: Update on the US Gulf Coast polyethylene market - Management noted low industry inventories and anticipated price increases supported by robust demand, with expectations for improved integrated margins [78][80] Question: Insights on China's anti-involution policies - Management mentioned ongoing discussions regarding China's policies, with expectations for potential announcements in the near future [81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company generated $2.3 billion in cash from operations, reflecting strong working capital discipline and a cash conversion ratio of 95% [12][19] - Full-year earnings were reported at $1.70 per diluted share, with EBITDA totaling $2.5 billion [12][13] - The Value Enhancement Program exceeded its target, achieving $1.1 billion of recurring annual EBITDA in 2025, with a new target of $1.5 billion by 2028 [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Olefins and Polyolefins Americas segment reported fourth quarter EBITDA of $164 million, down from the prior quarter due to higher feedstock costs and lower polyethylene margins [24] - The Olefins and Polyolefins Europe, Asia, and International segment experienced a loss of $61 million in fourth quarter EBITDA, impacted by lower prices and maintenance [26] - The Intermediates and Derivatives segment achieved fourth quarter EBITDA of $205 million, benefiting from improved propylene glycol demand [28] - The Advanced Polymer Solutions segment reported fourth quarter EBITDA of $38 million, with a year-over-year increase of 55% [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industry margins in 2025 were approximately 45% below historical averages, with North American polyolefins margins at their lowest levels in over a decade [11] - The company noted that global trade disruptions and low demand for durable goods were significant factors pressuring margins [11] - In Europe, increased competition from imports and higher energy costs continued to affect profitability [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a three-pillar strategy: growing and upgrading the core, building a profitable circular and low-carbon solutions business, and stepping up performance and culture [6][8] - The divestment of four European assets is on track for completion in the second quarter of 2026, aimed at strengthening the company's cost advantage [7][26] - The company is prioritizing investments in projects with immediate returns while reviewing the timing of achieving certain sustainability goals [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging market conditions in 2025 but expressed confidence in the company's ability to generate positive cash flow and capture significant upside once margins normalize [11][12] - The company expects modest improvements in market conditions as it moves into 2026, with a focus on execution, cost discipline, and value-driven growth [34][35] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet and the ongoing evaluation of capital allocation strategies [40] Other Important Information - The company reduced its capital expenditure plans for 2026 to approximately $1.2 billion, with $800 million allocated for maintenance and $400 million for growth projects [22][46] - The company returned $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during 2025 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Dividend strategy in light of growth opportunities - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet while balancing cash returns to shareholders and growth investments [40] Question: CapEx guidance for 2026 - Management clarified that the reduced CapEx is due to postponed turnarounds and disciplined management of maintenance CapEx, with expectations for $800 million in maintenance [46][48] Question: Outlook for the Houston refinery - Management reiterated plans to transform the refinery and remain open to monetizing the asset if market conditions change [51] Question: Working capital management in 2026 - Management acknowledged the need to rebuild some working capital in 2026 but indicated that this has been factored into the cash improvement plan [56][57] Question: Oxyfuels market outlook for 2026 - Management expects normalization in the oxyfuels market following a volatile 2025, with seasonal improvements anticipated [61] Question: Polypropylene market assessment - Management indicated that polypropylene is currently weaker than polyethylene due to its dependence on durable goods demand, but recovery is expected as consumer confidence improves [66][68]

Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings January 30, 2026 Cautionary statement The statements in this presentation relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. When used in this presentation, the words "believe," "could," "intend," "may," "should," "will," "expect," and similar express ...

