LYB vs MLM: Dividend Comparison
Dividend data as of
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) and Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM) are both in the Materials sector, making them natural rivals for dividend investors. LYB offers a significantly higher 9.40% yield compared to MLM's 0.46%, a gap of 8.94%. Both stocks carry a "Safe" dividend safety rating.
Verdict
Yield Analysis
LYB yields 8.94% more than MLM. In dollar terms, LYB pays $5.42/share vs MLM's $3.32/share annually.
Dividend Growth
LYB: Dividend growth has been steady, with a 3-year CAGR of 5.0% and a 5-year CAGR of 5.3% (10-year: 5.6%).
Dividend Safety
LYB: The payout ratio of 11% is well within sustainable levels, leaving room for future increases. Earnings cover the dividend -0.7x.
MLM: The payout ratio of 16% is well within sustainable levels, leaving room for future increases.
Estimated Annual Dividend Income
Based on current dividend yields. Actual income may vary.
What does $10,000 buy in LYB vs MLM today?
At $57.80 per share, $10,000 buys about 173.0 shares of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB). Each share pays $5.42 per year in dividends, so the position starts out generating roughly $938 per year — about $78 a month.
At $680.12 per share, $10,000 buys about 14.7 shares of Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM). Each share pays $3.32 per year in dividends, so the position starts out generating roughly $49 per year — about $4 a month.
LYB is the larger income stream from day one: $889 per year more on the same $10,000 invested.
Why is there no dividend growth comparison for MLM?
REWD's dividend database has no five-year growth rate for Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM) — most often because the dividend history is too short to compute one, which is common for companies that began paying dividends only in the past few years.
What the data does show for MLM: a 0.46% current yield and a 16% payout ratio, which leaves ample room to raise the payout from here. Until a multi-year raise history exists, treat any growth assumption for MLM as a guess rather than a trend.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) is the one with a measurable track record here — dividend raises of about 5.3% a year over the past five years. If a proven raise history matters to you, LYB wins that dimension by default until MLM builds one.
Can LYB and MLM afford their dividends?
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) pays out about 11% of its earnings as dividends, which implies roughly 8.7x earnings coverage.
Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM) pays out about 16% of its earnings as dividends, which implies roughly 6.1x earnings coverage.
LYB's wider coverage leaves more cushion if earnings dip. As a rule of thumb, coverage below about 1.5x (a payout ratio above ~65%) is where a dividend starts to look stretched — worth watching for MLM if earnings weaken.
Which fits an early-retirement income portfolio better, LYB or MLM?
For income you need right now, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) leads: $100,000 invested today pays about $783 a month at the current 9.40% yield, versus $38 a month from Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM) at 0.46%.
On consistency: LYB has raised its dividend 2 consecutive years.
Many income investors simply hold both — the mix pairs current yield with growth and spreads single-name risk. Whichever way you lean, dividends are never guaranteed; recheck the payout each quarter rather than setting and forgetting.
$10,000 with DRIP: projected annual income
If each holding keeps raising its dividend at its real 5-year rate and every payment is reinvested, a $10,000 position pays $3,854/yr in LYB vs $48/yr in MLM by year 10.
Assumes dividends are reinvested at the current yield and grow at each holding's trailing 5-year dividend CAGR (0% where growth history is unavailable). A projection, not a prediction — no price appreciation modeled.
Track LYB and MLM in your portfolio
See your real income from both — forward projections, yield on cost, and dividend safety signals. Sync your brokerage free for 30 days, or track holdings manually on the free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Individual Stock Analysis
Dividend Tools
Track Your Dividends
More Comparisons
This tool is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. All projections are hypothetical estimates based on user-provided inputs and may differ materially from actual outcomes.
By using this tool you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.