IFF vs. LYB: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though IFF is classified under Specialty Chemicals while LYB falls under Commodity Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Profile Item	IFF	LYB
Name	International Flavors & Fragrances, 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	Specialty Chemicals	Commodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization	20.69 billion USD	19.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1974	April 28, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF

LYB

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Total Return (1Y)	40.13%	49.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.28%	-7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.71%	-1.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF

LYB

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.26%	42.84%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.66%	-55.35%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.88M	3.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

IFF 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	1.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.71	1.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative ROE of -7.37%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) reports 12.18%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
IFF: -7.37%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
IFF: 1.68%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
IFF: 9.53%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
ROE (TTM)	-7.37%	12.18%
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	5.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.68%	4.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.53%	13.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.27%	14.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.17%	-9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.34%	-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-248.42%	-156.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
IFF: 1.87
Q1: 1.45
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 uses more debt funding than most peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
IFF: 0.51
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.87	1.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.51	1.21
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.51	2.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max: 4.52%
IFF: 1.85%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max: 83.62%
IFF: 62.26%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.85%	5.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.26%	83.29%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for IFF’s trailing earnings.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF: 236.06
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
IFF: 1.91
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
IFF: 1.56
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	IFF	LYB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	236.06	14.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.91	0.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.56	1.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-10.66%	9.06%