Empowered Funds LLC Buys 24,549 Shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB)

Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB - Free Report) by 26.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 118,232 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock after acquiring an additional 24,549 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC's holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $8,781,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CVA Family Office LLC raised 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 purchasing an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Webster Bank N. A. raised its position in LyondellBasell Industries by 70.4% in the 4th quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 346 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 268.2% during the 4th quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 405 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in LyondellBasell Industries during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 162.0% in the 3rd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 469 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.20% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on LYB shares. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $95.00 to $84.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $96.00 to $86.00 and set a "sell" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on LyondellBasell Industries from $100.00 to $94.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $88.25.

LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance

LyondellBasell Industries stock traded up $0.38 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $76.27. 1,891,741 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,783,953. The company's fifty day moving average is $75.61 and its 200-day moving average is $86.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.83. LyondellBasell Industries has a 52 week low of $72.21 and a 52 week high of $107.02. The firm has a market cap of $24.77 billion, a PE ratio of 18.42, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.05.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.53). LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 15.97% and a net margin of 3.39%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.26 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that LyondellBasell Industries will post 6.68 EPS for the current year.

LyondellBasell Industries Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.03%. LyondellBasell Industries's payout ratio is presently 129.47%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Robin W.T. Buchanan purchased 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $76.06 per share, for a total transaction of $380,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,175 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,382,390.50. This trade represents a 37.95 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the company's stock.

LyondellBasell Industries Profile

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.