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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 1.0% in the last week, with Croda International up 0.3%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 9.3%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 31% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 24 Jun 2026UK£10.6bUK£17.5b-UK£136,216,802.6729.3x-77.7x0.6x
Fri, 22 May 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.6b-UK£141,963,733.4429.7x-72.4x0.6x
Sun, 19 Apr 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.7b-UK£20,754,778.3620.2x-493x0.6x
Tue, 17 Mar 2026UK£9.3bUK£16.7b-UK£34,308,454.3024.2x-271.4x0.6x
Thu, 12 Feb 2026UK£11.0bUK£16.8b-UK£37,665,626.4728.1x-292.5x0.7x
Sat, 10 Jan 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.8b-UK£32,494,406.3421.7x-315x0.6x
Mon, 08 Dec 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£42,240,228.2924x-230.4x0.6x
Wed, 05 Nov 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£422.7m18.7x23.4x0.6x
Fri, 03 Oct 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£424.0m20.4x23.5x0.6x
Sun, 31 Aug 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.6m22.2x21.4x0.6x
Tue, 29 Jul 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.9m21.7x21.5x0.6x
Thu, 26 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£450.4m23.1x21.6x0.6x
Sat, 24 May 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.8bUK£448.3m21.9x21.5x0.6x
Mon, 21 Apr 2025UK£8.1bUK£17.1bUK£594.2m18.6x13.7x0.5x
Wed, 19 Mar 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£569.5m21.6x17x0.6x
Fri, 14 Feb 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.4m17.7x17.4x0.6x
Sun, 12 Jan 2025UK£9.7bUK£17.1bUK£576.4m18.5x16.8x0.6x
Tue, 10 Dec 2024UK£10.5bUK£17.1bUK£584.0m18.4x17.9x0.6x
Thu, 07 Nov 2024UK£10.7bUK£18.2bUK£165.0m24x65x0.6x
Sat, 05 Oct 2024UK£12.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.6m24.2x72.2x0.7x
Mon, 02 Sep 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.1bUK£154.7m26.9x79.3x0.7x
Wed, 31 Jul 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£193.2m29.1x62.7x0.7x
Fri, 28 Jun 2024UK£12.1bUK£18.2bUK£190.4m29.9x63.6x0.7x
Sun, 26 May 2024UK£13.6bUK£18.2bUK£186.0m33.5x73.1x0.7x
Tue, 23 Apr 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.1x47.7x0.7x
Thu, 21 Mar 2024UK£13.6bUK£19.5bUK£266.0m20.5x51.1x0.7x
Sat, 17 Feb 2024UK£13.5bUK£20.0bUK£144.2m18x93.7x0.7x
Mon, 15 Jan 2024UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£141.0m18.5x90x0.6x
Wed, 13 Dec 2023UK£12.9bUK£20.0bUK£139.5m18.8x92.5x0.6x
Fri, 10 Nov 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.8bUK£229.2m15.3x55.8x0.6x
Sun, 08 Oct 2023UK£12.8bUK£20.8bUK£257.7m16.8x49.8x0.6x
Tue, 05 Sep 2023UK£14.2bUK£21.0bUK£355.5m24.6x39.9x0.7x
Thu, 03 Aug 2023UK£14.8bUK£21.0bUK£337.0m27.2x43.9x0.7x
Sat, 01 Jul 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.2bUK£803.1m16.3x17.9x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.9x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.4bTotal Earnings: UK£803.1mTotal 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 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 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£30.840.3%
+UK£14.0m		0.8%PE69.6x
IOF IofinaUK£0.533.9%
+UK£3.8m		113.7%PE17.1x
HDD HardideUK£0.715.1%
+UK£2.8m		766.7%PE38.4x
SYM Symphony Environmental TechnologiesUK£0.0833.1%
+UK£590.9k		-19.5%PS3.2x
ITX ItaconixUK£1.121.4%
+UK£202.3k		6.2%PS1.9x

Latest News

SYNT
UK£0.88
Synthomer
7D
-18.5%
1Y
-14.0%
VCT
UK£5.99
Victrex
7D
-4.5%
1Y
-22.3%
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.
SYM
UK£0.083
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
3.1%
1Y
-19.5%
RIFT
UK£0.079
Rift Helium
7D
0.6%
1Y
n/a
ELM
UK£1.54
Elementis
7D
-1.4%
1Y
-2.5%
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£30.84
Croda International
7D
0.3%
1Y
0.8%
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£0.82
Essentra
7D
-2.8%
1Y
-18.9%
JMAT
UK£20.86
Johnson Matthey
7D
-2.2%
1Y
21.9%
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£4.24
Zotefoams
7D
-6.5%
1Y
32.3%
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.
ITX
UK£1.12
Itaconix
7D
1.4%
1Y
6.2%
HDD
UK£0.71
Hardide
7D
5.1%
1Y
766.7%
IOF
UK£0.53
Iofina
7D
3.9%
1Y
113.7%
SNOX
UK£0.53
SulNOx Group
7D
-12.5%
1Y
-12.5%
ATOM
UK£0.33
Atome
7D
-20.5%
1Y
-44.1%