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U.K. (FTSE) Basic Materials Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 17, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies8
  • 7D2.7%
  • 3M22.4%
  • 1Y-2.3%
  • YTD9.7%

The Basic Materials industry is up 2.1% in the last week, with RHI Magnesita up 4.2%. The industry has been flat over the past 12 months despite the gain this week. Earnings are forecast to grow by 27% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 17 Feb 2026UK£5.9bUK£7.2bUK£235.0m22.3x24.9x0.8x
Thu, 15 Jan 2026UK£5.3bUK£7.2bUK£234.9m21.2x22.7x0.7x
Sat, 13 Dec 2025UK£5.2bUK£7.2bUK£235.5m21.5x22x0.7x
Mon, 10 Nov 2025UK£4.7bUK£7.2bUK£235.5m20.3x20x0.7x
Wed, 08 Oct 2025UK£4.9bUK£7.2bUK£235.0m21.1x21x0.7x
Fri, 05 Sep 2025UK£5.0bUK£7.1bUK£210.6m24.4x23.8x0.7x
Sun, 03 Aug 2025UK£5.3bUK£7.1bUK£221.9m26.2x23.7x0.7x
Tue, 01 Jul 2025UK£5.7bUK£7.0bUK£311.1m22.8x18.5x0.8x
Thu, 29 May 2025UK£6.2bUK£6.9bUK£308.3m23.6x20x0.9x
Sat, 26 Apr 2025UK£5.9bUK£7.0bUK£310.4m22x19x0.8x
Mon, 24 Mar 2025UK£6.0bUK£6.9bUK£310.1m19.4x19.3x0.9x
Wed, 19 Feb 2025UK£6.0bUK£6.7bUK£293.1m29.4x20.3x0.9x
Fri, 17 Jan 2025UK£5.7bUK£6.7bUK£295.4m29.8x19.1x0.8x
Sun, 15 Dec 2024UK£5.9bUK£6.7bUK£293.6m35.7x20.1x0.9x
Tue, 12 Nov 2024UK£6.3bUK£7.3bUK£308.2m28x20.4x0.9x
Thu, 10 Oct 2024UK£6.0bUK£7.3bUK£309.9m26.3x19.4x0.8x
Sat, 07 Sep 2024UK£5.8bUK£7.1bUK£329.7m14.6x17.7x0.8x
Mon, 05 Aug 2024UK£6.1bUK£7.3bUK£343.6m14.8x17.8x0.8x
Wed, 03 Jul 2024UK£5.7bUK£7.3bUK£352.0m12.4x16.2x0.8x
Fri, 31 May 2024UK£5.9bUK£7.3bUK£355.2m12.7x16.5x0.8x
Sun, 28 Apr 2024UK£5.6bUK£7.3bUK£356.1m11.9x15.6x0.8x
Tue, 26 Mar 2024UK£5.7bUK£7.4bUK£380.1m11.7x14.9x0.8x
Thu, 22 Feb 2024UK£5.7bUK£7.4bUK£435.7m9.9x13.2x0.8x
Sat, 20 Jan 2024UK£6.5bUK£8.8bUK£548.3m10.3x11.8x0.7x
Mon, 18 Dec 2023UK£6.2bUK£8.8bUK£548.7m9.2x11.3x0.7x
Wed, 15 Nov 2023UK£5.7bUK£8.9bUK£550.0m9.3x10.4x0.6x
Fri, 13 Oct 2023UK£39.4bUK£36.7bUK£2.9b9.6x13.4x1.1x
Sun, 10 Sep 2023UK£36.9bUK£36.0bUK£2.9b10.4x12.8x1x
Tue, 08 Aug 2023UK£39.7bUK£34.4bUK£2.6b10.4x15.1x1.2x
Thu, 06 Jul 2023UK£36.8bUK£34.4bUK£2.7b9.5x13.6x1.1x
Sat, 03 Jun 2023UK£34.7bUK£34.9bUK£2.7b9.9x12.7x1x
Mon, 01 May 2023UK£33.1bUK£33.4bUK£2.6b10.1x12.7x1x
Wed, 29 Mar 2023UK£34.0bUK£33.8bUK£2.6b10.6x12.8x1x
Fri, 24 Feb 2023UK£34.0bUK£33.9bUK£2.8b11.1x12x1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

12x


Total Market Cap: UK£34.0bTotal Earnings: UK£2.8bTotal Revenue: UK£33.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Basic Materials Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 17.2x202420252026
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 24.8x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 17.2x.
  • 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 Market0.71%
Materials-0.091%
Basic Materials2.70%
Construction Materials2.70%
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£30.704.2%
+UK£59.1m		-17.5%PE35.5x
BREE Breedon GroupUK£3.593.3%
+UK£40.3m		-19.6%PE13.9x
IBST IbstockUK£1.365.1%
+UK£26.1m		-19.5%PE44.1x
FORT ForterraUK£1.955.5%
+UK£21.5m		20.0%PE26.1x
MSLH MarshallsUK£1.752.8%
+UK£12.1m		-31.1%PE18.5x

Latest News

MSLH
UK£1.75
Marshalls
7D
2.8%
1Y
-31.1%
MBH
UK£0.95
Michelmersh Brick Holdings
7D
10.4%
1Y
-11.0%
RHIM
UK£30.70
RHI Magnesita
7D
4.2%
1Y
-17.5%

RHIM: Future Returns Will Weaken As Earnings Assumptions Tighten

Analysts have nudged their price target for RHI Magnesita slightly higher to €26.96 from €26.82, citing updated assumptions around the discount rate, modestly stronger revenue growth, a slightly higher profit margin and a lower future P/E multiple. Valuation Changes Fair value estimate nudged slightly higher from €26.82 to €26.96 per share.
FORT
UK£1.95
Forterra
7D
5.5%
1Y
20.0%

FORT: Updated Margins And Revenue Assumptions Will Support A Steady Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Forterra to US$1.92, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins and the future P/E multiple, while maintaining their fair value estimate at US$1.92. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Held steady at US$1.92, with no change in the underlying fair value estimate.
SRC
UK£1.47
SigmaRoc
7D
-0.8%
1Y
80.6%

SRC: Small Assumption Shifts Will Support Balanced Future Risk And Reward

Analysts have nudged their price target on SigmaRoc higher, with fair value rising slightly from £1.56 to about £1.58, reflecting small adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth expectations, profit margin assumptions and future P/E estimates. Valuation Changes Fair Value: revised from £1.56 to about £1.58 per share, reflecting a small upward adjustment.
BREE
UK£3.59
Breedon Group
7D
3.3%
1Y
-19.6%

BREE: Future Upside Will Rely On Stable Margins And Higher P E Multiple

Analysts have nudged their price target on Breedon Group slightly higher to reflect updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E, while keeping fair value broadly in line with previous estimates. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Fair value per share is unchanged at £4.52, indicating only minimal impact from the updated inputs.
IBST
UK£1.36
Ibstock
7D
5.1%
1Y
-19.5%

IBST: Reset Expectations And Cautious Outlook Will Still Support Future Returns

Analysts have revised their fair value estimate for Ibstock to about £1.45 from roughly £1.51, reflecting updated assumptions on growth, margins and a lower Street price target backdrop. Analyst Commentary Bullish and cautious views on Ibstock have both shifted recently as price targets were reset and ratings adjusted, which feeds directly into how you might think about risk and reward around the new fair value estimate.