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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJul 07, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies18
  • 7D1.7%
  • 3M4.3%
  • 1Y0.8%
  • YTD-1.0%

In the last week, the Chemicals industry is up 1.7%, with Johnson Matthey up 3.5%. Meanwhile, Helix Exploration actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 14% in the last week. Despite this gain, the industry's performance has been flat over the past year. 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, 07 Jul 2026UK£9.9bUK£17.3b-UK£139,713,319.1619.4x-71x0.6x
Thu, 04 Jun 2026UK£10.5bUK£17.4b-UK£136,875,372.8827.7x-76.8x0.6x
Sat, 02 May 2026UK£10.0bUK£16.6b-UK£96,297,394.9022.5x-103.7x0.6x
Mon, 30 Mar 2026UK£9.4bUK£16.7b-UK£19,815,041.7217.9x-473.1x0.6x
Wed, 25 Feb 2026UK£10.4bUK£16.8b-UK£34,067,690.6128.6x-304.4x0.6x
Fri, 23 Jan 2026UK£10.6bUK£16.8b-UK£38,562,495.8525x-273.9x0.6x
Sun, 21 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£30,049,969.4320.5x-334.4x0.6x
Tue, 18 Nov 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£423.2m17.9x23x0.6x
Thu, 16 Oct 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£423.9m18.6x23.3x0.6x
Sat, 13 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£430.8m21.8x21.5x0.6x
Mon, 11 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.7bUK£430.8m22.1x21.2x0.5x
Wed, 09 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.2x22.3x0.6x
Fri, 06 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.1m23.2x21.6x0.6x
Sun, 04 May 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£594.1m19.6x14.9x0.5x
Tue, 01 Apr 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£591.7m19.9x15.1x0.5x
Thu, 27 Feb 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£578.2m17.3x17.3x0.6x
Sat, 25 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.7x17.1x0.6x
Mon, 23 Dec 2024UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.9m21.7x17.4x0.6x
Wed, 20 Nov 2024UK£10.5bUK£18.2bUK£164.1m23.3x64.1x0.6x
Fri, 18 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.2bUK£165.3m24.7x66.5x0.6x
Sun, 15 Sep 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£153.6m26.2x77.2x0.7x
Tue, 13 Aug 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.2bUK£131.1m26.2x89.5x0.6x
Thu, 11 Jul 2024UK£12.2bUK£18.2bUK£189.6m29.8x64.5x0.7x
Sat, 08 Jun 2024UK£12.9bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31.6x67.3x0.7x
Mon, 06 May 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£285.3m24.7x48x0.7x
Wed, 03 Apr 2024UK£13.6bUK£19.6bUK£274.7m21.6x49.6x0.7x
Fri, 01 Mar 2024UK£12.8bUK£19.8bUK£121.4m16.6x105.1x0.6x
Sun, 28 Jan 2024UK£13.2bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m18.4x93.5x0.7x
Tue, 26 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.5m19.6x97.5x0.7x
Thu, 23 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.8bUK£238.9m16x53x0.6x
Sat, 21 Oct 2023UK£11.6bUK£20.9bUK£257.1m16.1x45.3x0.6x
Mon, 18 Sep 2023UK£13.4bUK£20.8bUK£222.0m22.9x60.4x0.6x
Wed, 16 Aug 2023UK£14.0bUK£21.0bUK£338.1m26.2x41.4x0.7x
Fri, 14 Jul 2023UK£14.9bUK£21.2bUK£801.8m17.5x18.6x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.6x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.9bTotal Earnings: UK£801.8mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -15.9x202420252026
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 0.61x.
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 Market1.66%
Materials1.37%
Chemicals1.67%
Commodity Chemicals4.90%
Specialty Chemicals1.65%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-2.40%
Industrial Gases-12.60%
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%PE18x
ESNT EssentraUK£0.833.6%
+UK£8.2m		-26.1%PE111.8x

Latest News

CAR
UK£0.30
Carclo
7D
-10.3%
1Y
-35.0%
SYNT
UK£0.81
Synthomer
7D
1.4%
1Y
-16.7%
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
-4.7%
1Y
-61.0%
SNOX
UK£0.55
SulNOx Group
7D
-8.3%
1Y
-8.3%
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%