Third Quarter 2019 Highlights
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- Net Income: $1.0 billion
- Diluted earnings per share: $2.85 per share
- Quarter included $85 million non-cash tax settlement that increased earnings by $0.25 per share
- EBITDA: $1.5 billion, resilient performance in a challenging market
- Cash from operating activities: $1.9 billion
- Paid dividends and repurchased 37 million shares totaling $3.6 billion
- Refinanced over $2 billion of debt at favorable rates
LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE: LYB) announced net income for the third quarter 2019 of $1.0 billion, or $2.85 per share, which included an $85 million non-cash tax settlement that increased earnings by $0.25 per share. Third quarter 2019 EBITDA was $1.5 billion. Integration activities related to the acquisition of A. Schulman are on schedule and expected to generate approximately $125 million in forward annual run-rate synergies as of the close of the third quarter. After tax costs related to integration rose to $33 million for the quarter and impacted third quarter earnings by $0.10 per share.
„LyondellBasell demonstrated resilient performance by achieving a third consecutive increase in quarterly earnings per share with its leading portfolio, advantaged global positions, and disciplined capital allocation. Strong margins for our North American ethylene and Oxyfuels & Related Products businesses were supported by abundant supplies of low-cost, shale-based natural gas liquid feedstocks. Our global Olefins & Polyolefins businesses benefited from typical seasonal strength in demand for consumer driven non-durable products with polyolefin sales volume increasing by 5% relative to the second quarter. Market headwinds from softer demand and compressing margins for styrene impacted the profitability for our Intermediates & Derivatives segment. Our refinery ran reliably at 99% of nameplate capacity and margins increased with improved availability of favorably-priced heavy sour crude oils in the Houston market,“ said Bob Patel, LyondellBasell CEO.
„We continued to execute our disciplined capital allocation strategy during the third quarter. In September, we moved forward on our value-driven approach to growth with a long-term propylene supply contract and discussions to build a joint venture chemical complex in northeast China. During July, we completed a tender offer for 35.1 million shares that demonstrated our views on the value of our company and the outlook for our businesses. Over the past few weeks, we successfully refinanced over $2 billion of debt in a favorable interest rate environment,“ Patel said.
OUTLOOK
„Our businesses continue to benefit from low-cost natural gas liquid feedstocks with favorable prices persisting into October. We expect to see typical seasonal softening of demand in the final months of the year. At the same time, profitability at our Houston refinery should begin to improve during the fourth quarter with increasing demand for low-sulfur marine fuels ahead of the IMO 2020 regulation deadline,“ Patel said.
