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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 23, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D1.0%
  • 3M14.5%
  • 1Y9.3%
  • YTD4.1%

The Chemicals industry is up 1.4% in the last week, with Croda International up 2.6%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 9.7%. 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
Tue, 23 Jun 2026UK£10.6bUK£17.5b-UK£136,216,802.6729.3x-77.7x0.6x
Thu, 21 May 2026UK£10.1bUK£16.6b-UK£140,914,197.4429.7x-71.4x0.6x
Sat, 18 Apr 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.7b-UK£20,762,647.0620.2x-492.8x0.6x
Mon, 16 Mar 2026UK£9.3bUK£16.7b-UK£34,308,454.3024.2x-271.4x0.6x
Wed, 11 Feb 2026UK£11.1bUK£16.8b-UK£37,624,660.5128.2x-294.2x0.7x
Fri, 09 Jan 2026UK£10.1bUK£16.8b-UK£32,453,393.0121x-310.6x0.6x
Sun, 07 Dec 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£42,240,228.2924x-230.4x0.6x
Tue, 04 Nov 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m18.6x23.6x0.6x
Thu, 02 Oct 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£424.1m20.9x23.4x0.6x
Sat, 30 Aug 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.7bUK£432.4m22.2x21.4x0.6x
Mon, 28 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£449.1m22.1x21.7x0.6x
Wed, 25 Jun 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8bUK£450.3m22.4x21.8x0.6x
Fri, 23 May 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£604.0m22.1x16.3x0.6x
Sun, 20 Apr 2025UK£8.1bUK£17.1bUK£594.2m18.6x13.7x0.5x
Tue, 18 Mar 2025UK£9.6bUK£17.1bUK£582.1m16.2x16.6x0.6x
Thu, 13 Feb 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.3m17.7x17.1x0.6x
Sat, 11 Jan 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£576.4m18.5x16.8x0.6x
Mon, 09 Dec 2024UK£10.4bUK£17.1bUK£583.9m18.7x17.7x0.6x
Wed, 06 Nov 2024UK£10.8bUK£18.2bUK£165.4m24.2x65.4x0.6x
Fri, 04 Oct 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.1bUK£165.6m23.9x70.5x0.6x
Sun, 01 Sep 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.1bUK£154.7m26.9x79.3x0.7x
Tue, 30 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£193.2m29.3x63.9x0.7x
Thu, 27 Jun 2024UK£12.2bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m30.1x63.8x0.7x
Sat, 25 May 2024UK£13.6bUK£18.2bUK£186.0m33.5x73.1x0.7x
Mon, 22 Apr 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.1x47.7x0.7x
Wed, 20 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.6bUK£244.5m17.6x53.8x0.7x
Fri, 16 Feb 2024UK£13.5bUK£20.0bUK£144.1m18.1x93.4x0.7x
Sun, 14 Jan 2024UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£141.0m18.5x90x0.6x
Tue, 12 Dec 2023UK£13.0bUK£20.0bUK£139.5m18.8x93x0.6x
Thu, 09 Nov 2023UK£12.6bUK£20.8bUK£229.4m15.1x54.9x0.6x
Sat, 07 Oct 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.8bUK£257.8m16.8x49.8x0.6x
Mon, 04 Sep 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.0bUK£355.1m25x40.5x0.7x
Wed, 02 Aug 2023UK£15.0bUK£21.0bUK£337.3m27.7x44.4x0.7x
Fri, 30 Jun 2023UK£14.1bUK£21.2bUK£800.1m14.1x17.7x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.7x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.1bTotal Earnings: UK£800.1mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -14.8x202420252026
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-0.40%
Materials-4.85%
Chemicals1.01%
Specialty Chemicals1.43%
Commodity Chemicals-3.78%
Industrial Gases-6.31%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-12.97%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 30.3x.
    • 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 better than its past earnings decline of 16% per year.
  • 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
CRDA Croda InternationalUK£31.122.6%
+UK£109.1m		4.7%PE70.2x
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£21.221.5%
+UK£53.7m		25.3%PS0.3x
IOF IofinaUK£0.5611.6%
+UK£11.0m		126.5%PE17.9x
HDD HardideUK£0.7413.0%
+UK£6.7m		797.0%PE39.7x
ELM ElementisUK£1.560.4%
+UK£3.4m		1.3%PE19x

Latest News

SYM
UK£0.09
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
16.1%
1Y
-12.2%
ELM
UK£1.56
Elementis
7D
0.4%
1Y
1.3%
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£31.12
Croda International
7D
2.6%
1Y
4.7%
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.
ESNT
UK£0.83
Essentra
7D
-2.0%
1Y
-16.3%
JMAT
UK£21.22
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.5%
1Y
25.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 16

JMAT: Lower Discount Rate And Higher P/E Assumptions Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have lifted their fair value estimate for Johnson Matthey shares from £24.20 to £25.80, citing recent price target revisions around £2,400. These revisions reflect updated expectations for discount rates, projected revenue trends, profit margins and future P/E assumptions.
ZTF
UK£4.25
Zotefoams
7D
-6.1%
1Y
34.5%
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.
CAR
UK£0.34
Carclo
7D
-4.5%
1Y
-27.8%
TET
UK£3.04
Treatt
7D
0.5%
1Y
18.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 08

TET: Lowered Price View Will Focus On Takeover Offer Downside Risk

Analysts have reduced their price target on Treatt by £0.35, reflecting updated views on revenue growth, profit margins, discount rates and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News Döhler Finance Management B.V. agreed to acquire the remaining 72.10% stake in Treatt plc for approximately £130 million in cash, valuing the offer at £3.05 per share, funded from existing cash resources of the Döhler Group.
SYNT
UK£0.98
Synthomer
7D
-11.9%
1Y
-4.1%
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£6.04
Victrex
7D
-4.6%
1Y
-20.3%
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.
HEX
UK£0.33
Helix Exploration
7D
-7.7%
1Y
35.4%
ITX
UK£1.13
Itaconix
7D
2.3%
1Y
7.1%
HDD
UK£0.74
Hardide
7D
13.0%
1Y
797.0%
IOF
UK£0.56
Iofina
7D
11.6%
1Y
126.5%
SNOX
UK£0.53
SulNOx Group
7D
-12.5%
1Y
-12.5%
ATOM
UK£0.31
Atome
7D
-26.2%
1Y
-47.5%