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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 08, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-2.5%
  • 3M6.4%
  • 1Y3.2%
  • YTD0.2%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has dropped 2.5%, driven by Croda International declining 3.0%. In contrast, Atome has gained 5.8%. In the past year, the industry has gained 3.2%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 34% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Mon, 08 Jun 2026UK£10.2bUK£17.5b-UK£136,557,467.6625.5x-74.6x0.6x
Wed, 06 May 2026UK£10.0bUK£16.6b-UK£93,784,709.6519.2x-107x0.6x
Fri, 03 Apr 2026UK£9.6bUK£16.7b-UK£19,675,126.8618.4x-485.7x0.6x
Sun, 01 Mar 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£112,129,908.8628.4x-91.7x0.6x
Tue, 27 Jan 2026UK£10.5bUK£16.8b-UK£37,498,213.0926.1x-281.2x0.6x
Thu, 25 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£29,736,975.6520.2x-336.6x0.6x
Sat, 22 Nov 2025UK£9.5bUK£16.8b-UK£41,068,753.7122.4x-231.1x0.6x
Mon, 20 Oct 2025UK£10.1bUK£16.8bUK£424.1m18.9x23.8x0.6x
Wed, 17 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£431.5m21.5x21.6x0.6x
Fri, 15 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.7bUK£431.0m22.9x21.2x0.5x
Sun, 13 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.3m21.4x22.2x0.6x
Tue, 10 Jun 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8bUK£448.0m22.8x21.9x0.6x
Thu, 08 May 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£593.8m19.4x15x0.5x
Sat, 05 Apr 2025UK£8.3bUK£17.1bUK£591.6m19.2x14x0.5x
Mon, 03 Mar 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£578.0m16.9x17.2x0.6x
Wed, 29 Jan 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.1m18.4x17.4x0.6x
Fri, 27 Dec 2024UK£10.2bUK£17.1bUK£577.7m21.5x17.7x0.6x
Sun, 24 Nov 2024UK£10.5bUK£18.1bUK£169.8m23.2x62x0.6x
Tue, 22 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.2bUK£165.2m24.6x66.6x0.6x
Thu, 19 Sep 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.1bUK£153.6m25.9x76.4x0.6x
Sat, 17 Aug 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£150.9m26.2x78.5x0.7x
Mon, 15 Jul 2024UK£12.5bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30.5x65.7x0.7x
Wed, 12 Jun 2024UK£12.6bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31x66x0.7x
Fri, 10 May 2024UK£14.0bUK£19.6bUK£285.9m24.7x49.1x0.7x
Sun, 07 Apr 2024UK£13.2bUK£19.6bUK£286.0m20.8x46.3x0.7x
Tue, 05 Mar 2024UK£12.9bUK£19.8bUK£121.9m17.1x105.9x0.7x
Thu, 01 Feb 2024UK£13.2bUK£20.0bUK£140.5m18x93.9x0.7x
Sat, 30 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.9m19.5x97.3x0.7x
Mon, 27 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£152.9m17.1x82.8x0.6x
Wed, 25 Oct 2023UK£11.7bUK£20.9bUK£257.3m16x45.4x0.6x
Fri, 22 Sep 2023UK£13.1bUK£20.8bUK£220.7m17.1x59.5x0.6x
Sun, 20 Aug 2023UK£13.6bUK£21.0bUK£356.1m24.8x38.1x0.6x
Tue, 18 Jul 2023UK£14.5bUK£21.2bUK£801.3m16.8x18x0.7x
Thu, 15 Jun 2023UK£14.8bUK£21.2bUK£801.8m14.7x18.4x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.4x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.8bTotal Earnings: UK£801.8mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -13.5x202420252026
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 6.3% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market-0.10%
Materials-4.19%
Chemicals-2.51%
Industrial Gases2.10%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals1.68%
Commodity Chemicals-0.65%
Specialty Chemicals-2.68%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 29.7x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 30.2%, 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 35% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 16% per year.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 18% 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
ATOM AtomeUK£0.555.8%
+UK£2.9m		-14.7%PB43.2x
HEX Helix ExplorationUK£0.373.2%
+UK£2.2m		76.3%PB4.6x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£4.241.0%
+UK£2.0m		33.3%PE9.3x
GEX Georgina EnergyUK£0.06210.7%
+UK£1.6m		-17.1%PE-4.8x
CAR CarcloUK£0.374.6%
+UK£1.2m		-5.7%PE14.2x

Latest News

SYNT
UK£1.03
Synthomer
7D
-7.9%
1Y
-9.9%
Narrative Update • Jun 06

SYNT: Leadership Transition Will Intensify Concerns Over Future Margin Stability

Analysts have nudged Synthomer's fair value higher, lifting the implied price target from £0.59 to £0.62. This reflects refreshed assumptions on revenue growth, discount rate and future P/E.
VCT
UK£6.08
Victrex
7D
-4.6%
1Y
-22.8%
Narrative Update • Jun 05

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

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Victrex by £1.00, citing updated assumptions for discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples that slightly reshape the company’s risk and return profile. What's in the News No recent company specific news for Victrex has been provided in the available sources.
CRDA
UK£29.01
Croda International
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-5.9%
HEX
UK£0.37
Helix Exploration
7D
3.2%
1Y
76.3%
JMAT
UK£20.80
Johnson Matthey
7D
-1.9%
1Y
22.8%
Narrative Update • Jun 02

JMAT: Future Returns Will Reflect Mixed Execution Risks And Reset Expectations

Analysts have nudged their fair value estimate for Johnson Matthey higher to £22.10 from £21.13, reflecting recent price target adjustments including a raised £2,400 target from Deutsche Bank and a trimmed target from Berenberg. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates show a mixed but engaged view on Johnson Matthey, with bullish analysts lifting targets while more cautious voices trim theirs.
GEX
UK£0.062
Georgina Energy
7D
10.7%
1Y
-17.1%
ZTF
UK£4.24
Zotefoams
7D
1.0%
1Y
33.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 01

ZTF: Stable Outlook And Confirmed 2025 Dividend Will Support Repricing Potential

Analysts have maintained their £6.13 price target for Zotefoams, with only marginal tweaks to assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E. This reflects a largely unchanged view of the stock's fundamental outlook.
HDD
UK£0.61
Hardide
7D
-12.9%
1Y
639.4%
ESNT
UK£0.83
Essentra
7D
-2.0%
1Y
-16.7%
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£0.45
Iofina
7D
-6.3%
1Y
78.2%
ELM
UK£1.49
Elementis
7D
-1.7%
1Y
-2.7%
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.
ATOM
UK£0.55
Atome
7D
5.8%
1Y
-14.7%
TET
UK£3.02
Treatt
7D
0.2%
1Y
7.1%
CAR
UK£0.37
Carclo
7D
4.6%
1Y
-5.7%