After a punishing multi-year slump, materials stocks are showing signs of life in 2026. Dow and LyondellBasell, offering yields of 5% and 10.9% respectively, present a high-risk, high-reward proposition for income investors betting on a sector recovery.
Facing what its CEO calls one of the industry's toughest cycles, LyondellBasell reported weathering 2025 through aggressive cost control and working capital management. The chemical giant outlined a path to generate an additional $1.3 billion in cash by end-2026, even as it prepares to divest European assets and scales back circular economy spending.
Facing what CEO Peter Vanacker calls the 'deepest and longest downturn' of his career, LyondellBasell reported Q1 2025 results while detailing a new $500 million cash improvement plan. The chemical giant is leaning into portfolio restructuring and its global supply network to weather trade policy uncertainty and weak demand.
Facing one of the longest downturns in industry history, LyondellBasell reported Q2 2025 earnings of $0.62 per share, outlining a disciplined strategy focused on cash conservation, portfolio optimization in Europe, and a pivot towards circular and low-carbon solutions to emerge stronger from the cycle.
While Q3 earnings reflect challenging market conditions, the chemical giant reports strong North American performance and accelerates its strategic shift, breaking ground on a flagship advanced recycling plant in Germany and planning a larger facility in Houston.
