LYB vs. SQM: LyondellBasell Industries vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) 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

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though LYB is classified under Commodity Chemicals while SQM falls under Specialty Chemicals.

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

Company profile comparison for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile Item	LYB	SQM
Name	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.	Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/Region	Netherlands	Chile
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Commodity Chemicals	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	19.63 billion USD	16.43 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 28, 2010	September 21, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LYB

SQM

GSPC

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Total Return (1Y)	49.52%	19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-7.11%	7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.68%	1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LYB

SQM

GSPC

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	42.84%	47.10%
Beta (5Y)	0.32	1.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.35%	-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.62M	953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LYB and SQM 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.06	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.63	0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

LYB

Materials industry group

12.18%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LYB: 12.18%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

SQM

Materials industry group

21.82%

Max: 52.88%
SQM: 21.82%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

LYB

Materials industry group

4.05%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
LYB: 4.05%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

SQM

Materials industry group

20.62%

Max: 38.66%
SQM: 20.62%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

LYB

Materials industry group

13.40%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LYB: 13.40%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

SQM

Materials industry group

48.82%

Max: 66.70%
SQM: 48.82%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
ROE (TTM)	12.18%	21.82%
ROA (TTM)	5.36%	11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)	4.05%	20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.40%	48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	14.56%	42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% 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.

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-9.71%	1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-15.77%	-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-156.39%	-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

LYB

Materials industry group

1.78

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
LYB: 1.78
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

SQM

Materials industry group

2.61

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
SQM: 2.61
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 uses more debt funding than most peers.

LYB

Materials industry group

1.21

Max: 1.98
LYB: 1.21
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

SQM

Materials industry group

0.61

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
SQM: 0.61
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.78	2.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.21	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.47	0.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% 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.

LYB

Materials industry group

5.58%

LYB: 5.58%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SQM

Materials industry group

2.55%

Max: 4.52%
SQM: 2.55%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

LYB

Materials industry group

83.29%

Max: 83.62%
LYB: 83.29%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SQM

Materials industry group

21.19%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
SQM: 21.19%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	5.58%	2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	83.29%	21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

LYB

Materials industry group

14.70

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
LYB: 14.70
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

SQM

Materials industry group

11.84

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
SQM: 11.84
Min: 3.93

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

LYB

Materials industry group

0.61

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
LYB: 0.61
Min: 0.00

SQM

Materials industry group

2.44

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
SQM: 2.44
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

LYB

Materials industry group

1.74

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
LYB: 1.74
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

SQM

Materials industry group

2.60

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
SQM: 2.60
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	LYB	SQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	14.70	11.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.61	2.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	2.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	9.06%	15.94%