Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 06, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-3.2%
  • 3M6.5%
  • 1Y4.7%
  • YTD0.2%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has dropped 3.2%, driven by Croda International declining 4.6%. Meanwhile, SulNOx Group actually outperformed within the industry, gaining 9.1% in the last week. In the past year, the industry has gained 4.7%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 34% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 07 Jun 2026UK£10.2bUK£17.5b-UK£136,557,467.6625.5x-74.6x0.6x
Tue, 05 May 2026UK£10.0bUK£16.6b-UK£95,990,199.4122.4x-104.4x0.6x
Thu, 02 Apr 2026UK£9.5bUK£16.7b-UK£19,940,391.8418.5x-478.8x0.6x
Sat, 28 Feb 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£112,187,908.5928.4x-91.7x0.6x
Mon, 26 Jan 2026UK£10.5bUK£16.8b-UK£37,619,721.1226.3x-278.2x0.6x
Wed, 24 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£29,806,303.0820.4x-336.3x0.6x
Fri, 21 Nov 2025UK£9.5bUK£16.8bUK£422.8m17.2x22.5x0.6x
Sun, 19 Oct 2025UK£10.1bUK£16.8bUK£424.1m18.9x23.8x0.6x
Tue, 16 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£431.4m21.5x21.5x0.6x
Thu, 14 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.7bUK£431.1m22.3x21.1x0.5x
Sat, 12 Jul 2025UK£10.1bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.7x22.6x0.6x
Mon, 09 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.0m23.4x21.6x0.6x
Wed, 07 May 2025UK£8.8bUK£17.1bUK£594.4m19.4x14.9x0.5x
Fri, 04 Apr 2025UK£8.5bUK£17.1bUK£592.2m19.5x14.3x0.5x
Sun, 02 Mar 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£578.0m16.9x17.2x0.6x
Tue, 28 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.3x17.1x0.6x
Thu, 26 Dec 2024UK£10.2bUK£17.1bUK£577.8m21.5x17.7x0.6x
Sat, 23 Nov 2024UK£10.5bUK£18.1bUK£169.8m23.2x62x0.6x
Mon, 21 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m24.8x66.7x0.6x
Wed, 18 Sep 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.1bUK£153.5m26.3x77.3x0.7x
Fri, 16 Aug 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£150.6m26.4x78.8x0.7x
Sun, 14 Jul 2024UK£12.5bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30.5x65.7x0.7x
Tue, 11 Jun 2024UK£12.9bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31.1x67.3x0.7x
Thu, 09 May 2024UK£14.0bUK£19.6bUK£285.9m24.3x48.9x0.7x
Sat, 06 Apr 2024UK£13.2bUK£19.6bUK£286.0m20.8x46.3x0.7x
Mon, 04 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.8bUK£121.7m17.3x107.8x0.7x
Wed, 31 Jan 2024UK£12.8bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m18x91.3x0.6x
Fri, 29 Dec 2023UK£13.8bUK£20.0bUK£140.9m19.6x97.8x0.7x
Sun, 26 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£152.9m17.1x82.8x0.6x
Tue, 24 Oct 2023UK£11.7bUK£20.8bUK£257.7m16.2x45.3x0.6x
Thu, 21 Sep 2023UK£13.5bUK£20.8bUK£222.0m23.5x60.7x0.6x
Sat, 19 Aug 2023UK£13.6bUK£21.0bUK£356.1m24.8x38.1x0.6x
Mon, 17 Jul 2023UK£14.6bUK£21.2bUK£801.4m17.2x18.2x0.7x
Wed, 14 Jun 2023UK£14.8bUK£21.2bUK£801.1m14.9x18.4x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.4x


Total Market Cap: UK£14.8bTotal Earnings: UK£801.1mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -13.4x202420252026
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-0.73%
Materials-3.01%
Chemicals-3.22%
Industrial Gases1.37%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-0.24%
Commodity Chemicals-2.28%
Specialty Chemicals-3.33%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 29.6x.
    • 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 35% 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
SNOX SulNOx GroupUK£0.609.1%
+UK£7.2m		-14.3%PS46.1x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£4.242.0%
+UK£4.2m		33.8%PE9.3x
HEX Helix ExplorationUK£0.372.3%
+UK£1.7m		75.3%PB4.6x
GEX Georgina EnergyUK£0.0620%
UK£1.6m		-17.1%PE-4.8x
CAR CarcloUK£0.374.6%
+UK£1.2m		-6.2%PE14.2x

Latest News

VCT
UK£6.08
Victrex
7D
-5.0%
1Y
-22.3%
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.
CRDA
UK£29.01
Croda International
7D
-4.6%
1Y
-4.2%
HEX
UK£0.37
Helix Exploration
7D
2.3%
1Y
75.3%
JMAT
UK£20.80
Johnson Matthey
7D
-1.9%
1Y
24.6%
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£0.062
Georgina Energy
7D
0%
1Y
-17.1%
ZTF
UK£4.24
Zotefoams
7D
2.0%
1Y
33.8%
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£1.14
Itaconix
7D
8.1%
1Y
13.5%
HDD
UK£0.61
Hardide
7D
-5.4%
1Y
639.4%
SYNT
UK£1.03
Synthomer
7D
-5.1%
1Y
-6.9%
ESNT
UK£0.83
Essentra
7D
-6.4%
1Y
-16.5%
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£0.45
Iofina
7D
-8.2%
1Y
68.2%
SNOX
UK£0.60
SulNOx Group
7D
9.1%
1Y
-14.3%
ELM
UK£1.49
Elementis
7D
-2.9%
1Y
-2.5%
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.
ATOM
UK£0.55
Atome
7D
1.9%
1Y
-5.2%
TET
UK£3.02
Treatt
7D
0.2%
1Y
9.2%
CAR
UK£0.37
Carclo
7D
4.6%
1Y
-6.2%