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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedNov 19, 2025
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-2.7%
  • 3M3.1%
  • 1Y-7.2%
  • YTD-4.1%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has dropped 2.7%, driven by Johnson Matthey declining 3.0%. In contrast, SulNOx Group has gained 7.5%. The industry has fallen 7.2% in the last year. Earnings are forecast to grow by 12% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 19 Nov 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m17.7x22.7x0.6x
Fri, 17 Oct 2025UK£10.2bUK£16.8bUK£424.0m18.9x24x0.6x
Sun, 14 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£430.8m21.8x21.5x0.6x
Tue, 12 Aug 2025UK£9.0bUK£16.7bUK£430.7m22.1x20.8x0.5x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.5x22.2x0.6x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.0m23.4x21.6x0.6x
Mon, 05 May 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£594.1m19.6x14.9x0.5x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025UK£9.0bUK£17.1bUK£591.8m20.1x15.2x0.5x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£578.1m17.1x17x0.6x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.7x17.1x0.6x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£577.7m20.7x17.5x0.6x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024UK£10.4bUK£18.1bUK£175.0m23.1x59.6x0.6x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m24.8x66.7x0.6x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£153.6m26.2x77.2x0.7x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024UK£11.8bUK£18.2bUK£131.4m26.3x89.6x0.6x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30.5x65.2x0.7x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024UK£12.9bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31.6x67.3x0.7x
Tue, 07 May 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£285.3m24.7x48x0.7x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.5bUK£274.8m21x49.2x0.7x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.8bUK£121.7m17.3x107.8x0.7x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024UK£13.2bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m18.4x93.5x0.7x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.5m19.6x97.5x0.7x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£152.4m17.2x83.3x0.6x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023UK£11.6bUK£20.9bUK£257.2m16.1x45.3x0.6x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023UK£13.2bUK£20.8bUK£222.0m22.7x59.5x0.6x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023UK£13.9bUK£21.0bUK£356.2m25.9x39x0.7x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023UK£14.6bUK£21.2bUK£801.6m17.2x18.2x0.7x
Mon, 12 Jun 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.2bUK£801.7m14.9x18x0.7x
Wed, 10 May 2023UK£17.0bUK£21.2bUK£830.9m16.3x20.4x0.8x
Fri, 07 Apr 2023UK£16.7bUK£21.1bUK£835.7m15.8x20x0.8x
Sun, 05 Mar 2023UK£17.9bUK£22.0bUK£1.0b17.1x17.2x0.8x
Tue, 31 Jan 2023UK£18.2bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.1x16.4x0.8x
Thu, 29 Dec 2022UK£17.6bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b15.7x16x0.8x
Sat, 26 Nov 2022UK£18.2bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b18x16.3x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.3x


Total Market Cap: UK£18.2bTotal Earnings: UK£1.1bTotal Revenue: UK£22.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 40.3x202320242025
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Chemicals industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 23.0x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 40.3x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.66x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Chemicals industry have declined 28% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 8.6% 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-3.44%
Materials-2.49%
Chemicals-2.74%
Industrial Gases1.83%
Commodity Chemicals-1.76%
Specialty Chemicals-2.79%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-7.50%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 30.3x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 57.8%, which is lower than the prior year's growth of 686.9% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Commodity Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 58% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 7.2% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

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

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
SNOX SulNOx GroupUK£0.577.5%
+UK£5.4m		13.9%PS68.9x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£3.852.9%
+UK£5.4m		11.0%PE263.5x
SYNT SynthomerUK£0.503.5%
+UK£2.8m		-69.6%PS0.04x
CAR CarcloUK£0.695.3%
+UK£2.6m		107.5%PE58.5x
HEX Helix ExplorationUK£0.281.8%
+UK£931.6k		24.4%PB4x

Latest News

ZTF
UK£4.00
Zotefoams
7D
3.1%
1Y
17.6%
CRDA
UK£27.04
Croda International
7D
-4.2%
1Y
-22.8%

CRDA: Activist Pressure And Commoditization Concerns Will Shape The Next Share Move

Croda International's analyst price target has seen a modest upward revision to 3,150 GBp from 3,000 GBp. This reflects analysts' view that recent sector updates and firm-specific catalysts support a slightly higher fair value for the shares. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates on Croda International have highlighted a mix of optimism and caution.
CAR
UK£0.69
Carclo
7D
3.1%
1Y
120.8%
HEX
UK£0.29
Helix Exploration
7D
6.5%
1Y
29.5%
JMAT
UK£20.88
Johnson Matthey
7D
-3.3%
1Y
39.7%

What Is Johnson Matthey Plc's (LON:JMAT) Share Price Doing?

Nov 14
What Is Johnson Matthey Plc's (LON:JMAT) Share Price Doing?
ELM
UK£1.55
Elementis
7D
-4.0%
1Y
15.3%
VCT
UK£6.00
Victrex
7D
-4.8%
1Y
-31.5%

VCT: Future Leadership Transition Will Guide Recovery As Margins Improve

Analysts have reduced their price targets for Victrex, with consensus moving from approximately £8.77 to £8.11 per share. This reflects concerns about weaker profit margins and slower growth forecasts in the chemicals sector.
SYNT
UK£0.50
Synthomer
7D
-7.0%
1Y
-68.4%

SYNT: Future Gains Are Expected As End Markets Gradually Stabilize

Synthomer's analyst price target has been reduced from 112 GBp to 102 GBp. Analysts cite persistent end-market challenges and limited near-term prospects for earnings recovery as key factors behind the downward revision. Analyst Commentary Recent analyst coverage reflects a spectrum of perspectives regarding Synthomer's outlook, shaped by evolving market dynamics and the company's updated financial guidance.
HAYD
UK£0.0055
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
4.8%
1Y
378.3%
ESNT
UK£0.93
Essentra
7D
-1.4%
1Y
-37.5%
IOF
UK£0.21
Iofina
7D
-6.3%
1Y
11.3%
TET
UK£2.19
Treatt
7D
-2.7%
1Y
-47.9%
ITX
UK£1.23
Itaconix
7D
5.6%
1Y
-7.5%
SNOX
UK£0.60
SulNOx Group
7D
12.1%
1Y
17.6%