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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 10, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-4.5%
  • 3M6.8%
  • 1Y0.9%
  • YTD0.1%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has dropped 4.5%, driven by Johnson Matthey declining 8.9%. Over the last year, the industry has been flat overall. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 32% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Thu, 11 Jun 2026UK£10.2bUK£17.4b-UK£136,701,463.3426.2x-74.5x0.6x
Sat, 09 May 2026UK£10.1bUK£16.6b-UK£94,102,194.4218.4x-106.9x0.6x
Mon, 06 Apr 2026UK£9.6bUK£16.7b-UK£19,567,814.0518.4x-488.8x0.6x
Wed, 04 Mar 2026UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£112,429,358.5027.2x-86.6x0.6x
Fri, 30 Jan 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£37,298,853.2125.6x-275.8x0.6x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£29,761,851.1520.2x-336.4x0.6x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025UK£9.5bUK£16.8b-UK£41,091,249.3522.6x-231.4x0.6x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025UK£10.2bUK£16.8bUK£423.8m19.4x24.1x0.6x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025UK£9.6bUK£16.7bUK£432.0m21.2x22.2x0.6x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.7bUK£431.1m23.2x21.3x0.5x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£449.0m21.2x22.1x0.6x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£448.1m22.8x22.1x0.6x
Sun, 11 May 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£593.9m19.8x15.3x0.5x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025UK£7.9bUK£17.1bUK£591.0m18.3x13.3x0.5x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£578.6m16.6x17.2x0.6x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025UK£10.2bUK£17.1bUK£577.3m17.8x17.6x0.6x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£577.9m20.8x17.5x0.6x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024UK£10.4bUK£18.1bUK£169.8m22.9x61.5x0.6x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024UK£11.1bUK£18.2bUK£165.2m24.4x66.9x0.6x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024UK£11.4bUK£18.1bUK£153.3m24x74.5x0.6x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£151.1m26.4x78.9x0.7x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30x65.3x0.7x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024UK£12.2bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m29.4x63.8x0.7x
Mon, 13 May 2024UK£14.0bUK£19.6bUK£285.9m24.3x49x0.7x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.6bUK£285.9m20.9x47.2x0.7x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.8bUK£188.1m18.3x69.9x0.7x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024UK£13.1bUK£20.0bUK£140.3m17.8x93.7x0.7x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.8m19.5x97.3x0.7x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023UK£12.6bUK£20.0bUK£153.9m17.3x81.7x0.6x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023UK£11.9bUK£20.9bUK£256.5m16.4x46.4x0.6x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023UK£13.2bUK£20.8bUK£220.2m17x59.9x0.6x
Wed, 23 Aug 2023UK£13.5bUK£21.0bUK£356.1m24.3x37.8x0.6x
Fri, 21 Jul 2023UK£14.9bUK£21.2bUK£799.3m17.8x18.7x0.7x
Sun, 18 Jun 2023UK£14.5bUK£21.2bUK£802.9m14.7x18x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.5bTotal Earnings: UK£802.9mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -13.7x202420252026
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-1.85%
Materials-9.67%
Chemicals-4.54%
Industrial Gases0%0
Commodity Chemicals-1.00%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-1.03%
Specialty Chemicals-4.78%
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 30.0%, 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 32% 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
CRDA Croda InternationalUK£30.383.0%
+UK£124.5m		-3.3%PE68.6x
IOF IofinaUK£0.486.7%
+UK£5.8m		90.1%PE15.7x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£4.351.0%
+UK£2.2m		29.9%PE9.5x
ELM ElementisUK£1.530.1%
+UK£1.1m		-1.4%PE18.8x
GEX Georgina EnergyUK£0.0648.5%
+UK£1.1m		-14.4%PE-5x

Latest News

ELM
UK£1.53
Elementis
7D
0.1%
1Y
-1.4%
Analysis Article • 21h

Is There Now An Opportunity In Elementis plc (LON:ELM)?

Elementis plc ( LON:ELM ), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw significant share price movement during recent...
CAR
UK£0.35
Carclo
7D
1.4%
1Y
-9.8%
TET
UK£3.03
Treatt
7D
0.3%
1Y
7.1%
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£1.02
Synthomer
7D
-8.9%
1Y
-13.0%
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£6.05
Victrex
7D
-4.7%
1Y
-24.4%
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£30.38
Croda International
7D
3.0%
1Y
-3.3%
HEX
UK£0.37
Helix Exploration
7D
-4.1%
1Y
52.9%
JMAT
UK£19.95
Johnson Matthey
7D
-8.9%
1Y
14.4%
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£0.064
Georgina Energy
7D
8.5%
1Y
-14.4%
EDEN
UK£0.032
Eden Research
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-13.5%
ZTF
UK£4.35
Zotefoams
7D
1.0%
1Y
29.9%
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.
ITX
UK£1.15
Itaconix
7D
0.9%
1Y
14.5%
HDD
UK£0.61
Hardide
7D
-9.6%
1Y
645.5%
IOF
UK£0.48
Iofina
7D
6.7%
1Y
90.1%
SYM
UK£0.065
Symphony Environmental Technologies
7D
-3.7%
1Y
-13.3%
ATOM
UK£0.32
Atome
7D
-42.2%
1Y
-46.2%