Core Insights - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) reported a fourth-quarter 2025 loss of $140 million or 45 cents per share, an improvement from a loss of $603 million or $1.87 per share in the same quarter last year [1] - The adjusted loss was 26 cents per share, down from earnings of 77 cents in the prior year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents [1] Financial Performance - Net sales for the quarter were $7,091 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6,984.4 million, but down approximately 9.2% from $7,808 million in the prior-year quarter [2] - The company generated $2.3 billion in cash from operating activities in 2025, with $450 million spent on capital expenditures in the fourth quarter and $1.9 billion for the year [6] - LyondellBasell distributed $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in 2025, ending the quarter with $3.45 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $8.1 billion in total available liquidity [6] Segment Performance - The Olefins & Polyolefins — Americas segment saw revenues decline by about 15.1% year over year to $2,337 million, missing the consensus estimate of $2,536 million [3] - The Olefins & Polyolefins — Europe, Asia, and international segment revenues fell 5.5% year over year to $2,336 million, also missing the consensus estimate of $2,378 million [4] - The Intermediates and Derivatives segment reported sales of $2,153 million, a decline of roughly 9% year over year, missing the consensus estimate of $2,203 million [4] - Advanced Polymer Solutions revenues were $777 million, down around 6% year over year, missing the consensus estimate of $837 million [4] - The Technology segment's revenues increased by approximately 2% to $177 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $137 million [5] Outlook - The company is managing feedstock and energy price volatility, with expectations for polyethylene price increases in North America due to tight inventories and seasonal demand recovery in Europe [7] - LyondellBasell plans to align operating rates with global demand, targeting 85% utilization in Olefins & Polyolefins Americas, 75% in Olefins & Polyolefins EAI, and 85% in Intermediates & Derivatives [8] - The Cash Improvement Plan target has been raised from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion by the end of 2026 [10] Stock Performance - LyondellBasell's shares have declined by 34% over the past year, compared to a 21.7% decline in the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry [11]

At Cash Flow Club , we focus on businesses with strong cash generation, ideally with a wide moat and significant durability. When these companies are bought at the right time, that can be highly rewarding for us. If you are interested in joining our community, start right here !LyondellBasell Industries N.V. ( LYB ) reported its most recent quarterly earnings results on Friday morning. The company generated net losses during the period, but operating cash generation held up better. LyondellBasell's high 11% ...

Core Viewpoint - LyondellBasell reported a quarterly loss of $0.26 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.18, and a significant decline from earnings of $0.75 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of -244.44% [1] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $7.09 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.53%, but down from $9.5 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, LyondellBasell has exceeded consensus revenue estimates four times, but has only surpassed consensus EPS estimates once [2] Stock Performance - LyondellBasell shares have increased by approximately 15.4% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.8% [3] - The stock's immediate price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call [3] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.67 on revenues of $7.56 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.46 on revenues of $29.74 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for LyondellBasell was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Chemical - Diversified industry, to which LyondellBasell belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 14% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting that the industry outlook may negatively impact stock performance [8]

Petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell on Friday posted a surprise loss for the fourth quarter and said it aims to save $1.3 billion by the end of 2026, as it continues to keep a tight lid on costs amid volatility in feedstock and energy prices. ...

Financial Performance - Q4 2025 net loss was $140 million, or $(0.45) per diluted share, with EBITDA of $345 million, or $417 million excluding identified items[7] - Full year 2025 net loss totaled $738 million, or $(2.34) per diluted share, with EBITDA of $1.1 billion, or $2.5 billion excluding identified items[9] - For the year ended December 31, 2025, the company reported a net loss of $738 million, compared to a net income of $1,367 million for the year ended December 31, 2024[29] - EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $1,126 million, a significant decrease from $3,460 million in 2024[29] - Net income excluding identified items for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $563 million, compared to $2,038 million in 2024[29] - Diluted earnings per share excluding identified items for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $1.70, down from $6.22 in 2024[35] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Generated $2.3 billion in cash from operating activities with a cash conversion rate of 95%[5] - Cash conversion for the year ended December 31, 2025, was 95%, calculated as net cash provided by operating activities of $2,262 million divided by EBITDA excluding certain identified items[38] - Total liquidity as of December 31, 2025, is $8,099 million, comprising $3,449 million in cash and liquid investments and $4,650 million in available credit facilities[39] Capital Expenditures and Investments - The company plans to invest $1.2 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, focusing on safe operations and ongoing projects like MoReTec-1[13] - In 2025, the company reinvested $1.9 billion through capital expenditures and returned $2.0 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases[10] Dividends and Share Repurchases - Dividends paid on common stock for the year ended December 31, 2025, amounted to $1,764 million, with an additional $201 million spent on share repurchases[40] - The total of dividends and share repurchases for the year reached $1,965 million[40] Operational Challenges - North American polyethylene margins compressed due to higher feedstock costs and lower seasonal demand, impacting overall performance[8] - The company is aligning first quarter operating rates with global demand, planning to operate at approximately 85% for Olefins & Polyolefins Americas assets[14] Strategic Initiatives - LyondellBasell's strategy includes optimizing its business portfolio while maintaining a focus on safety and operational excellence[12] - The Cash Improvement Plan exceeded its $600 million target for 2025 by $200 million, raising the cumulative target to $1.3 billion by the end of 2026[6] - The Cash Improvement Plan announced in April 2025 resulted in employee-related charges across all segments, contributing to the financial performance focus[31] - The company announced plans to sell select olefins and polyolefins assets in Europe in June 2025, leading to associated transaction costs[33] Asset Management - LyondellBasell divested four European assets, expected to complete in Q2 2026[5] - The permanent closure of the Dutch PO joint venture asset in March 2025 resulted in shutdown-related charges of $126 million in the Intermediates & Derivatives segment[32] - The company ceased operations at its Houston refinery in February 2025, with the refining business reported as a discontinued operation[34] Non-Cash Charges - The company recognized non-cash asset write-downs of $1,251 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, including goodwill impairment charges of $400 million and $572 million in the Advanced Polymer Solutions segment[30]

