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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedJun 05, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies446
  • 7D-0.4%
  • 3M1.8%
  • 1Y27.5%
  • YTD12.2%

The Materials is pretty flat in the last 7 days, but Freeport-McMoRan has stood out, gaining 5.8%. As for the the longer term, the industry is up 28% over the past 12 months. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 16% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 05 Jun 2026US$2.0tUS$863.7bUS$53.8b21.1x36.5x2.3x
Sun, 03 May 2026US$1.9tUS$854.0bUS$49.3b22.2x39.4x2.3x
Tue, 31 Mar 2026US$1.9tUS$845.8bUS$43.5b20.7x42.6x2.2x
Thu, 26 Feb 2026US$2.1tUS$846.8bUS$42.8b23.5x49x2.5x
Sat, 24 Jan 2026US$2.0tUS$853.1bUS$46.3b25.4x42.3x2.3x
Mon, 22 Dec 2025US$1.7tUS$852.9bUS$45.8b23.8x37.7x2x
Wed, 19 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$852.3bUS$45.7b21.4x34.9x1.9x
Fri, 17 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$835.7bUS$47.0b24x36.2x2x
Sun, 14 Sep 2025US$1.7tUS$838.0bUS$47.2b24x35.7x2x
Tue, 12 Aug 2025US$1.6tUS$836.8bUS$48.0b21.9x33.5x1.9x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$835.7bUS$48.4b22.9x33.2x1.9x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$852.8bUS$48.5b21.4x32.2x1.8x
Mon, 05 May 2025US$1.5tUS$852.4bUS$49.2b21x30.5x1.8x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025US$1.5tUS$869.1bUS$53.9b20.3x28.5x1.8x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025US$1.6tUS$869.4bUS$54.7b21.3x29x1.8x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025US$1.6tUS$873.4bUS$49.2b21.4x32.5x1.8x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024US$1.5tUS$876.0bUS$49.8b19.1x30.7x1.7x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024US$1.6tUS$877.5bUS$50.1b20.8x32.9x1.9x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$875.2bUS$50.1b22.3x34.5x2x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024US$1.6tUS$870.7bUS$49.8b21.2x32.6x1.9x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024US$1.6tUS$871.0bUS$50.3b20.1x31x1.8x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$866.3bUS$50.4b19.5x31.1x1.8x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024US$1.6tUS$871.2bUS$50.2b21.4x31.2x1.8x
Tue, 07 May 2024US$1.6tUS$872.5bUS$50.6b18.4x31.4x1.8x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$880.3bUS$52.3b18.2x31.1x1.8x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024US$1.5tUS$880.0bUS$52.4b17.8x28.7x1.7x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$903.8bUS$62.0b17.6x23.5x1.6x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023US$1.5tUS$906.2bUS$63.0b18.7x23.9x1.7x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023US$1.4tUS$908.1bUS$63.7b16.5x21.8x1.5x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023US$1.3tUS$893.5bUS$63.7b12.9x19.6x1.4x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023US$1.3tUS$889.8bUS$62.9b13.8x21.3x1.5x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023US$1.3tUS$887.6bUS$63.2b13.8x21.2x1.5x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023US$1.4tUS$936.3bUS$76.9b13.5x18.3x1.5x
Mon, 12 Jun 2023US$1.3tUS$936.9bUS$77.2b13x17.2x1.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.2x


Total Market Cap: US$1.3tTotal Earnings: US$77.2bTotal Revenue: US$936.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 33.5x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Materials industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 36.5x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 33.5x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.0x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 11% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 2.7% 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.S. Materials sector?

US Market-0.11%
Materials-0.37%
Metals and Mining0.85%
Basic Materials0.45%
Chemicals-1.47%
Packaging-1.65%
Paper and Forestry Products-4.84%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 49.0x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 17.2%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 0.1% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 53% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 72% per year.
  • In contrast, the Basic Materials industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 12% 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
FCX Freeport-McMoRanUS$69.695.8%
+US$5.5b		67.2%PE36.8x
NUE NucorUS$262.285.2%
+US$3.0b		120.9%PE25.7x
LIN LindeUS$507.451.1%
+US$2.5b		7.9%PE33.1x
STLD Steel DynamicsUS$276.856.2%
+US$2.3b		109.6%PE29.1x
RS RelianceUS$396.464.9%
+US$949.0m		29.1%PE25.2x

Latest News

CLF
US$14.43
Cleveland-Cliffs
7D
8.6%
1Y
103.2%
Seeking Alpha • 4h

Cleveland-Cliffs: The Right Rally For The Wrong Reason

Summary Cleveland-Cliffs is downgraded to Sell as its stock price outpaces underlying financial and operational improvements. Despite favorable steel pricing and tariff dynamics, CLF’s realized prices lag spot, and its cost structure remains inflexible versus peers. CLF’s high leverage—net debt nearly equals equity value—makes the stock a volatile call option on steel prices, not a cash-flow compounder. Scenario analysis yields a probability-weighted price target of $11.66, with significant downside risk if steel prices mean-revert or execution falters. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
ECL
US$254.33
Ecolab
7D
-2.3%
1Y
-4.7%
ALB
US$165.65
Albemarle
7D
-6.1%
1Y
182.5%
NUE
US$262.28
Nucor
7D
5.2%
1Y
120.9%
RS
US$396.46
Reliance
7D
4.9%
1Y
29.1%
IFF
US$73.23
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
-6.2%
1Y
-4.2%
SHW
US$300.09
Sherwin-Williams
7D
-1.7%
1Y
-16.1%
LIN
US$507.45
Linde
7D
1.1%
1Y
7.9%
SQM
US$77.69
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
7D
-7.6%
1Y
140.5%
STLD
US$276.85
Steel Dynamics
7D
6.2%
1Y
109.6%
SW
US$42.28
Smurfit Westrock
7D
3.1%
1Y
-1.8%
Narrative Update • Jun 02

SW: Single NYSE Listing And Lower P/E Assumptions Will Support Upside

Analysts have adjusted their fair value estimate for Smurfit Westrock to $61.89 from $67.91. This change reflects updated views on the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions.
CTVA
US$77.46
Corteva
7D
-3.9%
1Y
8.8%
Narrative Update • May 31

CTVA: SpinCo Separation And Biofungicide Collaboration Will Reshape Future Earnings Mix

The analyst price target for Corteva is updated to $89.90 from $86.05 as analysts note that the market is treating "New Corteva" like a no-growth commodity chemical company. They instead highlight expectations for a healthier standalone growth profile, modestly higher profit margins, and a slightly lower assumed future P/E multiple.
FCX
US$69.69
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
5.8%
1Y
67.2%
VMC
US$283.06
Vulcan Materials
7D
2.3%
1Y
6.5%
AU
US$92.17
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
-4.3%
1Y
95.7%
Narrative Update • May 28

AU: New Buyback And Dividend Policy Will Support Future Upside

Analysts now place AngloGold Ashanti's price target at $123.29, up from $121.86, reflecting updated assumptions for the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E. What's in the News The Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase plan under which AngloGold Ashanti may buy back up to US$2,000m of its common stock, subject to shareholder approval (Buyback Transaction Announcements).
ICL
US$5.89
ICL Group
7D
-12.7%
1Y
-12.4%
Analysis Article • May 20

Some May Be Optimistic About ICL Group's (NYSE:ICL) Earnings

Shareholders appeared unconcerned with ICL Group Ltd's ( NYSE:ICL ) lackluster earnings report last week. We did some...