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U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedAug 12, 2025
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D-1.7%
  • 3M-2.2%
  • 1Y-21.4%
  • YTD-10.6%

The Chemicals industry has been flat over the last week, but Croda International has lost 4.3%. As for the longer term, the industry has declined 20% in the last year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 11% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 12 Aug 2025UK£9.0bUK£16.7bUK£430.7m22.1x20.8x0.5x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.6m21.5x22.2x0.6x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.0m23.4x21.6x0.6x
Mon, 05 May 2025UK£8.9bUK£17.1bUK£594.1m19.6x14.9x0.5x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025UK£9.0bUK£17.1bUK£591.8m20.1x15.2x0.5x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£578.1m17.1x17x0.6x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025UK£9.9bUK£17.1bUK£577.2m17.7x17.1x0.6x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£577.7m20.7x17.5x0.6x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024UK£10.4bUK£18.1bUK£175.0m23.1x59.6x0.6x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024UK£11.0bUK£18.1bUK£165.4m24.8x66.7x0.6x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£153.6m26.2x77.2x0.7x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024UK£11.8bUK£18.2bUK£131.4m26.3x89.6x0.6x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024UK£12.4bUK£18.2bUK£189.7m30.5x65.2x0.7x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024UK£12.9bUK£18.2bUK£191.3m31.6x67.3x0.7x
Tue, 07 May 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£285.3m24.7x48x0.7x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024UK£13.5bUK£19.5bUK£274.8m21x49.2x0.7x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024UK£13.1bUK£19.8bUK£121.7m17.3x107.8x0.7x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024UK£13.2bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m18.4x93.5x0.7x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.5m19.6x97.5x0.7x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.0bUK£152.4m17.2x83.3x0.6x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023UK£11.6bUK£20.9bUK£257.2m16.1x45.3x0.6x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023UK£13.2bUK£20.8bUK£222.0m22.7x59.5x0.6x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023UK£13.9bUK£21.0bUK£356.2m25.9x39x0.7x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023UK£14.6bUK£21.2bUK£801.6m17.2x18.2x0.7x
Mon, 12 Jun 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.2bUK£801.7m14.9x18x0.7x
Wed, 10 May 2023UK£17.0bUK£21.2bUK£830.9m16.3x20.4x0.8x
Fri, 07 Apr 2023UK£16.7bUK£21.1bUK£835.7m15.8x20x0.8x
Sun, 05 Mar 2023UK£17.9bUK£22.0bUK£1.0b17.1x17.2x0.8x
Tue, 31 Jan 2023UK£18.2bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.1x16.4x0.8x
Thu, 29 Dec 2022UK£17.6bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b15.7x16x0.8x
Sat, 26 Nov 2022UK£18.2bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b18x16.3x0.8x
Mon, 24 Oct 2022UK£16.6bUK£23.2bUK£936.0m21.5x17.8x0.7x
Wed, 21 Sep 2022UK£17.1bUK£23.2bUK£980.8m21.2x17.4x0.7x
Fri, 19 Aug 2022UK£19.2bUK£23.1bUK£985.4m22.5x19.5x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.5x


Total Market Cap: UK£19.2bTotal Earnings: UK£985.4mTotal Revenue: UK£23.1bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 40.4x202320242025
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Chemicals industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 21.2x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 40.4x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.69x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Chemicals industry have declined 24% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 10% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market2.09%
Materials2.86%
Chemicals-1.74%
Industrial Gases15.08%
Commodity Chemicals8.07%
Specialty Chemicals-2.35%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals-2.88%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 44.8x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 47.2%, which is lower than the prior year's growth of 686.9% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Commodity Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 47% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings decline by 4.2% 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
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£17.651.7%
+UK£48.6m		11.9%PE7.9x
ZTF ZotefoamsUK£3.7133.5%
+UK£45.3m		-25.2%PE253.9x
HEX Helix ExplorationUK£0.2916.4%
+UK£7.7m		54.7%PB4.3x
TET TreattUK£2.163.1%
+UK£3.8m		-52.0%PE11.3x
SVNS Solvonis TherapeuticsUK£0.00328.3%
+UK£1.6m		54.8%PB6.6x

Latest News

ELM
UK£1.67
Elementis
7D
-5.3%
1Y
10.1%
author-image

Specialty Additives And Asia Expansion Will Unlock New Markets

Strategic focus on specialty additives, sustainability, and innovation enhances competitive positioning and supports revenue and margin growth through premium products.
SYNT
UK£0.60
Synthomer
7D
-24.4%
1Y
-74.7%

UK£1.57: That's What Analysts Think Synthomer plc (LON:SYNT) Is Worth After Its Latest Results

Aug 09
UK£1.57: That's What Analysts Think Synthomer plc (LON:SYNT) Is Worth After Its Latest Results
ESNT
UK£1.00
Essentra
7D
-2.8%
1Y
-38.9%

We Think You Should Be Aware Of Some Concerning Factors In Essentra's (LON:ESNT) Earnings

Aug 08
We Think You Should Be Aware Of Some Concerning Factors In Essentra's (LON:ESNT) Earnings
ZTF
UK£3.71
Zotefoams
7D
33.5%
1Y
-25.2%

Zotefoams' (LON:ZTF) Dividend Will Be £0.025

Aug 08
Zotefoams' (LON:ZTF) Dividend Will Be £0.025
DCTA
UK£0.12
Directa Plus
7D
9.5%
1Y
-37.8%
TET
UK£2.16
Treatt
7D
3.1%
1Y
-52.0%

Need To Know: Analysts Just Made A Substantial Cut To Their Treatt plc (LON:TET) Estimates

Aug 02
Need To Know: Analysts Just Made A Substantial Cut To Their Treatt plc (LON:TET) Estimates
HEX
UK£0.29
Helix Exploration
7D
16.4%
1Y
54.7%
VCT
UK£6.81
Victrex
7D
0.1%
1Y
-34.3%
CRDA
UK£24.78
Croda International
7D
-4.3%
1Y
-35.3%
JMAT
UK£17.65
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.7%
1Y
11.9%

Should You Investigate Johnson Matthey Plc (LON:JMAT) At UK£18.38?

Jul 28
Should You Investigate Johnson Matthey Plc (LON:JMAT) At UK£18.38?
IOF
UK£0.25
Iofina
7D
2.0%
1Y
24.4%

Iofina plc's (LON:IOF) Shareholders Might Be Looking For Exit

Jul 18
Iofina plc's (LON:IOF) Shareholders Might Be Looking For Exit
SVNS
UK£0.0032
Solvonis Therapeutics
7D
8.3%
1Y
54.8%
ITX
UK£1.28
Itaconix
7D
-5.2%
1Y
-16.4%
ATOM
UK£0.47
Atome
7D
-5.1%
1Y
-41.6%
HAYD
UK£0.0057
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
-11.5%
1Y
59.7%

Health Check: How Prudently Does Haydale Graphene Industries (LON:HAYD) Use Debt?

Jun 12
Health Check: How Prudently Does Haydale Graphene Industries (LON:HAYD) Use Debt?
SNOX
UK£0.45
SulNOx Group
7D
-18.2%
1Y
55.2%