The seemingly most-loved industry on the planet, semiconductors, is taking a bit of a break. Yet we say that tongue-in-cheek, as most of the true semi leaders remain very close to their all-time highs (ATHs), while the major indices continue to hold close to their recent ATHs. When a stock doubles in four months and then works off extreme overbought daily and weekly conditions by going sideways, that is truly impressive. Working off overbought conditions in time rather than price is quite bullish. It's still possible these monster stocks pull back or correct - but, so far, their price action has been astounding, with very little evidence of topping formations on the charts.

LyondellBasell is a petrochemical producer with operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company is the world’s largest producer of polypropylene and is also a major producer of polyethylene and propylene oxide. Its chemicals are used in various consumer and industrial end products. Well over half of LyondellBasell’s production comes from its North American operations.

Value stocks -- a market segment that includes high-yield stocks -- outperformed growth stocks in 2022. That's a recent rarity, as for the past decade-plus, the performance record has favored growth. But the tide turned in 2022. The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines gave a lift to some of the cyclical companies (energy and regional banks) that had lagged in recent quarters, and value stocks outpaced growth stocks that year. While growth stocks have retaken the lead since 2023, the Federal Reserve continues to keep interest rates high to fend off inflation. This could possibly cap multiple expansion for growth companies in coming quarters. In any event, the value sector is the place to achieve income.

LyondellBasell Industries manufactures chemicals and polymers, refines crude oil, produces gasoline blending components, and develops and licenses technologies for the production of polymers. Lyondell Petrochemical Corp. began business in 1985 and merged with Basell Polyolefins to become LyondellBasell Industries in December 2007. LyondellBasell filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009 and emerged from bankruptcy in 2010. In 2023, the company generated 22% of sales from Olefins & Polyolefins Americas, 32% from Olefins & Polyolefins EAI, 20% from Intermediates & Derivatives, 10% from Refining, 12% from Advanced Polymer Solutions, and 4% from Technology.