APD vs. LYB: Air Products and Chemicals vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison
How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though APD is classified under Industrial Gases while LYB falls under Commodity Chemicals.
| Profile Item | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Air Products and Chemicals Inc. | LyondellBasell Industries N.V. |
| Country/Region | United States | Netherlands |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Commodity Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 67.88 billion USD | 19.63 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | April 28, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.26% | 49.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.49% | -7.11% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.43% | -1.68% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.21% | 42.84% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 0.32 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.77% | -55.35% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.06M | 3.62M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 1.06 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 1.63 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
APD
Materials industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- APD
- 3.19%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
LYB
Materials industry group
12.18%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- LYB
- 12.18%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
APD
Materials industry group
4.10%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- APD
- 4.10%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
LYB
Materials industry group
4.05%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- LYB
- 4.05%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
APD
Materials industry group
17.68%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- APD
- 17.68%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
LYB
Materials industry group
13.40%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- LYB
- 13.40%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 3.19% | 12.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.80% | 5.36% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.10% | 4.05% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 13.40% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 14.56% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.52% | -9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.77% | -15.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -110.30% | -156.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APD.
APD
Materials industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- APD
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.16
LYB
Materials industry group
1.78
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- LYB
- 1.78
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
APD
Materials industry group
1.06
- Max
- 1.98
- APD
- 1.06
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
LYB
Materials industry group
1.21
- Max
- 1.98
- LYB
- 1.21
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.78 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 1.21 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.61 | 2.47 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
APD
Materials industry group
2.33%
- Max
- 4.52%
- APD
- 2.33%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LYB
Materials industry group
5.58%
- LYB
- 5.58%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
APD
Materials industry group
75.66%
- Max
- 83.62%
- APD
- 75.66%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LYB
Materials industry group
83.29%
- Max
- 83.62%
- LYB
- 83.29%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.33% | 5.58% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 75.66% | 83.29% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for APD’s trailing earnings.
APD
Materials industry group
127.55
- APD
- 127.55
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
LYB
Materials industry group
14.70
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- LYB
- 14.70
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
APD
Materials industry group
5.23
- Max
- 9.62
- APD
- 5.23
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
LYB
Materials industry group
0.61
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- LYB
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.
APD
Materials industry group
4.76
- Max
- 6.59
- APD
- 4.76
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
LYB
Materials industry group
1.74
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- LYB
- 1.74
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APD | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 127.55 | 14.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.23 | 0.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.76 | 1.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.28% | 9.06% |