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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 08, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies20
  • 7D3.3%
  • 3M3.3%
  • 1Y4.7%
  • YTD1.6%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has risen 3.3%, driven by gains from Johnson Matthey of 7.8%. Meanwhile, SulNOx Group actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 18% in the last week. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 4.7%. 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
Thu, 08 Jan 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.8b-UK£32,365,097.1120.7x-316.5x0.6x
Sat, 06 Dec 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£42,272,767.0424x-230.3x0.6x
Mon, 03 Nov 2025UK£10.1bUK£16.8bUK£423.0m18.9x23.9x0.6x
Wed, 01 Oct 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8bUK£424.0m21.1x23.1x0.6x
Fri, 29 Aug 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.4m22.2x21.6x0.6x
Sun, 27 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£449.1m22.1x21.7x0.6x
Tue, 24 Jun 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£450.0m22x21.4x0.6x
Thu, 22 May 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£603.9m22x15.1x0.5x
Sat, 19 Apr 2025UK£8.1bUK£17.1bUK£594.2m18.6x13.7x0.5x
Mon, 17 Mar 2025UK£9.6bUK£17.1bUK£582.0m15.8x16.5x0.6x
Wed, 12 Feb 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m16.9x16.9x0.6x
Fri, 10 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£576.7m18.3x17.2x0.6x
Sun, 08 Dec 2024UK£10.4bUK£17.1bUK£583.9m18.7x17.7x0.6x
Tue, 05 Nov 2024UK£10.9bUK£18.2bUK£165.1m24.3x66x0.6x
Thu, 03 Oct 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.1bUK£157.6m25x75.3x0.7x
Sat, 31 Aug 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.1bUK£154.7m26.9x79.3x0.7x
Mon, 29 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£193.2m29.5x64.3x0.7x
Wed, 26 Jun 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m30x63.5x0.7x
Fri, 24 May 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.5bUK£255.0m32.2x53.1x0.7x
Sun, 21 Apr 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.1x47.7x0.7x
Tue, 19 Mar 2024UK£13.2bUK£19.6bUK£244.5m17.7x53.8x0.7x
Thu, 15 Feb 2024UK£13.1bUK£20.0bUK£143.9m17.9x91.1x0.7x
Sat, 13 Jan 2024UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£141.0m18.5x90x0.6x
Mon, 11 Dec 2023UK£13.0bUK£20.0bUK£139.5m18.8x93x0.6x
Wed, 08 Nov 2023UK£12.5bUK£20.8bUK£229.4m15x54.5x0.6x
Fri, 06 Oct 2023UK£12.5bUK£20.9bUK£257.2m16.6x48.6x0.6x
Sun, 03 Sep 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.0bUK£355.1m25x40.5x0.7x
Tue, 01 Aug 2023UK£15.1bUK£21.0bUK£338.2m28.2x44.8x0.7x
Thu, 29 Jun 2023UK£14.1bUK£21.2bUK£800.3m14.4x17.6x0.7x
Sat, 27 May 2023UK£15.9bUK£21.3bUK£802.3m15.6x19.9x0.7x
Mon, 24 Apr 2023UK£17.7bUK£21.1bUK£835.6m16.7x21.2x0.8x
Wed, 22 Mar 2023UK£16.6bUK£21.9bUK£994.2m16.3x16.7x0.8x
Fri, 17 Feb 2023UK£18.5bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.8x16.8x0.8x
Sun, 15 Jan 2023UK£18.3bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b16.9x16.6x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.6x


Total Market Cap: UK£18.3bTotal Earnings: UK£1.1bTotal Revenue: UK£22.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 27.9x202420252026
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 Market1.39%
Materials3.64%
Chemicals3.31%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals7.91%
Specialty Chemicals3.60%
Commodity Chemicals-1.95%
Industrial Gases-4.35%
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 11% 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£22.987.8%
+UK£278.5m		71.1%PS0.3x
CRDA Croda InternationalUK£27.261.2%
+UK£43.3m		-17.0%PE27.2x
ELM ElementisUK£1.702.5%
+UK£23.9m		24.6%PS1.8x
VCT VictrexUK£6.610.9%
+UK£5.2m		-35.4%PE20.7x
DCTA Directa PlusUK£0.1163.0%
+UK£4.4m		76.0%PS1.8x

Latest News

EDEN
UK£0.031
Eden Research
7D
17.0%
1Y
-24.8%

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£0.11
Directa Plus
7D
63.0%
1Y
76.0%
CRDA
UK£27.26
Croda International
7D
1.2%
1Y
-17.0%

CRDA: Refreshed Q4 Guidance And Earnings Outlook Will Support Higher Share Price

Croda International's updated analyst price target has moved slightly higher, with recent revisions in the range of £30.50 to £33.00 per share, supported by analysts' refreshed assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent research shows a cluster of modestly higher fair value views for Croda International, with price targets in a relatively tight range of £30.50 to £33.00 per share.
JMAT
UK£22.98
Johnson Matthey
7D
7.8%
1Y
71.1%

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£1.70
Elementis
7D
2.5%
1Y
24.6%

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£0.80
SulNOx Group
7D
-17.9%
1Y
-7.0%
HAYD
UK£0.0048
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
-5.9%
1Y
310.3%
VCT
UK£6.61
Victrex
7D
0.9%
1Y
-35.4%

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.
ESNT
UK£0.93
Essentra
7D
-3.6%
1Y
-25.9%
CAR
UK£0.56
Carclo
7D
10.2%
1Y
133.2%

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
TET
UK£2.10
Treatt
7D
2.9%
1Y
-51.9%
HDD
UK£0.17
Hardide
7D
-5.4%
1Y
211.1%
HEX
UK£0.28
Helix Exploration
7D
-4.3%
1Y
66.7%