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U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 09, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies63
  • 7D3.6%
  • 3M16.2%
  • 1Y6.2%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Specialty Chemicals industry has risen 3.6%, driven by gains in PPG Industries and Ecolab of 9.4% and 3.0%, respectively. Meanwhile, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 7.0% in the last week. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 6.2%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 23% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Mon, 09 Feb 2026US$379.4bUS$156.5bUS$5.0b30.3x76.1x2.4x
Wed, 07 Jan 2026US$341.6bUS$156.3bUS$4.8b26.7x71.6x2.2x
Fri, 05 Dec 2025US$335.1bUS$156.1bUS$4.8b25x70.2x2.1x
Sun, 02 Nov 2025US$340.1bUS$155.2bUS$5.5b27x62.3x2.2x
Tue, 30 Sep 2025US$334.9bUS$150.8bUS$5.1b27x65.7x2.2x
Thu, 28 Aug 2025US$353.2bUS$150.6bUS$5.1b28.5x69.4x2.3x
Sat, 26 Jul 2025US$344.8bUS$152.9bUS$5.1b25.5x67x2.3x
Mon, 23 Jun 2025US$322.9bUS$154.6bUS$5.4b21.4x59.7x2.1x
Wed, 21 May 2025US$338.2bUS$154.6bUS$4.3b22.7x78.8x2.2x
Fri, 18 Apr 2025US$303.5bUS$155.6bUS$6.5b19.3x46.5x2x
Sun, 16 Mar 2025US$340.3bUS$154.1bUS$6.4b24x53.5x2.2x
Tue, 11 Feb 2025US$356.1bUS$156.2bUS$5.4b23.6x66.2x2.3x
Thu, 09 Jan 2025US$343.7bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b23x62.3x2.2x
Sat, 07 Dec 2024US$379.1bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b24.9x69.2x2.4x
Mon, 04 Nov 2024US$378.3bUS$159.6bUS$7.7b25.3x49.2x2.4x
Wed, 02 Oct 2024US$400.6bUS$162.1bUS$7.1b25.8x56.5x2.5x
Fri, 30 Aug 2024US$382.9bUS$164.0bUS$6.7b27.1x57x2.3x
Sun, 28 Jul 2024US$371.1bUS$159.2bUS$7.6b28.2x48.7x2.3x
Tue, 25 Jun 2024US$350.0bUS$156.5bUS$7.5b27.8x46.5x2.2x
Thu, 23 May 2024US$361.3bUS$156.5bUS$7.5b28.8x48x2.3x
Sat, 20 Apr 2024US$342.9bUS$158.6bUS$8.5b26.2x40.1x2.2x
Mon, 18 Mar 2024US$359.2bUS$158.6bUS$8.5b27.7x42.2x2.3x
Wed, 14 Feb 2024US$338.0bUS$159.1bUS$12.9b26.8x26.2x2.1x
Fri, 12 Jan 2024US$354.5bUS$165.5bUS$13.4b27.8x26.5x2.1x
Sun, 10 Dec 2023US$336.4bUS$164.6bUS$13.0b28.7x25.9x2x
Tue, 07 Nov 2023US$307.6bUS$165.2bUS$9.8b24.4x31.3x1.9x
Thu, 05 Oct 2023US$312.1bUS$165.4bUS$10.5b19.9x29.8x1.9x
Sat, 02 Sep 2023US$341.3bUS$165.4bUS$10.4b24.7x32.7x2.1x
Mon, 31 Jul 2023US$351.3bUS$164.7bUS$10.1b20.6x34.9x2.1x
Wed, 28 Jun 2023US$331.9bUS$165.3bUS$10.0b18.9x33.3x2x
Fri, 26 May 2023US$313.7bUS$165.3bUS$10.0b18.7x31.5x1.9x
Sun, 23 Apr 2023US$319.1bUS$162.1bUS$9.3b20.2x34.2x2x
Tue, 21 Mar 2023US$308.1bUS$162.1bUS$9.1b20.3x33.9x1.9x
Thu, 16 Feb 2023US$339.2bUS$160.4bUS$6.0b21.8x56.1x2.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

56.1x


Total Market Cap: US$339.2bTotal Earnings: US$6.0bTotal Revenue: US$160.4bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 60.8x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Specialty Chemicals industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 76.1x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 60.8x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 3.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.4x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Specialty Chemicals industry have declined 6.4% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that although sales have remained flat, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Comparison

