J.P. Morgan Securities reinstated coverage with an "underweight" rating
The chemicals sector appeared near the bottom of our internal Sector Scorecard this week, with the average 52-week stock return in the sector coming in at negative 13.3%. Nevertheless, most analysts remain bullish on the group. However, that could be starting to change, with Cowen and Company issuing a warning on the sector, and J.P. Morgan Securities slapping LyondellBasell Industries NV (NYSE:LYB) with an "underweight" rating.
Specifically, Cowen pointed to challenging market conditions for the sector, predicting contracting margins over the next six months. Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan Securities reinstated coverage on LYB with an "underweight" rating, and cut its price target to $80 from $95 -- just above yesterday's close of $77.75. The analyst attributed the negative note to demand headwinds and pricing concerns for the petrochemical concern.
LYB shares were last seen 0.3% lower at $85.43. The security has added roughly 15% since touching a nearly three-year low of $73.94 in late May, but has run into a familiar wall at its 200-day moving average. This trendline acted as a ceiling for LYB back in April, too. What's more, the overhead $88-$90 region acted as resistance for the shares earlier this year, and could resume that role.
Despite the equity surrendering more than 20% in the past year, five of 12 analysts maintain "buy" or better opinions, with not a "sell" in sight (until today). Meanwhile, the consensus 12-month price target of $100.57 represents a premium of nearly 17% to LYB's current price, not to mention the stock hasn't explored triple-digit territory since October. Should the shares once again backpedal in the face of familiar resistance, more negative analyst attention could exacerbate selling pressure on LyondellBasell stock.