Commonwealth Equity Services LLC Purchases 39,712 Shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB)

Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its position in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) by 37.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 145,579 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after buying an additional 39,712 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC’s holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $10,812,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its position in LyondellBasell Industries by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 3,563 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $265,000 after buying an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries in the 4th quarter worth $2,308,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 42.0% in the 4th quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 68,064 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $5,055,000 after purchasing an additional 20,138 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 6,506 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $483,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 5,119 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $380,000 after purchasing an additional 781 shares during the last quarter. 71.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

LyondellBasell Industries Stock Performance

LYB opened at $75.03 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $76.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $82.43. LyondellBasell Industries has a 1 year low of $71.81 and a 1 year high of $107.02. The company has a market capitalization of $24.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.53). LyondellBasell Industries had a net margin of 3.39% and a return on equity of 15.97%. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.26 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that LyondellBasell Industries will post 6.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

LyondellBasell Industries Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.14%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. LyondellBasell Industries’s dividend payout ratio is currently 129.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on LYB shares. Mizuho reduced their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $97.00 to $85.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group reduced their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $77.00 to $76.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $88.25.

Insider Activity at LyondellBasell Industries

In related news, Director Michael Sean Hanley bought 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $72.05 per share, with a total value of $270,187.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 16,028 shares in the company, valued at $1,154,817.40. The trade was a 30.54 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.