Core Insights - LyondellBasell reported a net loss of $738 million for the full year 2025, with diluted earnings per share of $(2.34), and a fourth quarter net loss of $140 million, or $(0.45) per diluted share [5][9][7] - The company achieved $800 million in cash improvements in 2025, exceeding its target of $600 million, and is targeting an additional $500 million by the end of 2026 [4][6] - EBITDA for 2025 was $1.1 billion, or $2.5 billion excluding identified items, reflecting the impact of challenging market conditions [9][5] Financial Performance - Sales and other operating revenues for Q4 2025 were $7.091 billion, down from $7.727 billion in Q3 2025 and $7.808 billion in Q4 2024 [1] - Full year 2025 net income excluding identified items was $563 million, with diluted earnings per share of $1.70 [4][9] - The company generated $2.3 billion in cash from operating activities with a cash conversion rate of 95% [5][32] Market Conditions - The petrochemical markets faced significant challenges in 2025, including global trade disruptions, falling oil prices, and increased capacity that outpaced demand growth [11] - North American polyethylene margins were compressed due to higher feedstock costs and trade issues, while European margins declined due to competition from imports [11][8] Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on operational excellence and safety, with record safety performance reported [6][12] - LyondellBasell plans to invest $1.2 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, emphasizing safe operations and ongoing projects like MoReTec-1 [13] - The Cash Improvement Plan has been expanded to target $1.3 billion by the end of 2026, reflecting a commitment to financial performance [16][4] Outlook - The company anticipates continued volatility in feedstock and energy prices entering Q1 2026, with expectations for improved polyethylene demand as seasonal trends unfold [14][15] - Operating rates are being aligned with global demand, with plans to operate various assets at approximately 75-85% capacity [15]

Core Viewpoint - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) is expected to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on January 30, 2026, with anticipated challenges due to seasonality, reduced operating rates, and increased feedstock costs [1][7]. Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LYB's fourth-quarter consolidated revenues is $6,984.4 million, indicating a year-over-year decline of 26.5% [4]. - For the Olefins and Polyolefins – Americas division, the revenue estimate is $2,536 million, reflecting a 7.9% decrease year-over-year [4]. - The Olefins and Polyolefins – Europe, Asia & International division is estimated at $2,378 million, suggesting a 3.8% decline from the previous year [4]. - The Advanced Polymer Solutions segment is expected to generate $837 million in revenue, representing a 1.5% increase year-over-year [5]. - The Intermediaries and Derivatives segment's revenue estimate is $2,203 million, indicating a 6.5% decrease from last year [8]. - The Technology segment's revenue is pegged at $137 million, reflecting a 21.3% decline year-over-year [8]. Factors Impacting Performance - Lower operating rates and seasonal factors are anticipated to negatively affect volumes and margins, with North American olefins and polyolefins assets expected to operate at 80% capacity, European facilities at 60%, and Intermediates & Derivatives assets at 75% [9]. - The company plans to idle one of its PO/SM units in Channelview and one of its crackers in Germany, which is likely to impact production volumes and margins [10]. - Year-end seasonality, reduced demand, and customer inventory reductions are expected to weigh on volumes in the Olefins and Polyolefins – Americas unit, with weak industrial and consumer demand in Europe [10]. - Higher natural gas and feedstock costs are likely to exert pressure on margins in both North America and Europe [11]. - The Advanced Polymer Solutions segment is facing challenges due to lower demand in the automotive sector, which is expected to continue affecting this segment [12]. Earnings Prediction - The model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for LyondellBasell this quarter, as the combination of a positive Earnings ESP of +1.85% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) does not support an earnings beat [13][14].