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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJul 08, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies18
  • 7D1.0%
  • 3M-0.3%
  • 1Y-0.4%
  • YTD-1.5%

The Chemicals industry is up 1.7% in the last week, with Victrex up 18%. The industry has been flat over the past 12 months despite the gain this week. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 31% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 08 Jul 2026UK£9.9bUK£17.3b-UK£139,566,613.2719.3x-70.8x0.6x
Fri, 05 Jun 2026UK£10.4bUK£17.4b-UK£136,890,439.5027x-75.9x0.6x
Sun, 03 May 2026UK£10.0bUK£16.6b-UK£96,139,559.0922.4x-104.2x0.6x
Tue, 31 Mar 2026UK£9.4bUK£16.7b-UK£19,510,720.0217.9x-483.4x0.6x
Thu, 26 Feb 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£111,932,347.7328.5x-92.3x0.6x
Sat, 24 Jan 2026UK£10.5bUK£16.8b-UK£37,718,870.6626.3x-277.4x0.6x
Mon, 22 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£30,049,969.4320.5x-334.4x0.6x
Wed, 19 Nov 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m17.7x22.7x0.6x
Fri, 17 Oct 2025UK£10.2bUK£16.8bUK£424.0m18.9x24x0.6x
Sun, 14 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£430.8m21.8x21.5x0.6x
Tue, 12 Aug 2025UK£9.0bUK£16.7bUK£430.7m22.1x20.8x0.5x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.5x22.2x0.6x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.0m23.4x21.6x0.6x
Mon, 05 May 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£594.1m19.6x14.9x0.5x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025UK£9.0bUK£17.1bUK£591.8m20.1x15.2x0.5x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£578.1m17.1x17x0.6x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.7x17.1x0.6x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£577.7m20.7x17.5x0.6x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024UK£10.4bUK£18.1bUK£175.0m23.1x59.6x0.6x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m24.8x66.7x0.6x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£153.6m26.2x77.2x0.7x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024UK£11.8bUK£18.2bUK£131.4m26.3x89.6x0.6x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30.5x65.2x0.7x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024UK£12.9bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31.6x67.3x0.7x
Tue, 07 May 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£285.3m24.7x48x0.7x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.5bUK£274.8m21x49.2x0.7x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.8bUK£121.7m17.3x107.8x0.7x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024UK£13.2bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m18.4x93.5x0.7x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.5m19.6x97.5x0.7x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£152.4m17.2x83.3x0.6x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023UK£11.6bUK£20.9bUK£257.2m16.1x45.3x0.6x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023UK£13.2bUK£20.8bUK£222.0m22.7x59.5x0.6x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023UK£13.9bUK£21.0bUK£356.2m25.9x39x0.7x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023UK£14.6bUK£21.2bUK£801.6m17.2x18.2x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.2x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.6bTotal Earnings: UK£801.6mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -16x202420252026
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 0.61x.
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 6.5% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market1.55%
Materials-2.22%
Chemicals1.02%
Commodity Chemicals2.15%
Specialty Chemicals1.05%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-1.11%
Industrial Gases-9.56%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 30.8x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 29.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 81.9% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Specialty Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 31% over the next 5 years.
  • This is roughly in line with its past earnings growth rate.
  • In contrast, the Industrial Gases industry is expected to see its earnings decline by 56% 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
VCT VictrexUK£6.7717.7%
+UK£88.8m		-6.0%PS2x
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£19.211.5%
+UK£48.7m		3.7%PS0.3x
ELM ElementisUK£1.572.1%
+UK£18.3m		-7.8%PE19.3x
IOF IofinaUK£0.5514.6%
+UK£13.4m		131.6%PE17.9x
ESNT EssentraUK£0.833.6%
+UK£8.2m		-26.1%PE111.8x

Latest News

SYNT
UK£0.81
Synthomer
7D
1.4%
1Y
-16.7%
CAR
UK£0.30
Carclo
7D
-10.3%
1Y
-35.0%
JMAT
UK£19.21
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.5%
1Y
3.7%
HEX
UK£0.25
Helix Exploration
7D
-10.6%
1Y
-9.2%
GEX
UK£0.052
Georgina Energy
7D
-8.8%
1Y
-18.8%
HMI
UK£0.0025
Harvest Minerals
7D
11.1%
1Y
-23.1%
HAYD
UK£0.0029
Haydale
7D
-4.9%
1Y
-61.1%
SNOX
UK£0.55
SulNOx Group
7D
-8.3%
1Y
-4.3%
ESNT
UK£0.83
Essentra
7D
3.6%
1Y
-26.1%
Narrative Update • Jun 24

ESNT: Discount Rate And P/E Reset Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have trimmed their Essentra price targets by £0.10 after recent research updates, citing modest adjustments to the discount rate and future P/E assumptions while leaving fair value and core operating expectations broadly unchanged. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Essentra highlights a mix of optimism and caution, with the latest price target trim of £0.10 framed more as a technical adjustment than a reset of the core thesis.
VCT
UK£6.77
Victrex
7D
17.7%
1Y
-6.0%
Narrative Update • Jun 22

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

Analysts have nudged their Victrex price target slightly lower to £8.49 from £8.51, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E expectations that leave the overall valuation broadly unchanged. What's in the News No recent Victrex specific news items or key developments were available from the provided sources.
ELM
UK£1.57
Elementis
7D
2.1%
1Y
-7.8%
Narrative Update • Jun 18

ELM: New Audit Oversight Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have nudged their Elementis price target slightly higher to £2.00 from about £2.00, reflecting updated views on fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions. What’s in the News for Elementis Elementis appointed Ernst & Young LLP as auditor at its Annual General Meeting held on April 29, 2026, replacing the previous audit firm.
CRDA
UK£29.78
Croda International
7D
-1.5%
1Y
-0.9%
Narrative Update • Jun 16

CRDA: Mixed Broker Revisions And Execution Risks Will Shape Future P/E Path

Croda International's analyst price targets have shifted higher to £32.00 from £30.00, as analysts cite updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins and a slightly lower discount rate, along with a modestly adjusted future P/E expectation. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Croda International highlights a mix of optimism and caution, with several firms adjusting ratings and price targets as they reassess the company’s growth prospects, profit outlook and valuation framework.
ZTF
UK£4.44
Zotefoams
7D
0.9%
1Y
43.2%
Narrative Update • Jun 15

ZTF: Solid 2026 Outlook And Confirmed Dividend Will Support Repricing Potential

Analysts have kept their £6.13 price target for Zotefoams unchanged, citing only small adjustments in assumptions for the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E as the basis for maintaining their view. What's in the News Zotefoams issued full-year 2026 earnings guidance, stating that expectations remain unchanged and that a solid start to 2026 supports its outlook.
EDEN
UK£0.029
Eden Research
7D
-3.3%
1Y
-22.7%
HDD
UK£0.69
Hardide
7D
-3.5%
1Y
756.3%
IOF
UK£0.55
Iofina
7D
14.6%
1Y
131.6%