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• Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.33 per share.

• EBITDA: Nearly $600 million.

• Cash Returns to Shareholders: Approximately $500 million.

• Cash Balance: $1.9 billion at the end of the first quarter.

• Olefins and Polyolefins Americas EBITDA: $251 million.

• Olefins and Polyolefins Europe, Asia, and International EBITDA: $17 million.

• Intermediates and Derivatives EBITDA: $211 million.

• Advanced Polymer Solutions EBITDA: $46 million.

• Technology Segment EBITDA: $52 million.

• Capital Investment: $483 million during the quarter.

• Shareholder Returns: $433 million in dividends and $110 million in share repurchases.

• Capital Expenditures Reduction: $100 million reduction planned.

• Working Capital Reduction Target: Additional $200 million reduction planned.

• Fixed-Cost Savings Target: At least $200 million in additional savings planned.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with LYB.

Release Date: April 25, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• LyondellBasell Industries NV (NYSE:LYB) achieved a significant improvement in safety performance, with a total recordable incident rate of 0.12, showcasing their commitment to operational excellence.

• The company is on track to unlock $1 billion in recurring annual EBITDA by the end of the year through its value enhancement program, with $50 million coming from fixed cost reductions.

• LYB's global supply network is well-positioned to handle trade volatility, with approximately 75% of polyethylene and polypropylene sold in local markets, minimizing tariff impacts.

• The Flex 2 project, which converts ethylene into higher-value propylene, is expected to deliver strong financial returns with an IRR in the mid-teens and an estimated EBITDA benefit of $150 million per year post-startup.

• LYB's cash improvement plan aims to enhance cash flows by $500 million in 2025, focusing on capital expenditure reductions, working capital improvements, and fixed-cost savings.

Negative Points

• The company faced significant challenges in the first quarter, with EBITDA impacted by planned and unplanned maintenance, resulting in a $200 million reduction.

• Higher feedstock costs led to lower integrated polyethylene margins, creating additional headwinds for the Olefins and Polyolefins Americas segment.

• The European market remains uncertain due to potential impacts from trade volatility, despite some signs of seasonal improvement.

• LYB's first-quarter earnings were affected by a significant turnaround at the Channelview complex and an unplanned outage at the Lake Charles JV.

• The company is navigating the deepest and longest downturn in recent history, with ongoing market uncertainty and volatile trade policies posing challenges.