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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 06, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies20
  • 7D2.0%
  • 3M2.5%
  • 1Y3.1%
  • YTD1.8%

In the last week, the Chemicals industry is up 2.0%, with Johnson Matthey up 6.7%. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 3.1%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 26% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 06 Jan 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£32,232,504.2720.5x-318.7x0.6x
Thu, 04 Dec 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8b-UK£42,236,105.0423.6x-227.5x0.6x
Sat, 01 Nov 2025UK£10.1bUK£16.8bUK£423.0m18.9x23.9x0.6x
Mon, 29 Sep 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£425.3m20.1x22.5x0.6x
Wed, 27 Aug 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.3m22.4x21.6x0.6x
Fri, 25 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£449.3m22.1x21.7x0.6x
Sun, 22 Jun 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.2x21.4x0.6x
Tue, 20 May 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£602.9m22.1x15.1x0.5x
Thu, 17 Apr 2025UK£8.1bUK£17.1bUK£594.0m18.8x13.7x0.5x
Sat, 15 Mar 2025UK£9.6bUK£17.1bUK£582.0m15.8x16.5x0.6x
Mon, 10 Feb 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.1x16.9x0.6x
Wed, 08 Jan 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.3m19.5x17.3x0.6x
Fri, 06 Dec 2024UK£10.3bUK£17.2bUK£580.7m18.6x17.7x0.6x
Sun, 03 Nov 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.2bUK£165.1m24.6x66.4x0.6x
Tue, 01 Oct 2024UK£12.0bUK£18.1bUK£158.0m24.7x75.8x0.7x
Thu, 29 Aug 2024UK£12.2bUK£18.1bUK£154.9m26.8x78.9x0.7x
Sat, 27 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£193.2m29.5x64.3x0.7x
Mon, 24 Jun 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m29.8x63.2x0.7x
Wed, 22 May 2024UK£13.9bUK£19.5bUK£255.3m32.8x54.4x0.7x
Fri, 19 Apr 2024UK£13.6bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.1x47.4x0.7x
Sun, 17 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.6bUK£244.5m17.6x53.6x0.7x
Tue, 13 Feb 2024UK£13.3bUK£20.0bUK£144.4m18x91.8x0.7x
Thu, 11 Jan 2024UK£12.8bUK£20.0bUK£140.9m18.4x90.7x0.6x
Sat, 09 Dec 2023UK£13.0bUK£20.0bUK£139.4m18.8x93x0.6x
Mon, 06 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.8bUK£258.1m17.9x49.4x0.6x
Wed, 04 Oct 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.9bUK£256.8m16.6x49.4x0.6x
Fri, 01 Sep 2023UK£14.1bUK£21.0bUK£355.8m24.8x39.5x0.7x
Sun, 30 Jul 2023UK£15.2bUK£21.0bUK£348.0m28.1x43.8x0.7x
Tue, 27 Jun 2023UK£14.2bUK£21.2bUK£802.0m14.1x17.7x0.7x
Thu, 25 May 2023UK£16.1bUK£21.2bUK£828.5m15.7x19.5x0.8x
Sat, 22 Apr 2023UK£17.7bUK£21.1bUK£835.3m16.7x21.2x0.8x
Mon, 20 Mar 2023UK£16.6bUK£21.9bUK£993.8m16.1x16.7x0.8x
Wed, 15 Feb 2023UK£18.3bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.6x16.6x0.8x
Fri, 13 Jan 2023UK£18.2bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b16.9x16.5x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.5x


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 28.5x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the British Chemicals industry at the moment, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates to remain steady.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.65x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • Total earnings for the Chemicals industry have declined over the last three years, with the industry now making a loss overall.
  • Revenues have also declined 8.6% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market1.49%
Materials4.48%
Chemicals2.05%
Industrial Gases2.63%
Specialty Chemicals2.09%
Commodity Chemicals1.66%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-1.86%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 28.9x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 43.3%, 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 43% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 9.8% 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
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£23.026.7%
+UK£241.6m		70.4%PS0.3x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£4.146.2%
+UK£11.7m		35.3%PE283.3x
ELM ElementisUK£1.691.0%
+UK£9.1m		18.5%PS1.8x
DCTA Directa PlusUK£0.1392.6%
+UK£6.5m		108.0%PS2.2x
IOF IofinaUK£0.287.8%
+UK£3.8m		46.7%PE14.8x

Latest News

CRDA
UK£27.28
Croda International
7D
-1.2%
1Y
-17.7%

Croda International Plc's (LON:CRDA) Popularity With Investors Is Clear

Jan 06
Croda International Plc's (LON:CRDA) Popularity With Investors Is Clear
SNOX
UK£0.88
SulNOx Group
7D
-10.3%
1Y
15.9%
DCTA
UK£0.13
Directa Plus
7D
92.6%
1Y
108.0%
ZTF
UK£4.14
Zotefoams
7D
6.2%
1Y
35.3%
IOF
UK£0.28
Iofina
7D
7.8%
1Y
46.7%

Iofina plc's (LON:IOF) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 26%

Dec 31
Iofina plc's (LON:IOF) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 26%
HAYD
UK£0.0052
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
7.2%
1Y
344.4%
VCT
UK£6.56
Victrex
7D
-0.9%
1Y
-38.6%

VCT: Sector Caution And Rating Downgrade Will Pressure Share Rerating Potential

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Victrex from £6.75 to £5.75, reflecting a slightly higher discount rate, softer medium term revenue and margin expectations, and recent price target cuts from the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street updates underline a more cautious stance on Victrex, with bearish analysts revising ratings and price targets lower in response to sector headwinds and company specific execution risks.
JMAT
UK£23.02
Johnson Matthey
7D
6.7%
1Y
70.4%

JMAT: Future Outlook Will Remain Measured As Profit Initiatives Support Neutral Market Repricing

The analyst price target for Johnson Matthey has been lifted modestly, by about £0.10 per share, as analysts cite improved fair value estimates supported by slightly lower discount rates and marginally stronger long term profit expectations. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates highlight a converging view around a fair value range near 2,100 GBp, with analysts modestly more constructive on the company’s earnings resilience and capital allocation, while still flagging execution risks and macro uncertainty.
ESNT
UK£0.96
Essentra
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-26.3%
CAR
UK£0.57
Carclo
7D
7.9%
1Y
139.2%

Market Cool On Carclo plc's (LON:CAR) Revenues Pushing Shares 25% Lower

Dec 18
Market Cool On Carclo plc's (LON:CAR) Revenues Pushing Shares 25% Lower
ELM
UK£1.69
Elementis
7D
1.0%
1Y
18.5%

Calculating The Fair Value Of Elementis plc (LON:ELM)

Dec 12
Calculating The Fair Value Of Elementis plc (LON:ELM)
TET
UK£2.11
Treatt
7D
1.7%
1Y
-55.0%
HDD
UK£0.17
Hardide
7D
-14.1%
1Y
197.8%
EDEN
UK£0.026
Eden Research
7D
-1.9%
1Y
-37.6%
HMI
UK£0.0022
Harvest Minerals
7D
-18.2%
1Y
-52.6%
ATOM
UK£0.52
Atome
7D
-4.6%
1Y
10.8%