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

U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 27, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies61
  • 7D3.9%
  • 3M3.4%
  • 1Y1.6%
  • YTDn/a

The Specialty Chemicals industry is up 4.0% in the last week, with Sherwin-Williams up 3.1%. Despite this gain, the industry's performance has been flat over the past year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 19% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 27 Mar 2026US$353.6bUS$149.3bUS$5.8b29.5x60.6x2.4x
Sun, 22 Feb 2026US$389.0bUS$150.6bUS$5.8b34.1x67.2x2.6x
Tue, 20 Jan 2026US$364.7bUS$156.3bUS$4.8b27.3x76.2x2.3x
Thu, 18 Dec 2025US$333.6bUS$156.1bUS$4.8b24.9x69.9x2.1x
Sat, 15 Nov 2025US$329.7bUS$156.0bUS$4.7b23.7x69.5x2.1x
Mon, 13 Oct 2025US$326.0bUS$150.9bUS$5.1b25.9x64x2.2x
Wed, 10 Sep 2025US$344.5bUS$150.6bUS$5.1b27.2x67.7x2.3x
Fri, 08 Aug 2025US$330.8bUS$151.0bUS$5.4b24.7x61.7x2.2x
Sun, 06 Jul 2025US$347.5bUS$152.8bUS$5.2b23.6x66.8x2.3x
Tue, 03 Jun 2025US$333.2bUS$154.6bUS$5.3b21.3x62.9x2.2x
Thu, 01 May 2025US$320.9bUS$155.4bUS$6.4b20x50.2x2.1x
Sat, 29 Mar 2025US$338.6bUS$155.7bUS$6.5b22.9x51.7x2.2x
Mon, 24 Feb 2025US$356.5bUS$155.3bUS$6.5b24x54.6x2.3x
Wed, 22 Jan 2025US$358.7bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b24.3x65.6x2.3x
Fri, 20 Dec 2024US$354.2bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b23x64.6x2.2x
Sun, 17 Nov 2024US$377.1bUS$159.0bUS$5.8b26.6x64.9x2.4x
Tue, 15 Oct 2024US$400.8bUS$162.0bUS$7.1b26.8x56.3x2.5x
Thu, 12 Sep 2024US$381.2bUS$164.1bUS$6.7b25.6x56.7x2.3x
Sat, 10 Aug 2024US$364.4bUS$164.7bUS$7.1b25.1x51.4x2.2x
Mon, 08 Jul 2024US$348.3bUS$159.1bUS$7.5b27.5x46.4x2.2x
Wed, 05 Jun 2024US$354.7bUS$156.5bUS$7.5b27.3x47.1x2.3x
Fri, 03 May 2024US$346.1bUS$157.1bUS$7.5b26.2x45.9x2.2x
Sun, 31 Mar 2024US$373.2bUS$158.6bUS$8.5b28.3x43.8x2.4x
Tue, 27 Feb 2024US$347.6bUS$158.7bUS$8.5b27x41x2.2x
Thu, 25 Jan 2024US$351.6bUS$165.6bUS$13.2b27.5x26.6x2.1x
Sat, 23 Dec 2023US$358.4bUS$164.6bUS$13.0b30x27.6x2.2x
Mon, 20 Nov 2023US$321.5bUS$164.9bUS$13.0b28x24.7x1.9x
Wed, 18 Oct 2023US$313.8bUS$165.4bUS$10.5b19.9x30x1.9x
Fri, 15 Sep 2023US$326.8bUS$165.4bUS$10.4b22.9x31.3x2x
Sun, 13 Aug 2023US$335.0bUS$165.4bUS$10.5b24.4x32.1x2x
Tue, 11 Jul 2023US$339.8bUS$165.0bUS$9.9b20x34.2x2.1x
Thu, 08 Jun 2023US$326.0bUS$165.3bUS$10.0b19.7x32.7x2x
Sat, 06 May 2023US$317.9bUS$165.2bUS$10.4b20x30.6x1.9x
Mon, 03 Apr 2023US$322.7bUS$161.9bUS$9.1b21.3x35.5x2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

35.5x


Total Market Cap: US$322.7bTotal Earnings: US$9.1bTotal Revenue: US$161.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 62x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the American Specialty 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 PE ratio of 62.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 3.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Specialty Chemicals industry have declined 14% 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 Comparison

How does U.S. Specialty Chemicals compare with similar industries?

