Mediolanum International Funds Ltd Lowers Holdings in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB)

Mediolanum International Funds Ltd lessened its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) by 39.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,691 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after selling 14,812 shares during the quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd’s holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $1,656,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. grew its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries by 211.9% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 1,283,163 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $123,055,000 after buying an additional 871,708 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 4.7% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,023,982 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $769,500,000 after purchasing an additional 362,671 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in LyondellBasell Industries by 11.4% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,875,267 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $268,664,000 after purchasing an additional 293,622 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 4.4% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,605,151 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $638,964,000 after purchasing an additional 277,108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in LyondellBasell Industries by 1.9% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,202,118 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,170,183,000 after purchasing an additional 230,327 shares during the last quarter. 71.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Robin W.T. Buchanan bought 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $76.06 per share, with a total value of $380,300.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 18,175 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,382,390.50. The trade was a 37.95 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance

Shares of LYB stock opened at $75.53 on Monday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $76.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $87.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.25. LyondellBasell Industries has a one year low of $72.21 and a one year high of $107.02. The company has a market capitalization of $24.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.50, a P/E/G ratio of 5.26 and a beta of 1.06.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.53). LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 17.05% and a net margin of 5.29%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that LyondellBasell Industries will post 6.48 EPS for the current year.

LyondellBasell Industries Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 7.10%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. LyondellBasell Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.58%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on LYB shares. StockNews.com cut shares of LyondellBasell Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered 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. Barclays cut their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $96.00 to $86.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $105.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $94.33.

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.