Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 10, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies20
  • 7D1.4%
  • 3M4.2%
  • 1Y6.4%
  • YTD1.4%

The Chemicals industry is up 1.4% in the last week, with Johnson Matthey up 5.4%. This means that the industry has gained 6.4% over the past year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 26% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sat, 10 Jan 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.8b-UK£32,494,406.3421.7x-315x0.6x
Mon, 08 Dec 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£42,240,228.2924x-230.4x0.6x
Wed, 05 Nov 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£422.7m18.7x23.4x0.6x
Fri, 03 Oct 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£424.0m20.4x23.5x0.6x
Sun, 31 Aug 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.6m22.2x21.4x0.6x
Tue, 29 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.9m21.7x21.5x0.6x
Thu, 26 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£450.4m23.1x21.6x0.6x
Sat, 24 May 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£448.3m21.9x21.5x0.6x
Mon, 21 Apr 2025UK£8.1bUK£17.1bUK£594.2m18.6x13.7x0.5x
Wed, 19 Mar 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£569.5m21.6x17x0.6x
Fri, 14 Feb 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.4m17.7x17.4x0.6x
Sun, 12 Jan 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£576.4m18.5x16.8x0.6x
Tue, 10 Dec 2024UK£10.5bUK£17.1bUK£584.0m18.4x17.9x0.6x
Thu, 07 Nov 2024UK£10.7bUK£18.2bUK£165.0m24x65x0.6x
Sat, 05 Oct 2024UK£12.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.6m24.2x72.2x0.7x
Mon, 02 Sep 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.1bUK£154.7m26.9x79.3x0.7x
Wed, 31 Jul 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£193.2m29.1x62.7x0.7x
Fri, 28 Jun 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£190.4m29.9x63.6x0.7x
Sun, 26 May 2024UK£13.6bUK£18.2bUK£186.0m33.5x73.1x0.7x
Tue, 23 Apr 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.1x47.7x0.7x
Thu, 21 Mar 2024UK£13.6bUK£19.5bUK£266.0m20.5x51.1x0.7x
Sat, 17 Feb 2024UK£13.5bUK£20.0bUK£144.2m18x93.7x0.7x
Mon, 15 Jan 2024UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£141.0m18.5x90x0.6x
Wed, 13 Dec 2023UK£12.9bUK£20.0bUK£139.5m18.8x92.5x0.6x
Fri, 10 Nov 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.8bUK£229.2m15.3x55.8x0.6x
Sun, 08 Oct 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.8bUK£257.7m16.8x49.8x0.6x
Tue, 05 Sep 2023UK£14.2bUK£21.0bUK£355.5m24.6x39.9x0.7x
Thu, 03 Aug 2023UK£14.8bUK£21.0bUK£337.0m27.2x43.9x0.7x
Sat, 01 Jul 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.2bUK£803.1m16.3x17.9x0.7x
Mon, 29 May 2023UK£15.9bUK£21.3bUK£802.4m15.6x19.9x0.7x
Wed, 26 Apr 2023UK£17.6bUK£21.1bUK£835.2m16.7x21x0.8x
Fri, 24 Mar 2023UK£16.7bUK£21.9bUK£999.1m15.4x16.8x0.8x
Sun, 19 Feb 2023UK£18.5bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.6x16.7x0.8x
Tue, 17 Jan 2023UK£18.5bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17x16.7x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.7x


Total Market Cap: UK£18.5bTotal Earnings: UK£1.1bTotal Revenue: UK£22.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 27.3x202420252026
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 0.64x.
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 Market1.88%
Materials4.16%
Chemicals1.43%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals11.15%
Specialty Chemicals1.59%
Commodity Chemicals-1.87%
Industrial Gases-6.03%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 28.8x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 43.2%, 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 13% 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£23.025.4%
+UK£198.0m		75.5%PS0.3x
VCT VictrexUK£6.935.0%
+UK£28.7m		-31.3%PE21.7x
ELM ElementisUK£1.712.4%
+UK£22.7m		23.3%PS1.8x
TET TreattUK£2.176.1%
+UK£7.4m		-50.6%PE11.4x
HAYD Haydale Graphene IndustriesUK£0.0049-0.8%
UK£5.4m		308.3%PS8x

Latest News

VCT
UK£6.93
Victrex
7D
5.0%
1Y
-31.3%

Victrex (LON:VCT) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of £0.4614

Jan 09
Victrex (LON:VCT) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of £0.4614
CRDA
UK£26.93
Croda International
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-15.9%
HAYD
UK£0.0049
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
-0.8%
1Y
308.3%
EDEN
UK£0.036
Eden Research
7D
35.8%
1Y
-11.1%

Here's Why We're Not Too Worried About Eden Research's (LON:EDEN) Cash Burn Situation

Jan 08
Here's Why We're Not Too Worried About Eden Research's (LON:EDEN) Cash Burn Situation
DCTA
UK£0.13
Directa Plus
7D
19.0%
1Y
108.3%
JMAT
UK£23.02
Johnson Matthey
7D
5.4%
1Y
75.5%

JMAT: Higher Profit Outlook And Leaner Leadership Will Shape Fairly Valued Shares

Johnson Matthey’s analyst price targets have moved higher to £21.00, supported by updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that align with recent target increases from £18.00 and £19.50 to £21.00 at major banks. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a more constructive stance on Johnson Matthey, with bullish analysts aligning around a £21.00 fair value view.
ELM
UK£1.71
Elementis
7D
2.4%
1Y
23.3%

ELM: Modest Assumption Tweaks Will Support A Stronger Undervalued Outlook

Analysts have nudged their price target for Elementis slightly higher, to around £1.98 from about £1.98 previously. This reflects small adjustments to discount rate, revenue growth assumptions and future P/E expectations rather than any major change in their overall view.
SNOX
UK£0.70
SulNOx Group
7D
-28.2%
1Y
-24.3%
ZTF
UK£4.02
Zotefoams
7D
-3.1%
1Y
30.5%
IOF
UK£0.26
Iofina
7D
-3.7%
1Y
35.1%

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%
SYNT
UK£0.63
Synthomer
7D
-1.1%
1Y
-54.9%

SYNT Will Face Mounting Pressure As Earnings Recovery Outlook Deteriorates

The analyst price target for Synthomer has been reduced to £1.02 per share from £1.12, as analysts factor in slower revenue growth assumptions, despite slightly higher profit margin expectations and a marginally increased discount rate. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates highlight a cautious stance from bearish analysts, who have progressively lowered their price targets on Synthomer as they reassess the company’s growth trajectory and risk profile.
ESNT
UK£0.95
Essentra
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-21.2%
CAR
UK£0.58
Carclo
7D
12.3%
1Y
146.4%

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
TET
UK£2.17
Treatt
7D
6.1%
1Y
-50.6%
HDD
UK£0.17
Hardide
7D
-4.2%
1Y
202.2%
HEX
UK£0.27
Helix Exploration
7D
-6.0%
1Y
65.2%