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U.K. (FTSE) Basic Materials Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies8
  • 7D2.5%
  • 3M10.2%
  • 1Y-2.4%
  • YTD3.1%

The Basic Materials industry is up 2.5% in the last week, with RHI Magnesita up 9.4%. The industry has been flat over the past 12 months despite the gain this week. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 28% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Basic Materials Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Mon, 26 Jan 2026UK£5.5bUK£7.2bUK£234.9m20.6x23.4x0.8x
Wed, 24 Dec 2025UK£5.4bUK£7.2bUK£235.2m22x22.9x0.8x
Fri, 21 Nov 2025UK£4.8bUK£7.2bUK£235.7m20.5x20.5x0.7x
Sun, 19 Oct 2025UK£4.7bUK£7.2bUK£235.0m20x20x0.7x
Tue, 16 Sep 2025UK£5.2bUK£7.1bUK£234.8m21.5x22x0.7x
Thu, 14 Aug 2025UK£5.4bUK£7.1bUK£211.2m26.2x25.4x0.8x
Sat, 12 Jul 2025UK£5.9bUK£7.0bUK£311.6m22.7x19x0.8x
Mon, 09 Jun 2025UK£6.1bUK£6.9bUK£308.8m22.7x19.7x0.9x
Wed, 07 May 2025UK£6.2bUK£7.0bUK£309.9m23.4x20x0.9x
Fri, 04 Apr 2025UK£5.6bUK£6.9bUK£308.8m20.4x18.2x0.8x
Sun, 02 Mar 2025UK£5.7bUK£6.6bUK£256.3m28.7x22.2x0.9x
Tue, 28 Jan 2025UK£5.6bUK£6.7bUK£295.4m28.9x19x0.8x
Thu, 26 Dec 2024UK£5.8bUK£6.7bUK£293.2m34.2x19.9x0.9x
Sat, 23 Nov 2024UK£6.2bUK£7.3bUK£308.7m27.4x20.2x0.9x
Mon, 21 Oct 2024UK£6.3bUK£7.3bUK£309.1m28.7x20.5x0.9x
Wed, 18 Sep 2024UK£6.0bUK£7.3bUK£314.0m14.3x19.2x0.8x
Fri, 16 Aug 2024UK£6.1bUK£7.2bUK£333.1m14.8x18.5x0.9x
Sun, 14 Jul 2024UK£6.2bUK£7.3bUK£350.8m13.5x17.8x0.9x
Tue, 11 Jun 2024UK£5.7bUK£7.3bUK£354.3m12.6x16x0.8x
Thu, 09 May 2024UK£5.9bUK£7.4bUK£356.8m12.5x16.4x0.8x
Sat, 06 Apr 2024UK£5.6bUK£7.3bUK£356.4m12.6x15.7x0.8x
Mon, 04 Mar 2024UK£5.8bUK£7.5bUK£457.3m9.7x12.7x0.8x
Wed, 31 Jan 2024UK£6.7bUK£8.8bUK£547.8m10.4x12.3x0.8x
Fri, 29 Dec 2023UK£6.4bUK£8.9bUK£549.9m9.8x11.7x0.7x
Sun, 26 Nov 2023UK£5.7bUK£8.9bUK£549.7m8.5x10.3x0.6x
Tue, 24 Oct 2023UK£36.9bUK£36.6bUK£2.9b9.1x12.6x1x
Thu, 21 Sep 2023UK£37.1bUK£36.2bUK£2.9b10.4x12.8x1x
Sat, 19 Aug 2023UK£37.6bUK£34.5bUK£2.6b10.4x14.3x1.1x
Mon, 17 Jul 2023UK£37.6bUK£33.6bUK£2.6b10x14.3x1.1x
Wed, 14 Jun 2023UK£34.6bUK£34.6bUK£2.7b10x12.8x1x
Fri, 12 May 2023UK£33.7bUK£33.5bUK£2.6b10x12.8x1x
Sun, 09 Apr 2023UK£32.9bUK£33.7bUK£2.6b10.3x12.5x1x
Tue, 07 Mar 2023UK£37.2bUK£34.1bUK£2.7b11x14x1.1x
Thu, 02 Feb 2023UK£33.6bUK£33.3bUK£2.8b10.9x12x1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

12x


Total Market Cap: UK£33.6bTotal Earnings: UK£2.8bTotal Revenue: UK£33.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Basic Materials Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 16.9x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the British Basic Materials industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 23.4x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 16.9x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.85x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Basic Materials industry have declined 56% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 40% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Materials industry?

