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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%

The Chemicals is pretty flat in the last 7 days, but Hardide has stood out, gaining 40%. As for the the longer term, the industry is up 7.9% over the past 12 months. 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
Tue, 02 Jun 2026UK£10.5bUK£17.4b-UK£137,062,721.2726.8x-76.8x0.6x
Thu, 30 Apr 2026UK£9.9bUK£16.7b-UK£20,759,022.5518.7x-474.5x0.6x
Sat, 28 Mar 2026UK£9.4bUK£16.7b-UK£19,815,041.7217.9x-473.1x0.6x
Mon, 23 Feb 2026UK£10.6bUK£16.8b-UK£34,177,105.9827.5x-311.6x0.6x
Wed, 21 Jan 2026UK£10.2bUK£16.8b-UK£32,390,072.8921.8x-315.6x0.6x
Fri, 19 Dec 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8b-UK£41,015,395.5924.1x-244.7x0.6x
Sun, 16 Nov 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£423.1m18.2x23.5x0.6x
Tue, 14 Oct 2025UK£9.9bUK£16.8bUK£423.7m19.6x23.4x0.6x
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UK£9.3bUK£16.7bUK£432.8m22.2x21.4x0.6x
Sat, 09 Aug 2025UK£9.1bUK£16.7bUK£430.8m22.1x21.2x0.5x
Mon, 07 Jul 2025UK£10.0bUK£16.8bUK£449.8m22.3x22.3x0.6x
Wed, 04 Jun 2025UK£9.7bUK£16.8bUK£447.9m22.2x21.6x0.6x
Fri, 02 May 2025UK£8.8bUK£17.1bUK£594.1m19.1x14.8x0.5x
Sun, 30 Mar 2025UK£9.1bUK£17.1bUK£591.8m20.3x15.4x0.5x
Tue, 25 Feb 2025UK£9.8bUK£17.1bUK£582.3m17.1x16.9x0.6x
Thu, 23 Jan 2025UK£10.1bUK£17.1bUK£576.7m18x17.6x0.6x
Sat, 21 Dec 2024UK£10.0bUK£17.1bUK£577.9m21.7x17.4x0.6x
Mon, 18 Nov 2024UK£10.5bUK£18.2bUK£163.9m23.7x64.1x0.6x
Wed, 16 Oct 2024UK£11.3bUK£18.1bUK£165.5m24.3x68.2x0.6x
Fri, 13 Sep 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.2bUK£152.9m26x76.6x0.6x
Sun, 11 Aug 2024UK£11.7bUK£18.2bUK£131.0m26.2x89.4x0.6x
Tue, 09 Jul 2024UK£12.3bUK£18.2bUK£189.6m30.4x64.8x0.7x
Thu, 06 Jun 2024UK£13.0bUK£18.2bUK£187.4m32.3x69.6x0.7x
Sat, 04 May 2024UK£13.7bUK£19.6bUK£285.3m24.7x48x0.7x
Mon, 01 Apr 2024UK£13.8bUK£19.5bUK£274.7m21.8x50.2x0.7x
Wed, 28 Feb 2024UK£12.8bUK£20.0bUK£144.8m17.1x88.7x0.6x
Fri, 26 Jan 2024UK£12.6bUK£20.0bUK£140.8m17.9x89.9x0.6x
Sun, 24 Dec 2023UK£13.7bUK£20.0bUK£140.6m19.6x97.5x0.7x
Tue, 21 Nov 2023UK£12.7bUK£20.8bUK£239.1m16.1x53.1x0.6x
Thu, 19 Oct 2023UK£11.9bUK£20.9bUK£257.1m16.2x46.3x0.6x
Sat, 16 Sep 2023UK£13.3bUK£20.8bUK£222.2m22.9x60x0.6x
Mon, 14 Aug 2023UK£14.4bUK£21.0bUK£337.9m27x42.7x0.7x
Wed, 12 Jul 2023UK£14.5bUK£21.2bUK£804.8m16.3x18x0.7x
Fri, 09 Jun 2023UK£15.6bUK£21.2bUK£802.5m15.2x19.4x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.4x


Total Market Cap: UK£15.6bTotal Earnings: UK£802.5mTotal Revenue: UK£21.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average -12.9x202420252026
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 31.3%, 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
SNOX SulNOx GroupUK£0.6331.6%
+UK£21.7m		-10.7%PS48x
HDD HardideUK£0.7040.0%
+UK£15.8m		803.2%PE37.6x
SYNT SynthomerUK£1.124.9%
+UK£8.5m		6.9%PS0.1x
ELM ElementisUK£1.520.7%
+UK£5.7m		4.0%PE18.8x
VCT VictrexUK£6.370.6%
+UK£3.5m		-18.1%PS1.9x

Latest News

GEX
UK£0.056
Georgina Energy
7D
-9.7%
1Y
-25.1%
ZTF
UK£4.20
Zotefoams
7D
1.1%
1Y
40.0%
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.
JMAT
UK£21.20
Johnson Matthey
7D
-3.2%
1Y
22.5%
ITX
UK£1.15
Itaconix
7D
9.5%
1Y
15.0%
HDD
UK£0.70
Hardide
7D
40.0%
1Y
803.2%
SYNT
UK£1.12
Synthomer
7D
4.9%
1Y
6.9%
ESNT
UK£0.85
Essentra
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-10.3%
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.
VCT
UK£6.37
Victrex
7D
0.6%
1Y
-18.1%
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£0.63
SulNOx Group
7D
31.6%
1Y
-10.7%
ELM
UK£1.52
Elementis
7D
0.7%
1Y
4.0%
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£29.90
Croda International
7D
-0.03%
1Y
-1.8%
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£0.52
Atome
7D
-12.5%
1Y
5.1%
HEX
UK£0.36
Helix Exploration
7D
-12.0%
1Y
80.5%
CAR
UK£0.35
Carclo
7D
2.0%
1Y
-10.9%
HAYD
UK£0.0033
Haydale
7D
-0.6%
1Y
112.9%