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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 01, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-0.06%
  • 3M7.5%
  • 1Y7.9%
  • YTD3.6%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has remained flat, although notably Johnson Matthey declined by 3.2%. The past year has been better, since the industry has gained 7.8% in that time. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 35% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Mon, 01 Jun 2026UK£10.5bUK£17.4b-UK£137,062,721.2726.8x-76.8x0.6x
Wed, 29 Apr 2026UK£9.8bUK£16.7b-UK£20,733,863.6819.2x-471x0.6x
Fri, 27 Mar 2026UK£9.4bUK£16.7b-UK£19,954,575.9418x-470.7x0.6x
Sun, 22 Feb 2026UK£10.6bUK£16.8b-UK£34,177,105.9827.5x-311.6x0.6x
Tue, 20 Jan 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£32,462,736.5121.8x-316.2x0.6x
Thu, 18 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£41,006,246.6823.9x-242.8x0.6x
Sat, 15 Nov 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m18.2x23.5x0.6x
Mon, 13 Oct 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8bUK£423.8m19.2x23.2x0.6x
Wed, 10 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.7m21.8x21.5x0.6x
Fri, 08 Aug 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.7bUK£430.7m22.1x21.3x0.5x
Sun, 06 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.8m22.3x22.3x0.6x
Tue, 03 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.5m21.4x21.7x0.6x
Thu, 01 May 2025UK£8.7bUK£17.1bUK£594.3m19.3x14.6x0.5x
Sat, 29 Mar 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£591.8m20.3x15.4x0.5x
Mon, 24 Feb 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£575.7m17.4x17.2x0.6x
Wed, 22 Jan 2025UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£576.7m18.4x17.6x0.6x
Fri, 20 Dec 2024UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£583.4m17.6x17.2x0.6x
Sun, 17 Nov 2024UK£10.5bUK£18.2bUK£163.9m23.7x64.1x0.6x
Tue, 15 Oct 2024UK£11.5bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m25.2x69.6x0.6x
Thu, 12 Sep 2024UK£11.6bUK£18.2bUK£152.7m25.8x76x0.6x
Sat, 10 Aug 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.2bUK£131.0m26.2x89.4x0.6x
Mon, 08 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£189.6m30.6x65.4x0.7x
Wed, 05 Jun 2024UK£13.2bUK£18.2bUK£187.3m32.7x70.4x0.7x
Fri, 03 May 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.6bUK£287.7m24.5x47x0.7x
Sun, 31 Mar 2024UK£13.8bUK£19.5bUK£274.7m21.8x50.2x0.7x
Tue, 27 Feb 2024UK£13.1bUK£20.0bUK£144.8m17.2x90.3x0.7x
Thu, 25 Jan 2024UK£12.6bUK£20.0bUK£140.8m17.9x89.5x0.6x
Sat, 23 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.8m19.6x97.3x0.7x
Mon, 20 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.8bUK£238.8m16.1x53.3x0.6x
Wed, 18 Oct 2023UK£12.2bUK£20.9bUK£257.4m16.9x47.5x0.6x
Fri, 15 Sep 2023UK£13.3bUK£20.8bUK£222.2m22.9x60x0.6x
Sun, 13 Aug 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.0bUK£337.9m27x42.7x0.7x
Tue, 11 Jul 2023UK£14.2bUK£21.2bUK£804.2m16.5x17.7x0.7x
Thu, 08 Jun 2023UK£15.8bUK£21.2bUK£801.7m15.1x19.7x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.7x


Total Market Cap: UK£15.8bTotal Earnings: UK£801.7mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -12.8x202420252026
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 6.4% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market-0.29%
Materials2.26%
Chemicals-0.063%
Commodity Chemicals1.46%
Specialty Chemicals0.0079%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-4.85%
Industrial Gases-9.92%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 29.4x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 31.4%, 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 36% 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 17% 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£30.411.7%
+UK£70.0m		-0.2%PE68.6x
ELM ElementisUK£1.541.9%
+UK£16.0m		5.2%PE19x
HDD HardideUK£0.6529.0%
+UK£11.4m		732.3%PE34.6x
SNOX SulNOx GroupUK£0.5515.8%
+UK£10.8m		-21.4%PS42.2x
ESNT EssentraUK£0.892.8%
+UK£6.7m		-6.1%PE120x

Latest News

JMAT
UK£21.20
Johnson Matthey
7D
-3.2%
1Y
22.5%
HDD
UK£0.65
Hardide
7D
29.0%
1Y
732.3%
SYNT
UK£1.09
Synthomer
7D
1.9%
1Y
3.8%
ESNT
UK£0.89
Essentra
7D
2.8%
1Y
-6.1%
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£0.49
Iofina
7D
2.1%
1Y
117.8%
VCT
UK£6.40
Victrex
7D
1.1%
1Y
-17.7%
Narrative Update • May 21

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

Analysts have trimmed their implied price target on Victrex by about £0.39, citing updated assumptions around profit margins, revenue growth and a lower future P/E multiple following recent Street research. Analyst Commentary Street research around Victrex has shifted to a more cautious stance on valuation, with the latest move being a £1.00 cut to the implied price target from JPMorgan.
SNOX
UK£0.55
SulNOx Group
7D
15.8%
1Y
-21.4%
ELM
UK£1.54
Elementis
7D
1.9%
1Y
5.2%
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.
CRDA
UK£30.41
Croda International
7D
1.7%
1Y
-0.2%
Narrative Update • May 17

CRDA: Mixed Broker Upgrades And Execution Risks Will Shape Future P/E Expectations

Analysts have adjusted their price targets on Croda International to around £32.80. This reflects updated assumptions on revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples following a series of recent rating upgrades and target tweaks across the Street.
SYM
UK£0.07
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
-6.7%
1Y
0%
ATOM
UK£0.54
Atome
7D
-9.1%
1Y
9.1%
HEX
UK£0.36
Helix Exploration
7D
-11.2%
1Y
82.0%
RIFT
UK£0.083
Rift Helium
7D
-0.6%
1Y
n/a
HAYD
UK£0.0033
Haydale
7D
-0.6%
1Y
112.9%