Send to a Friend Share

Goldman Sachs Lifts Numbers On LyondellBasell (LYB) Despite Q4 Miss, Sees Much Better Margins

February 13, 2012 7:12 AM EST
LYB Hot Sheet
Rating Summary:
    10 Buy, 2 Hold, 1 Sell

Rating Trend: Down Down

Today's Overall Ratings:
    Up: 20 | Down: 11 | New: 38
Goldman Sachs raised estimates and its price target on Buy-rated LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE: LYB) from $47 to $54 despite the 4Q11 earnings miss.

The firm views the weak 4Q2011 results as backward-looking given the much better margin profile thus far in 1Q2012. At this point, ethylene margins using the January contract price and spot ethane prices are $0.34/lb on the US Gulf Coast and $0.47/lb in the US Mid-west versus a 4Q2011 average of $0.18/lb.

Goldman reiterated their Buy rating and sees near-term catalysts like inventory restocking, margin support from restocking, improving refining margins. They see medium-term catalysts like additional ethane supply, S&P 500 index inclusion, additional earnings from expansion projects, eventual recovery in European volumes/margins, return of excess cash to holders.

The firm raised 2012/2013 EPS estimates to $5.30/$6.17 from $5.12/$6.00.

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on LyondellBasell Industries click here. For more ratings news on LyondellBasell Industries click here.

Shares of LyondellBasell Industries closed at $44.75 yesterday, with a 52 week range of $22.90-$46.28.


Discover Wall Street's best ratings calls with the pros - Ratings Insider Elite. Free Trial!

You May Also Be Interested In


Related Categories

Analyst Comments, Analyst EPS Change, Analyst EPS View, Analyst PT Change

Related Entities

Goldman Sachs, Standard & Poor's, Earnings

Add Your Comment





Follow StreetInsider.com On Twitter