LyondellBasell Industries NVMEX:LYBN 64 Operating Margin % is 3.53% as of Mar. 2026, which is 68% below its 10-year median of 11.05. GuruFocus rates MEX:LYBN with a GF Score™ of 64/100 and a GF Value™ of MXN1,326.51 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,585 Chemicals companies, LyondellBasell Industries NV ranks worse than 64.61% on this metric.
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
LyondellBasell Industries NV Operating Margin % Related Terms
LyondellBasell Industries NV Operating Margin % Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
MEX:LYBN vs ALB, DD, IFF: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
LyondellBasell Industries NV Operating Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
LyondellBasell Industries NV (MEX:LYBN) has a Operating Margin % of 3.53% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on LyondellBasell Industries NV and its competitors. This is 68% below median its historical median of 11.05. Over the past decade, LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin % has ranged from 2.76 to 17.34. According to the industry distribution chart, LyondellBasell Industries NV ranks #1024 out of 1585 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 64.6%.
Is LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin % too high?
LyondellBasell Industries NV's current Operating Margin % of 3.53% is 68% below median its 10-year median of 11.05. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 2.76 to a high of 17.34. The Chemicals industry median Operating Margin % is 6.02. LyondellBasell Industries NV's value of 3.53% is 41.4% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, LyondellBasell Industries NV ranks #1024 out of 1585 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, LyondellBasell Industries NV has a GF Score™ of 64/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does LyondellBasell Industries NV's Operating Margin % compare to ALB and DD?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, LyondellBasell Industries NV ranks #1024 out of 1585 companies for Operating Margin %. This places LyondellBasell Industries NV in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.02. LyondellBasell Industries NV's value of 3.53% is 41.4% below this benchmark. Historically, LyondellBasell Industries NV's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 2.76 to 17.34 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.05 vs. the industry median of 6.02, LyondellBasell Industries NV has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Chemicals company?
The median Operating Margin % among Chemicals companies is 6.02, based on 1,585 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. LyondellBasell Industries NV's current Operating Margin % of 3.53% is 41.4% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on LyondellBasell Industries NV and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.02 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. LyondellBasell Industries NV's current Operating Margin % is 3.53%, which is 68% below median its own 10-year median of 11.05. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is LyondellBasell Industries NV stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, LyondellBasell Industries NV (MEX:LYBN) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN1,326.51, compared to a current price of MXN1,034.37 — trading 22% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 3.53%, which is 68% below median its 10-year median of 11.05 and 41.4% below the Chemicals industry median of 6.02. LyondellBasell Industries NV's overall GF Score™ is 64/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For LyondellBasell Industries NV (MEX:LYBN), the current Operating Margin % is 3.53% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is LyondellBasell Industries NV (MEX:LYBN) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, LyondellBasell Industries NV stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of MXN1,034.37 is trading 22% below its estimated GF Value™ of MXN1,326.51.
GuruFocus considers LyondellBasell Industries NV to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for MEX:LYBN:
Operating Margin %: 3.53% (68% below median its 10-year median of 11.05)
GF Value™: MXN1,326.51 vs. price of MXN1,034.37 (22% below fair value)
Industry Position: 41.4% below the Chemicals median (#1024 of 1585)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:LYBN stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
LyondellBasell is a petrochemical producer with operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and also a major producer of polyethylene and propylene oxide. Its chemicals are used in various consumer and industrial end products. Well over half of LyondellBasell's production comes from its North American operations.
64GF Score
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