US Market-1.62%
Materials2.19%
Chemicals3.27%
Specialty Chemicals3.86%
Diversified Chemicals11.12%
Commodity Chemicals5.14%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals4.48%
Industrial Gases1.60%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
SHW Sherwin-WilliamsUS$319.553.0%
+US$2.3b		-7.6%PE30.6x
ECL EcolabUS$264.252.1%
+US$1.7b		4.6%PE36x
PPG PPG IndustriesUS$105.317.0%
+US$1.6b		-2.8%PE15x
ALB AlbemarleUS$174.506.9%
+US$1.3b		133.4%PS4x
DD DuPont de NemoursUS$46.025.7%
+US$1.0b		-39.4%PE330.2x

Latest News

ECL
US$264.25
Ecolab
7D
2.1%
1Y
4.6%

ECL: Structural Pricing Power Will Support Execution On CoolIT Data Center Deal

Ecolab's updated analyst price target edges down from $321.86 to $320.43 as analysts factor in higher revenue growth assumptions, slightly lower projected profit margins, and a modestly reduced future P/E multiple, following a mix of recent target increases, target cuts, and rating changes across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Ecolab shows a mix of optimism and caution, with several firms adjusting ratings and targets around pricing power, deal valuation, and execution.
ALB
US$174.50
Albemarle
7D
6.9%
1Y
133.4%
ESI
US$33.98
Element Solutions
7D
6.9%
1Y
44.0%

ESI: Ongoing Buybacks And Refined Assumptions Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts now place Element Solutions' price target at about $38.78, up slightly from $38.50. This reflects refreshed assumptions around fair value and P/E, alongside modest tweaks to discount rate, revenue growth, and profit margin inputs.
PPG
US$105.31
PPG Industries
7D
7.0%
1Y
-2.8%
DD
US$46.02
DuPont de Nemours
7D
5.7%
1Y
-39.4%

DD: PFAS Legal Overhang Will Set Up Future Product Expansion Upside

Analysts have raised their price target on DuPont de Nemours from about $55 to $64, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and a lower discount rate that together support a reduced future P/E estimate. What's in the News The company plans to seek shareholder approval for a reverse stock split in a range of 1 for 2 to 1 for 4 at the May 21, 2026 annual meeting.
SHW
US$319.55
Sherwin-Williams
7D
3.0%
1Y
-7.6%

SHW: Premium Multiple Will Face Mixed Macro And Execution Risks In 2026

Analysts have trimmed their aggregate Sherwin-Williams price targets by a few dollars, reflecting updated models that factor in a fair value estimate near $321, a slightly lower discount rate, and modest adjustments to revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions following recent earnings and sector wide revisions. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Sherwin-Williams has featured a mix of price target increases, trims, and rating changes, with several bearish analysts highlighting valuation and execution questions alongside more constructive voices that still carry Buy or Outperform ratings.
RYAM
US$10.81
Rayonier Advanced Materials
7D
-3.0%
1Y
87.3%
SQM
US$77.37
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
7D
3.6%
1Y
90.7%
IFF
US$71.15
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
4.4%
1Y
-9.0%

IFF: Portfolio Optimization Progress Will Support Future Re Rating Potential

Analysts have nudged the implied price target for International Flavors & Fragrances to $100, reflecting updated expectations around portfolio optimization progress, modestly higher revenue growth and profit margins, and a slightly lower discount rate cited across recent research. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research points to a clear shift in sentiment around International Flavors & Fragrances, with several bullish analysts lifting their valuation frameworks and price targets into a tighter band around US$90 to US$100.
ALTO
US$4.43
Alto Ingredients
7D
-2.0%
1Y
260.2%

ALTO: Future Returns Will Depend On Execution And Funding Discipline

Analysts have raised their price target on Alto Ingredients to $4.50 from $3.00, citing updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, expected revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E that they say are more in line with recent Street research on comparable companies. Analyst Commentary While the higher price target reflects updated valuation work, some bearish analysts in the broader small cap space are still emphasizing execution and funding risks that can weigh on sentiment for companies like Alto Ingredients.
BON
US$1.36
Bon Natural Life
7D
-6.2%
1Y
-63.5%
FSI
US$5.42
Flexible Solutions International
7D
-0.7%
1Y
5.2%
NTIC
US$8.40
Northern Technologies International
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-22.5%

Even With A 26% Surge, Cautious Investors Are Not Rewarding Northern Technologies International Corporation's (NASDAQ:NTIC) Performance Completely

Jan 15
Even With A 26% Surge, Cautious Investors Are Not Rewarding Northern Technologies International Corporation's (NASDAQ:NTIC) Performance Completely