LyondellBasell Industries NV vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? LyondellBasell Industries NV trades at $60.34 (market cap $19.49B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $142.17 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 18× LyondellBasell Industries NV's market cap, and LyondellBasell Industries NV pays the higher dividend (4.57%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold LyondellBasell Industries NV for 87 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| LYB | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $19.49B | $351.28B |
Volume | 6,033,396 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Health |
52-Week High | $82.38 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $42.28 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 87 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $31.08B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | 4.57% | 2.39% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
LyondellBasell (LYB) trades at $58.49, down 0.75% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and mixed fundamentals. Recent earnings show volatility, with a Q2 2026 beat but a net loss for 2025. Revenue has declined from $50.5B in 2022 to $30.2B in 2025, though 2026 projects a slight recovery. The stock offers a dividend, but news highlights concerns over dividend sustainability amid sector challenges.
Outlook is cautious; analyst consensus is split with a $69.38 price target suggesting upside, but profitability metrics are weak. Key risks include persistent negative margins, high debt, and chemical sector cyclicality. Investment opportunity hinges on operational turnaround and market recovery, but near-term headwinds prevail.
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.79, up 0.61% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite beating earnings estimates in recent quarters. The company reported 2025 revenue of $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, with a high P/E ratio of 113.9 reflecting premium valuation. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, while institutional investors have been increasing stakes.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst consensus (68% buy ratings) and a $158.78 price target suggest upside, but high valuation and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Key opportunities include pipeline expansion via M&A; risks involve integration challenges and patent pressures.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
LyondellBasell Industries NV is a petrochemical producer with operations in the U.S. and Europe. It operates in six segments: Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas (O&P-Americas), Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International (O&P-EAI), Intermediates and Derivatives (I&D), Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS), Refining and Technology. The company is a major producer of polyethylene, the world's largest producer of polypropylene, and the second- largest producer of propylene oxide. Its chemicals are used in various consumer and industrial end products. Substantially, all of the company's revenue is derived from product sales.
Read more on LYB →Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →