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U.K. (FTSE) Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedAug 16, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies155
  • 7D-4.5%
  • 3M-5.1%
  • 1Y60.3%
  • YTD16.5%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has dropped 4.5%, driven by Rio Tinto Group declining 6.2%. In the past year, the industry has gained 60%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 13% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Materials Sector valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 16 Aug 2026UK£319.3bUK£332.6bUK£14.9b16.1x21.4x1x
Tue, 14 Jul 2026UK£303.5bUK£289.0bUK£9.0b18x33.9x1.1x
Thu, 11 Jun 2026UK£326.1bUK£288.9bUK£9.0b17.5x36.4x1.1x
Sat, 09 May 2026UK£339.6bUK£283.1bUK£8.8b18.1x38.7x1.2x
Mon, 06 Apr 2026UK£315.3bUK£291.6bUK£9.1b18.2x34.5x1.1x
Wed, 04 Mar 2026UK£325.4bUK£288.4bUK£8.4b21.3x38.5x1.1x
Fri, 30 Jan 2026UK£317.6bUK£269.9bUK£6.2b23.6x51.5x1.2x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025UK£272.4bUK£275.1bUK£6.3b19.7x43.3x1x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025UK£236.0bUK£283.0bUK£6.5b17.4x36.4x0.8x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025UK£232.2bUK£277.9bUK£6.8b16.3x33.9x0.8x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025UK£214.0bUK£275.8bUK£6.8b15.9x31.7x0.8x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025UK£200.0bUK£273.9bUK£6.8b20.2x29.5x0.7x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025UK£195.2bUK£276.1bUK£6.9b15.3x28.5x0.7x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025UK£191.1bUK£272.0bUK£6.8b15.8x28.1x0.7x
Sun, 11 May 2025UK£188.3bUK£277.4bUK£7.1b16x26.5x0.7x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025UK£168.4bUK£289.1bUK£7.4b13.6x22.8x0.6x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025UK£205.8bUK£285.4bUK£7.2b14.9x28.6x0.7x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025UK£215.5bUK£299.2bUK£9.2b15.7x23.4x0.7x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024UK£209.8bUK£296.3bUK£9.1b15.8x23x0.7x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024UK£219.0bUK£298.9bUK£8.9b16.3x24.5x0.7x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024UK£225.0bUK£291.0bUK£8.7b16.9x25.8x0.8x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024UK£155.4bUK£284.6bUK£8.5b16.8x18.2x0.5x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024UK£222.7bUK£290.6bUK£8.7b15.4x25.6x0.8x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024UK£235.6bUK£283.5bUK£13.5b15.8x17.5x0.8x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024UK£236.0bUK£290.6bUK£13.7b15.2x17.2x0.8x
Mon, 13 May 2024UK£255.9bUK£295.5bUK£14.0b16.7x18.3x0.9x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024UK£241.6bUK£292.5bUK£14.0b14.4x17.2x0.8x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024UK£216.3bUK£290.3bUK£13.9b12.4x15.6x0.7x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024UK£236.7bUK£349.5bUK£29.4b10.4x8.1x0.7x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024UK£254.9bUK£347.8bUK£29.3b10.4x8.7x0.7x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023UK£239.8bUK£349.4bUK£29.4b10.4x8.2x0.7x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023UK£232.5bUK£362.4bUK£30.3b9.9x7.7x0.6x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023UK£270.2bUK£387.3bUK£32.5b10x8.3x0.7x
Wed, 23 Aug 2023UK£255.7bUK£374.8bUK£31.7b10x8.1x0.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

8.1x


Total Market Cap: UK£255.7bTotal Earnings: UK£31.7bTotal Revenue: UK£374.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 25.3x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Materials 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 21.4x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 25.3x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.83x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 22% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 3.9% 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 sector?