GB Market-0.15%
Materials3.43%
Basic Materials2.55%
Construction Materials2.55%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
RHIM RHI MagnesitaUK£28.007.1%
+UK£87.5m		-18.2%PE32.5x
BREE Breedon GroupUK£3.413.1%
+UK£35.4m		-20.0%PE13.2x
SRC SigmaRocUK£1.401.2%
+UK£17.8m		93.1%PE34.8x
FORT ForterraUK£1.792.8%
+UK£10.0m		13.0%PE24x
MBH Michelmersh Brick HoldingsUK£0.874.8%
+UK£3.6m		-16.3%PE15x

Latest News

SRC
UK£1.40
SigmaRoc
7D
1.2%
1Y
93.1%

SRC: Lower Discount Rate And Higher Margin Assumptions Will Support Upside

Analysts have lifted their price target on SigmaRoc from £1.47 to about £1.56, citing model updates that reflect a slightly lower discount rate, a modestly higher profit margin and a small adjustment to future P/E assumptions. Valuation Changes Fair Value: raised slightly from £1.47 to about £1.56 per share.
BREE
UK£3.41
Breedon Group
7D
3.1%
1Y
-20.0%

BREE: Future Upside Will Rely On Stable Margins And Lower Required Returns

Analysts have modestly adjusted their price target for Breedon Group, reflecting slightly updated assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E, while keeping their fair value estimate steady at £4.52 per share. Valuation Changes Fair Value: The fair value estimate is unchanged at £4.52 per share.
MSLH
UK£1.61
Marshalls
7D
-3.8%
1Y
-35.0%

MSLH: New Leadership Will Drive Transform And Grow Strategy Forward

Analysts have trimmed their price target for Marshalls to reflect a fair value adjustment from £1.88 to £1.85, citing updated assumptions for growth, margins and future P/E that result in a slightly more conservative outlook on the shares. What's in the News Marshalls plc appointed Simon Bourne as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 19, 2026, following his period as Interim CEO and more than a decade in senior operational and commercial roles with the Group (Key Developments).
MBH
UK£0.87
Michelmersh Brick Holdings
7D
4.8%
1Y
-16.3%
IBST
UK£1.31
Ibstock
7D
-4.1%
1Y
-20.8%

IBST: End Market Recovery Will Face Cautious Outlook But Still Support Returns

The analyst price target for Ibstock has been trimmed from about £1.55 to roughly £1.51 per share, reflecting analysts' more cautious assumptions on growth, margins, and future P/E as they flag softer end market support and macro uncertainty. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates point to a more cautious stance on Ibstock, with both rating moves and price targets reset closer to the current trading range as analysts reassess growth, execution risks, and valuation under softer demand conditions.
STCM
UK£0.21
Steppe Cement
7D
7.7%
1Y
50.0%
FORT
UK£1.79
Forterra
7D
2.8%
1Y
13.0%

FORT: Revenue Stability And Margin Outlook Will Support A Fair Future

Analysts have lifted their price target on Forterra, citing updated assumptions that include revenue growth of 6.13%, a profit margin of 9.53% and a future P/E of 12.19x. What's in the News Forterra issued new or confirmed earnings guidance for the second half, indicating that revenues are expected to be at similar levels to the first half (Key Developments).
RHIM
UK£28.00
RHI Magnesita
7D
7.1%
1Y
-18.2%

RHIM: Fair Value Will Hold As Risk And Earnings Expectations Adjust

Analysts have kept their price target for RHI Magnesita broadly steady around €24.91, with small tweaks to discount rate, revenue growth and margin assumptions, reflecting fine tuned views on the company’s risk, earnings profile and future P/E expectations. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Unchanged at about €24.91 per share, indicating a steady central estimate.