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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedMay 28, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies22
  • 7D5.4%
  • 3M2.5%
  • 1Y8.8%
  • YTD4.4%

The Chemicals industry is up 5.4% in the last week, with Croda International up 6.1%. During this same period, the Helix Exploration underperformed, falling 7.8%. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 8.8%. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 39% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Thu, 28 May 2026UK£10.6bUK£16.6b-UK£140,653,163.7725.6x-75.6x0.6x
Sat, 25 Apr 2026UK£9.9bUK£16.7b-UK£20,781,608.3419.6x-478.3x0.6x
Mon, 23 Mar 2026UK£8.8bUK£16.7b-UK£20,073,324.2017.5x-437x0.5x
Wed, 18 Feb 2026UK£10.6bUK£16.8b-UK£37,925,036.5927.2x-280x0.6x
Fri, 16 Jan 2026UK£10.5bUK£16.8b-UK£32,559,195.3222x-321.8x0.6x
Sun, 14 Dec 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8b-UK£41,098,490.5423.7x-237.8x0.6x
Tue, 11 Nov 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m18.5x23.4x0.6x
Thu, 09 Oct 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£423.9m19.9x23.6x0.6x
Sat, 06 Sep 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.7bUK£432.7m22.6x21.3x0.5x
Mon, 04 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.8bUK£432.7m21x21.1x0.5x
Wed, 02 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£450.0m22.2x21.6x0.6x
Fri, 30 May 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.3x21.6x0.6x
Sun, 27 Apr 2025UK£8.6bUK£17.1bUK£594.3m18.6x14.5x0.5x
Tue, 25 Mar 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£579.8m20.2x15.7x0.5x
Thu, 20 Feb 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.8m16.8x17.4x0.6x
Sat, 18 Jan 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£576.2m19x17.4x0.6x
Mon, 16 Dec 2024UK£10.3bUK£17.1bUK£583.6m17.8x17.7x0.6x
Wed, 13 Nov 2024UK£10.7bUK£18.2bUK£164.3m23.8x64.9x0.6x
Fri, 11 Oct 2024UK£11.5bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m25x69.8x0.6x
Sun, 08 Sep 2024UK£11.6bUK£18.1bUK£155.0m25.7x74.7x0.6x
Tue, 06 Aug 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£130.4m26.2x91x0.7x
Thu, 04 Jul 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.2bUK£189.6m30.1x64.9x0.7x
Sat, 01 Jun 2024UK£13.4bUK£18.2bUK£186.0m33.1x72.1x0.7x
Mon, 29 Apr 2024UK£13.3bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.5x46.4x0.7x
Wed, 27 Mar 2024UK£13.6bUK£19.5bUK£265.7m22x51.2x0.7x
Fri, 23 Feb 2024UK£13.1bUK£20.0bUK£144.6m17.2x90.3x0.7x
Sun, 21 Jan 2024UK£12.3bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m17.7x87.6x0.6x
Tue, 19 Dec 2023UK£13.5bUK£20.0bUK£140.1m19.1x96.6x0.7x
Thu, 16 Nov 2023UK£12.9bUK£20.8bUK£230.5m16.2x56.2x0.6x
Sat, 14 Oct 2023UK£12.0bUK£20.9bUK£257.1m16.8x46.7x0.6x
Mon, 11 Sep 2023UK£13.8bUK£20.8bUK£221.0m23.5x62.2x0.7x
Wed, 09 Aug 2023UK£14.5bUK£21.0bUK£337.1m27.1x42.9x0.7x
Fri, 07 Jul 2023UK£14.0bUK£21.2bUK£803.2m16.5x17.4x0.7x
Sun, 04 Jun 2023UK£16.0bUK£21.2bUK£801.7m15.2x19.9x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.9x


Total Market Cap: UK£16.0bTotal Earnings: UK£801.7mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -12.5x202420252026
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 0.62x.
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 7.9% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market0.93%
Materials3.21%
Chemicals5.44%
Specialty Chemicals5.68%
Commodity Chemicals4.75%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-2.21%
Industrial Gases-6.15%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 29.2x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 31.1%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 81.9% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 47% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Commodity Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 31% 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
CRDA Croda InternationalUK£30.436.1%
+UK£244.9m		-1.2%PE68.7x
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£21.742.1%
+UK£73.8m		27.1%PS0.3x
ELM ElementisUK£1.522.8%
+UK£24.0m		6.6%PE18.7x
VCT VictrexUK£6.403.7%
+UK£20.0m		-18.2%PS1.9x
SYNT SynthomerUK£1.1110.8%
+UK£17.7m		6.5%PS0.1x

Latest News

JMAT
UK£21.74
Johnson Matthey
7D
2.1%
1Y
27.1%
HDD
UK£0.59
Hardide
7D
42.2%
1Y
661.3%
SYNT
UK£1.11
Synthomer
7D
10.8%
1Y
6.5%
ESNT
UK£0.89
Essentra
7D
4.9%
1Y
-7.9%
Narrative Update • May 25

ESNT: Reset Dividend And Margin Assumptions Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Essentra, with the updated price target moving from about £1.76 to £1.67. This reflects recent research that cites a slightly higher discount rate, modestly adjusted growth and margin assumptions, and recent downgrades from major brokers.
IOF
UK£0.48
Iofina
7D
-1.0%
1Y
115.7%
VCT
UK£6.40
Victrex
7D
3.7%
1Y
-18.2%
Narrative Update • May 21

VCT: Margin Execution And Lower P/E Framework Will Support Future Re Rating

Analysts have trimmed their implied price target on Victrex by about £0.39, citing updated assumptions around profit margins, revenue growth and a lower future P/E multiple following recent Street research. Analyst Commentary Street research around Victrex has shifted to a more cautious stance on valuation, with the latest move being a £1.00 cut to the implied price target from JPMorgan.
ELM
UK£1.52
Elementis
7D
2.8%
1Y
6.6%
Narrative Update • May 17

ELM: Refined Assumptions Will Still Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Elementis to £2.00 from £2.05, citing updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Bullish analysts continue to see upside in Elementis even after the price target revision to £2.00, pointing to what they view as an attractive entry point relative to their fair value work.
CRDA
UK£30.43
Croda International
7D
6.1%
1Y
-1.2%
Narrative Update • May 17

CRDA: Mixed Broker Upgrades And Execution Risks Will Shape Future P/E Expectations

Analysts have adjusted their price targets on Croda International to around £32.80. This reflects updated assumptions on revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples following a series of recent rating upgrades and target tweaks across the Street.
GEX
UK£0.056
Georgina Energy
7D
-11.1%
1Y
-27.7%
SYM
UK£0.07
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
-6.7%
1Y
-3.4%
ZTF
UK£4.24
Zotefoams
7D
7.9%
1Y
42.8%
ATOM
UK£0.56
Atome
7D
-5.8%
1Y
9.7%
HEX
UK£0.38
Helix Exploration
7D
-7.8%
1Y
86.7%
RIFT
UK£0.083
Rift Helium
7D
-4.6%
1Y
n/a
HMI
UK£0.003
Harvest Minerals
7D
-14.9%
1Y
10.4%
KRPZ
UK£0.013
Kropz
7D
-3.8%
1Y
108.3%