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U.K. (FTSE) Specialty Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedMay 09, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies12
  • 7D0.5%
  • 3M-4.2%
  • 1Y9.7%
  • YTDn/a

In the last week, the Specialty Chemicals industry is flat overall, with Victrex standing out by going down 4.4%. The past year has been better, since the industry has gained 9.7% in that time. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 34% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 10 May 2026UK£9.4bUK£16.1b-UK£109,938,151.1529.7x-85.8x0.6x
Tue, 07 Apr 2026UK£9.0bUK£16.2b-UK£35,542,199.5920.8x-252.1x0.6x
Thu, 05 Mar 2026UK£9.2bUK£16.3b-UK£113,696,109.7825.1x-80.6x0.6x
Sat, 31 Jan 2026UK£9.7bUK£16.3b-UK£38,923,481.4723.8x-248.4x0.6x
Mon, 29 Dec 2025UK£9.4bUK£16.3b-UK£31,257,278.4617x-301.6x0.6x
Wed, 26 Nov 2025UK£9.0bUK£16.3b-UK£31,122,246.8514.5x-288.2x0.5x
Fri, 24 Oct 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.3bUK£433.2m13x22.3x0.6x
Sun, 21 Sep 2025UK£9.0bUK£16.3bUK£434.1m14.2x20.7x0.6x
Tue, 19 Aug 2025UK£8.5bUK£16.3bUK£433.2m20x19.7x0.5x
Thu, 17 Jul 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.3bUK£452.7m20.5x20.2x0.6x
Sat, 14 Jun 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.3bUK£453.1m21.9x20.4x0.6x
Mon, 12 May 2025UK£8.6bUK£16.6bUK£597.2m15.9x14.4x0.5x
Wed, 09 Apr 2025UK£7.6bUK£16.6bUK£594.4m14.1x12.8x0.5x
Fri, 07 Mar 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.6bUK£570.0m16.6x16.9x0.6x
Sun, 02 Feb 2025UK£9.5bUK£16.7bUK£583.7m17.8x16.3x0.6x
Tue, 31 Dec 2024UK£9.4bUK£16.6bUK£584.2m20.2x16x0.6x
Thu, 28 Nov 2024UK£9.3bUK£17.7bUK£170.9m21.6x54.4x0.5x
Sat, 26 Oct 2024UK£10.1bUK£17.7bUK£161.1m24.5x62.9x0.6x
Mon, 23 Sep 2024UK£10.6bUK£17.7bUK£162.4m24x65.2x0.6x
Wed, 21 Aug 2024UK£10.8bUK£17.7bUK£165.0m26.2x65.5x0.6x
Fri, 19 Jul 2024UK£11.6bUK£17.7bUK£199.0m30.2x58.1x0.7x
Sun, 16 Jun 2024UK£11.3bUK£17.7bUK£198.9m29.1x56.7x0.6x
Tue, 14 May 2024UK£13.0bUK£19.0bUK£264.0m31.5x49.2x0.7x
Thu, 11 Apr 2024UK£12.7bUK£19.1bUK£295.7m22x43.1x0.7x
Sat, 09 Mar 2024UK£12.2bUK£19.3bUK£229.9m20.4x53.1x0.6x
Mon, 05 Feb 2024UK£12.3bUK£19.5bUK£186.3m19.1x66.1x0.6x
Wed, 03 Jan 2024UK£12.7bUK£19.5bUK£186.1m21.4x68.5x0.7x
Fri, 01 Dec 2023UK£11.7bUK£19.5bUK£199.6m17.6x58.8x0.6x
Sun, 29 Oct 2023UK£11.2bUK£20.4bUK£312.1m21.1x35.7x0.5x
Tue, 26 Sep 2023UK£12.2bUK£20.3bUK£312.3m22.7x39x0.6x
Thu, 24 Aug 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.5bUK£445.1m24.7x28.8x0.6x
Sat, 22 Jul 2023UK£13.9bUK£20.7bUK£896.8m15.5x15.5x0.7x
Mon, 19 Jun 2023UK£13.6bUK£20.7bUK£901.6m11.8x15x0.7x
Wed, 17 May 2023UK£15.9bUK£20.7bUK£929.0m14.3x17.1x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.1x


Total Market Cap: UK£15.9bTotal Earnings: UK£929.0mTotal Revenue: UK£20.7bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Specialty Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -7.1x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the British Specialty 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 0.60x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • Total earnings for the Specialty Chemicals industry have declined over the last three years, with the industry now making a loss overall.
  • Revenues have also declined 8.0% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Comparison

How does U.K. Specialty Chemicals compare with similar industries?

GB Market-0.81%
Materials4.51%
Chemicals0.42%
Specialty Chemicals0.45%
Commodity Chemicals0.95%
Industrial Gases0.84%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-4.69%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

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

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£21.021.4%
+UK£47.0m		58.5%PS0.3x
CRDA Croda InternationalUK£28.450.4%
+UK£15.4m		-8.5%PE64.2x
IOF IofinaUK£0.4712.0%
+UK£9.6m		106.7%PE15.4x
SYNT SynthomerUK£1.013.7%
+UK£5.9m		0.8%PS0.09x
SYM Symphony Environmental TechnologiesUK£0.08712.9%
+UK£2.4m		20.7%PS3.4x

Latest News

IOF
UK£0.47
Iofina
7D
12.0%
1Y
106.7%
SYM
UK£0.087
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
12.9%
1Y
20.7%
SYNT
UK£1.01
Synthomer
7D
3.7%
1Y
0.8%
Narrative Update • May 04

SYNT: Bio-Based Shift Will Face Margin And Leadership Risks Ahead

Analysts have kept their Synthomer fair value target steady at £0.59. This reflects a view that a shift from a previous revenue contraction of 32.37% to expected growth of 2.61%, together with a slightly lower projected profit margin of 9.99%, leaves the overall valuation framework broadly unchanged.
VCT
UK£5.89
Victrex
7D
-4.4%
1Y
-34.9%
Narrative Update • May 01

VCT: Cautious P E And Discount Rate Assumptions Will Shape Future Rerating

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Victrex by £1.00, citing updated assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E. These changes modestly adjust their outlook on the shares.
ELM
UK£1.45
Elementis
7D
-1.5%
1Y
16.5%
CRDA
UK£28.45
Croda International
7D
0.4%
1Y
-8.5%
Narrative Update • May 01

CRDA: Cluster Of Recent Upgrades Will Support Re Rating Potential

The updated analysis trims Croda International's fair value estimate slightly to £47.67 from £47.96, as analysts factor in recent target changes and upgrades that reflect adjusted assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Croda International has leaned constructive, with several bullish analysts adjusting ratings and targets in quick succession.
JMAT
UK£21.02
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.4%
1Y
58.5%
Narrative Update • Apr 30

JMAT: Future Returns Will Stay Measured As Reset Expectations Meet Large Cash Return

Analysts have lowered Johnson Matthey price targets to a range of £2,000 to £2,250, reflecting slightly softer margin assumptions and a modestly higher future P/E, while still seeing balanced risk and reward at current levels. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a tighter valuation range for Johnson Matthey, with price targets now clustered between £2,000 and £2,250 and a mix of rating changes that highlight both upside potential and execution risks.
HDD
UK£0.35
Hardide
7D
-5.3%
1Y
416.4%
CAR
UK£0.40
Carclo
7D
7.8%
1Y
8.1%
HAYD
UK£0.0033
Haydale
7D
-0.6%
1Y
170.5%