International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)
International Flavors & Fragrances makes flavors, scents, and ingredients for food, beverage, and consumer products.
Materials stock comparison
IFF vs LYB: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. with LyondellBasell Industries N.V. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Materials
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 0
- Updated
- 2026-02-27
IFF vs LYB: quick comparison
| Company fact | IFF | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Company | International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. | LyondellBasell Industries N.V. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| SEC industry | Industrial Organic Chemicals | Industrial Organic Chemicals |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-27 | 10-K · 2026-02-20 |
IFF vs LYB: audited financials
LYB reported about 2.8× the revenue of IFF in the latest audited fiscal year. Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | IFF | LYB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $10.9B | $30.2B |
| Net income | — | −$738M |
| Operating cash flow | $850M | $2.3B |
| Diluted EPS | −$1.41 | −$2.34 |
| Net margin | — | -2.4% |
IFF: FY ending 2025-12-31 · LYB: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
IFF and LYB share the SEC industry classification “Industrial Organic Chemicals,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB)
LyondellBasell makes plastics, chemicals, and refining products used across manufacturing.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. IFF is classified by the SEC as Industrial Organic Chemicals, while LYB is classified as Industrial Organic Chemicals. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
Members-only research
What members are reading this month
Sep 22, 2026
Meta jumped 11%. What must happen next to justify the price?A member research report on Meta’s AI rally: Muse, subscription economics, the cash-flow burden, legal costs and the earnings assumptions behind the new price.
Feb 23, 2026
Newmont and the gap between a gold rally and shareholder cashA February 23, 2026 historical cutoff tests whether portfolio simplification and cost control could turn stronger gold economics into cash.
The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study IFF when…
- Chinese industrial and construction demand
- The US dollar and commodity prices
- Energy-transition metals like copper and lithium
- Tariffs and global trade flows
Study LYB when…
- Chinese industrial and construction demand
- The US dollar and commodity prices
- Energy-transition metals like copper and lithium
- Tariffs and global trade flows
Shared research themes
Industrial Organic Chemicals (SEC industry)
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.IFF's fiscal year ends December 31, while LYB's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 3matched transaction rows for IFFand 7 for LYB. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
IFF primary filings
LYB primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving IFF or LYB
IFF vs LYB FAQs
Are IFF and LYB direct competitors?
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. share the SEC industry classification “Industrial Organic Chemicals.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, IFF or LYB?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this IFF vs LYB comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
IFF vs LYB shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
Members-only research
$15/mo or $150/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included