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

US Market-0.071%
Materials4.13%
Chemicals2.61%
Specialty Chemicals3.64%
Diversified Chemicals19.04%
Commodity Chemicals13.60%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals0.16%
Industrial Gases-0.62%
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
PPG PPG IndustriesUS$126.518.6%
+US$2.3b		10.9%PE18.1x
ECL EcolabUS$290.332.4%
+US$1.9b		18.0%PE41.4x
SHW Sherwin-WilliamsUS$361.981.6%
+US$1.4b		0.8%PE34.7x
IFF International Flavors & FragrancesUS$74.827.3%
+US$1.3b		-11.2%PS1.7x
RPM RPM InternationalUS$116.948.8%
+US$1.2b		-4.1%PE22.6x

Latest News

RPM
US$116.94
RPM International
7D
8.8%
1Y
-4.1%

RPM International (NYSE:RPM) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet

Feb 08
RPM International (NYSE:RPM) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet
ARQ
US$3.52
Arq
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-42.1%

ARQ: Extended Production Challenges Will Ultimately Support Higher Utilization Upside

Narrative Update on Arq Analysts have trimmed their Arq price targets by $0.50 to $1.00, generally pointing to a longer than expected timeline to resolve Granular Activated Carbon production issues and the resulting pushout of utilization and revenue expectations into the later years of their models. Analyst Commentary Recent research notes focus on how the extended Granular Activated Carbon, or GAC, production issues influence Arq's valuation, growth outlook, and execution risk.
EMN
US$77.43
Eastman Chemical
7D
11.7%
1Y
-22.0%
CE
US$54.88
Celanese
7D
19.6%
1Y
-18.0%

Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) Surges 29% Yet Its Low P/S Is No Reason For Excitement

Feb 07
Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) Surges 29% Yet Its Low P/S Is No Reason For Excitement
FTK
US$17.33
Flotek Industries
7D
-1.8%
1Y
95.6%
SHW
US$361.98
Sherwin-Williams
7D
1.6%
1Y
0.8%
PPG
US$126.51
PPG Industries
7D
8.6%
1Y
10.9%
DD
US$46.73
DuPont de Nemours
7D
5.2%
1Y
-38.7%
IFF
US$74.82
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
7.3%
1Y
-11.2%

IFF: 2026 Demand Recovery And Automation Investments Will Support Rebound

The analyst price target for International Flavors & Fragrances edges higher to about US$82.37 from roughly US$81.49 as analysts weigh slightly lower modeled revenue growth against a higher profit margin profile, a modestly reduced discount rate, and a lower assumed future P/E, in line with a recent series of Street target increases. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on International Flavors & Fragrances shows a cluster of price target revisions, with several bullish analysts lifting their targets and a smaller group trimming assumptions.
SQM
US$71.48
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
7D
-5.0%
1Y
86.3%

SQM: Future Returns Will Reflect Lithium Pricing And Codelco Partnership Execution

Analysts have lifted their fair value estimate for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile to US$74.00 from US$61.44, reflecting updated views on higher revenue growth assumptions, a lower discount rate, a higher future P/E multiple, and recent research that points to firmer lithium pricing and renewed sector interest, despite at least one more cautious broker stance. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile shows a mix of enthusiasm around lithium pricing and demand, alongside some hesitation about how sustainable that optimism might be for valuation and execution.
FSI
US$5.52
Flexible Solutions International
7D
-6.1%
1Y
-12.1%
ALB
US$163.37
Albemarle
7D
-0.9%
1Y
117.4%

ALB: Future Returns Will Depend On Sustained Lithium Tightness And Pricing Power

The analyst price target for Albemarle has been raised from about $148 to roughly $173. This change reflects analysts' use of a slightly lower discount rate, modestly higher revenue growth assumptions, and a higher future P/E multiple, supported by a series of recent target hikes and upgrades tied to stronger lithium pricing and tightening supply expectations.
ASPI
US$5.82
ASP Isotopes
7D
-3.6%
1Y
-7.7%
ECL
US$290.33
Ecolab
7D
2.4%
1Y
18.0%

ECL: Fair Outlook As Cooling Demand Meets Uncertain Chemicals And Agriculture Backdrop

Ecolab's analyst price target has moved slightly higher to about $295, as analysts factor in small adjustments to fair value and profitability assumptions, along with recent target increases from firms such as Citi, BofA, and UBS, partly offset by a downgrade from another research house. Analyst Commentary Recent research has been mixed, with some bullish analysts fine tuning their targets higher and one bearish analyst turning more cautious.
BON
US$1.63
Bon Natural Life
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-95.1%