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

U.K. (FTSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 14, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies20
  • 7D-0.3%
  • 3M4.6%
  • 1Y9.1%
  • YTD2.3%

The Chemicals industry has stayed flat over the last week. The past year has been better, since the industry has gained 9.1% in that time. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 26% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 14 Jan 2026UK£10.3bUK£16.8b-UK£32,437,148.9821.5x-318.4x0.6x
Fri, 12 Dec 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8b-UK£40,905,375.0723.8x-238x0.6x
Sun, 09 Nov 2025UK£9.8bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m18.4x23.3x0.6x
Tue, 07 Oct 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£424.2m20.3x23.6x0.6x
Thu, 04 Sep 2025UK£9.2bUK£16.7bUK£432.3m22.1x21.2x0.5x
Sat, 02 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.8bUK£432.7m21x21.1x0.5x
Mon, 30 Jun 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£450.0m22.6x22.1x0.6x
Wed, 28 May 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£448.2m22.1x21.7x0.6x
Fri, 25 Apr 2025UK£8.6bUK£17.1bUK£594.3m18.8x14.5x0.5x
Sun, 23 Mar 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£579.8m20.2x15.7x0.5x
Tue, 18 Feb 2025UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.8m17.7x17.3x0.6x
Thu, 16 Jan 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£576.3m19x17x0.6x
Sat, 14 Dec 2024UK£10.3bUK£17.1bUK£583.6m17.8x17.7x0.6x
Mon, 11 Nov 2024UK£10.7bUK£18.2bUK£164.9m23.9x64.7x0.6x
Wed, 09 Oct 2024UK£11.6bUK£18.1bUK£165.6m23.3x70.2x0.6x
Fri, 06 Sep 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.1bUK£154.9m26.2x75.4x0.6x
Sun, 04 Aug 2024UK£12.0bUK£18.2bUK£130.6m26.6x91.9x0.7x
Tue, 02 Jul 2024UK£11.9bUK£18.2bUK£189.6m29.3x62.6x0.7x
Thu, 30 May 2024UK£13.3bUK£18.2bUK£186.0m32.6x71.6x0.7x
Sat, 27 Apr 2024UK£13.3bUK£19.6bUK£286.4m23.5x46.4x0.7x
Mon, 25 Mar 2024UK£14.0bUK£19.5bUK£265.6m21.3x52.9x0.7x
Wed, 21 Feb 2024UK£13.4bUK£20.0bUK£144.3m17.9x92.6x0.7x
Fri, 19 Jan 2024UK£12.4bUK£20.0bUK£140.7m17.9x88x0.6x
Sun, 17 Dec 2023UK£13.5bUK£20.0bUK£140.4m19.3x96.3x0.7x
Tue, 14 Nov 2023UK£12.6bUK£20.8bUK£229.2m15.9x55.1x0.6x
Thu, 12 Oct 2023UK£12.4bUK£20.8bUK£258.1m17x48.1x0.6x
Sat, 09 Sep 2023UK£13.8bUK£20.8bUK£221.2m23.5x62.2x0.7x
Mon, 07 Aug 2023UK£14.8bUK£21.0bUK£337.2m27.5x44x0.7x
Wed, 05 Jul 2023UK£14.5bUK£21.2bUK£803.1m16.4x18.1x0.7x
Fri, 02 Jun 2023UK£15.7bUK£21.2bUK£802.5m15.1x19.5x0.7x
Sun, 30 Apr 2023UK£17.7bUK£21.1bUK£836.7m16.6x21.1x0.8x
Tue, 28 Mar 2023UK£16.7bUK£21.9bUK£999.0m16.3x16.7x0.8x
Thu, 23 Feb 2023UK£18.3bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b17.2x16.6x0.8x
Sat, 21 Jan 2023UK£18.3bUK£22.0bUK£1.1b16.9x16.5x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.5x


Total Market Cap: UK£18.3bTotal Earnings: UK£1.1bTotal Revenue: UK£22.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 26.1x202420252026
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 0.64x.
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 8.6% per year, which is driving profits down.

Industry Trends

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

GB Market0.19%
Materials1.53%
Chemicals-0.26%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals12.41%
Commodity Chemicals1.10%
Specialty Chemicals-0.35%
Industrial Gases-7.76%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 28.7x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 43.3%, 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 43% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 13% 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£23.501.1%
+UK£43.6m		80.4%PS0.3x
VCT VictrexUK£6.883.5%
+UK£20.0m		-31.5%PE21.5x
EDEN Eden ResearchUK£0.03633.3%
+UK£4.8m		-8.9%PS5.3x
ESNT EssentraUK£0.951.7%
+UK£4.5m		-18.9%PE28.8x
HAYD Haydale Graphene IndustriesUK£0.0049-5.8%
UK£4.2m		318.8%PS8x

Latest News

IOF
UK£0.28
Iofina
7D
0.9%
1Y
45.5%
HEX
UK£0.27
Helix Exploration
7D
-7.8%
1Y
68.8%
SYNT
UK£0.63
Synthomer
7D
-1.6%
1Y
-53.0%

SYNT: Self Help And 2026 Outlook Will Support Earnings Recovery

Analysts have trimmed their price expectations for Synthomer, with a lower fair value estimate and a reduced Street target to £1.02 from £1.12. This reflects updated views on revenue growth and earnings multiples while maintaining a broadly neutral stance on the shares.
VCT
UK£6.88
Victrex
7D
3.5%
1Y
-31.5%

Victrex (LON:VCT) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of £0.4614

Jan 09
Victrex (LON:VCT) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of £0.4614
CRDA
UK£27.15
Croda International
7D
-1.5%
1Y
-12.9%
HAYD
UK£0.0049
Haydale Graphene Industries
7D
-5.8%
1Y
318.8%
EDEN
UK£0.036
Eden Research
7D
33.3%
1Y
-8.9%

Here's Why We're Not Too Worried About Eden Research's (LON:EDEN) Cash Burn Situation

Jan 08
Here's Why We're Not Too Worried About Eden Research's (LON:EDEN) Cash Burn Situation
DCTA
UK£0.13
Directa Plus
7D
-7.4%
1Y
100.0%
JMAT
UK£23.50
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.1%
1Y
80.4%

JMAT: Higher Profit Outlook And Leaner Leadership Will Shape Fairly Valued Shares

Johnson Matthey’s analyst price targets have moved higher to £21.00, supported by updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that align with recent target increases from £18.00 and £19.50 to £21.00 at major banks. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a more constructive stance on Johnson Matthey, with bullish analysts aligning around a £21.00 fair value view.
ELM
UK£1.68
Elementis
7D
-1.4%
1Y
23.9%

ELM: Modest Assumption Tweaks Will Support A Stronger Undervalued Outlook

Analysts have nudged their price target for Elementis slightly higher, to around £1.98 from about £1.98 previously. This reflects small adjustments to discount rate, revenue growth assumptions and future P/E expectations rather than any major change in their overall view.
SNOX
UK£0.65
SulNOx Group
7D
-18.8%
1Y
-37.8%
ZTF
UK£4.06
Zotefoams
7D
-0.5%
1Y
35.3%
ESNT
UK£0.95
Essentra
7D
1.7%
1Y
-18.9%
TET
UK£2.15
Treatt
7D
-0.7%
1Y
-51.4%
ITX
UK£1.20
Itaconix
7D
11.6%
1Y
-26.2%
ATOM
UK£0.52
Atome
7D
6.2%
1Y
14.4%