LYB vs. VMC: LyondellBasell Industries vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but LYB is classified in Chemicals while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Profile Item	LYB	VMC
Name	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.	Vulcan Materials Company
Country/Region	Netherlands	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Construction Materials
GICS Sub-Industry	Commodity Chemicals	Construction Materials
Market Capitalization	19.63 billion USD	36.29 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 28, 2010	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LYB

VMC

GSPC

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC), 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Total Return (1Y)	49.52%	2.25%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-7.11%	12.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.68%	8.08%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LYB

VMC

GSPC

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC), 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	42.84%	30.13%
Beta (5Y)	0.32	0.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.35%	-32.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.62M	1.16M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LYB and VMC 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.06	-0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.63	-0.09

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 12.88% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

LYB

Materials industry group

12.18%

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

VMC

Materials industry group

12.88%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
VMC: 12.88%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

LYB

Materials industry group

4.05%

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

VMC

Materials industry group

13.78%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
VMC: 13.78%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

LYB

Materials industry group

13.40%

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

VMC

Materials industry group

23.95%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
VMC: 23.95%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
ROE (TTM)	12.18%	12.88%
ROA (TTM)	5.36%	5.89%
Net Margin (TTM)	4.05%	13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.40%	23.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	14.56%	27.48%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% 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. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% 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. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-9.71%	7.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-15.77%	2.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-156.39%	18.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	23.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VMC.

LYB

Materials industry group

1.78

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

VMC

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
VMC: 1.43
Min: 0.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 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

VMC

Materials industry group

0.63

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
VMC: 0.63
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.78	1.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.21	0.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.47	2.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% pays an industry-typical yield; LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

LYB

Materials industry group

5.58%

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

VMC

Materials industry group

0.72%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
VMC: 0.72%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 24.26% 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

24.26%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
VMC: 24.26%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	5.58%	0.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	83.29%	24.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 sits in the richer quartile — VMC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

LYB

Materials industry group

14.70

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

VMC

Materials industry group

33.46

Max: 59.00
VMC: 33.46
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

LYB

Materials industry group

0.61

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

VMC

Materials industry group

4.53

Max: 9.62
VMC: 4.53
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carries an above-peer premium to book — VMC is pricier on assets.

LYB

Materials industry group

1.74

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

VMC

Materials industry group

4.31

Max: 6.59
VMC: 4.31
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Metric	LYB	VMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	14.70	33.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.61	4.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	4.31
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	9.06%	1.96%