Lian De Baisar cuts first-quarter dividends during industry downturn

LootboxPhobia · 2026-02-20T15:23:27+00:00

LyondellBasell's stock price fell after announcing a reduction in first-quarter dividends to $0.69 per share, mainly due to the downturn in the chemical industry. The CEO stated that the company will prioritize safety and reliability and remain flexible for growth after the market recovers.

LootboxPhobia

2026-02-20 15:23:27

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Investing.com – LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB) stock fell on Friday after the chemical products manufacturer announced a reduction in its first-quarter dividend, citing one of the longest downturns in the chemical industry.

The company announced a quarterly dividend of 69 cents per share, down 68 cents from the previous quarter’s dividend.

CEO Peter Vanacker stated that the company returned approximately $2 billion to shareholders through existing cash and operations in 2025.

“Given the market is expected to continue facing challenges, we have decided to readjust the dividend level to position the company more favorably for growth after the market recovers,” Vanacker said.

The CEO indicated that in 2026, the company will prioritize safety and reliability while driving further cost reductions and seeking new opportunities to improve profitability. According to Vanacker, LyondellBasell remains committed to achieving its goal of returning 70% of free cash flow to shareholders throughout the cycle.

The stock initially declined on this news, then rebounded somewhat, but remained low before the market opened.

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