GB Market-1.35%
Materials-4.54%
Packaging4.82%
Chemicals-0.62%
Basic Materials-2.61%
Paper and Forestry Products-4.01%
Metals and Mining-4.72%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Metals and Mining industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 25.2x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 11.6%, which is lower than the prior year's growth of 66.2% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 83% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Packaging industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 4.0% 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
FRES FresnilloUK£28.800.6%
+UK£117.9m		68.6%PE12.6x
TUN Tungsten WestUK£0.4210.5%
+UK£49.9m		342.1%PE-10.8x
JMAT Johnson MattheyUK£21.961.3%
+UK£44.4m		19.2%PS0.3x
GMET Guardian Metal ResourcesUK£1.9112.1%
+UK£39.9m		252.8%PB14.5x
SML Strategic MineralsUK£0.0539.7%
+UK£39.7m		1,474.6%PE4615.5x

Latest News

MNDI
UK£8.82
Mondi
7D
-4.3%
1Y
-17.6%
1SN
UK£0.13
First Tin
7D
22.8%
1Y
116.4%
HILS
UK£29.30
Hill & Smith
7D
-5.3%
1Y
35.6%
ANTO
UK£35.85
Antofagasta
7D
-9.9%
1Y
68.9%
RIO
UK£70.59
Rio Tinto Group
7D
-6.2%
1Y
56.4%
Narrative Update • Aug 14

RIO: Fair Value View Weighs Cost Cuts Against China And Commodity Demand Risks

Analysts have trimmed the fair value estimate for Rio Tinto Group from £77.68 to £75.50. This reflects slightly lower revenue growth assumptions, partly offset by firmer profit margin expectations and a modestly lower future P/E multiple, in line with recent mixed price target moves and rating changes across the Street.
ATYM
UK£9.17
Atalaya Mining Copper
7D
-5.3%
1Y
76.7%
JMAT
UK£21.96
Johnson Matthey
7D
1.3%
1Y
19.2%
GLEN
UK£5.49
Glencore
7D
-1.5%
1Y
83.1%
AAL
UK£38.50
Anglo American
7D
-4.3%
1Y
77.4%
Narrative Update • Aug 12

AAL: Copper Shift And De Beers Sale Will Drive Future Rerating

The Anglo American analyst price target has been revised modestly higher to reflect a fair value uplift to about £48.30 from roughly £47.32, with analysts pointing to mixed signals that include slightly lower assumed revenue growth, a small improvement in projected profit margins, and updated views on cost risks in iron ore and the relative role of copper across the mining sector. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Anglo American shows a split in opinion, with some firms turning more cautious and others raising price targets.
FRES
UK£28.80
Fresnillo
7D
0.6%
1Y
68.6%
Narrative Update • Aug 12

FRES: Improving Fundamentals And Dividend Capacity Will Support Higher Future Multiple

The analyst fair value estimate for Fresnillo has moved from about £28.64 to about £33.30 as analysts factor in a mix of adjusted price targets across the Street, with expectations for improving fundamentals, changes in assumed revenue growth and margins, and a higher future P/E multiple. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Fresnillo shows a split view on the stock, with some analysts pointing to potential upside based on earnings power and others highlighting valuation and execution risks.
ECOR
UK£1.64
Ecora Royalties
7D
3.8%
1Y
125.3%
ALTN
UK£10.45
AltynGold
7D
6.6%
1Y
56.0%
SML
UK£0.05
Strategic Minerals
7D
39.7%
1Y
1,474.6%
RHIM
UK£30.00
RHI Magnesita
7D
-3.7%
1Y
36.4%
Narrative Update • Aug 04

RHIM: Higher Governance Oversight And Margins Will Support Future Repricing

Analysts have revised their price target for RHI Magnesita to £43.57 from £39.82, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, and the future P/E multiple. What's in the News for RHI Magnesita RHI Magnesita shareholders approved the appointment of KPMG Accountants N.V. as external auditor for the 2026 financial year at the Annual General Meeting held on May 13, 2026.
GMET
UK£1.91
Guardian Metal Resources
7D
12.1%
1Y
252.8%
TUN
UK£0.42
Tungsten West
7D
10.5%
1Y
342.1%