CX vs. LYB: CEMEX vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do CEMEX (CX) 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

CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both fall under the Materials industry group, but CX is classified in Construction Materials while LYB is classified in Chemicals.

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) trades as ordinary local shares, while CEMEX (CX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Profile Item	CX	LYB
Name	Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Country/Region	Mexico	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Construction Materials	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Materials	Commodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization	15.47 billion USD	19.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 15, 1999	April 28, 2010
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LYB

GSPC

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Total Return (1Y)	7.57%	49.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.84%	-7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.81%	-1.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LYB

GSPC

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

CEMEX (CX) has an aggressive beta of 1.57, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) is defensive at 0.32 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.82%	42.84%
Beta (5Y)	1.57	0.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-53.08%	-55.35%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.01M	3.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CX and LYB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	1.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.14	1.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 5.17% 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.

CX

Materials industry group

5.17%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
CX: 5.17%
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%

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 3.60% 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.

CX

Materials industry group

3.60%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
CX: 3.60%
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%

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 14.77% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CX

Materials industry group

14.77%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
CX: 14.77%
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%

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
ROE (TTM)	5.17%	12.18%
ROA (TTM)	5.07%	5.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.60%	4.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.77%	13.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	33.48%	14.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CEMEX (CX) at 0.43% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

CEMEX (CX) at 2.35% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	0.43%	-9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.13%	-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	2.35%	-156.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.14%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CEMEX (CX) at 0.95 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CX.

CX

Materials industry group

0.95

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
CX: 0.95
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

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 0.46 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CX

Materials industry group

0.46

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
CX: 0.46
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

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.95	1.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.46	1.21
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.60	2.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CEMEX (CX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) reports a yield of 5.58%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
CX: 0.00%
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%

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 67.86% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

CX

Materials industry group

67.86%

Max: 83.62%
CX: 67.86%
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%

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	5.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	67.86%	83.29%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CEMEX (CX) at 67.00 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for CX’s trailing earnings.

CX

Materials industry group

67.00

CX: 67.00
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

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CEMEX (CX) at 0.89 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CX

Materials industry group

0.89

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
CX: 0.89
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

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 1.20 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 is valued near its industry’s middle — CX is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

CX

Materials industry group

1.20

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
CX: 1.20
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

CEMEX (CX) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CEMEX (CX) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CX	LYB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	67.00	14.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.89	0.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.20	1.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.86%	9.06%