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U.S. Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 16, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies132
  • 7D2.8%
  • 3M4.4%
  • 1Y-3.6%
  • YTD6.8%

Over the last 7 days, the Chemicals industry has risen 2.8%, driven by gains from Sherwin-Williams of 4.4%. In the same time, NewMarket was down 9.0%. In contrast, the industry has lost 3.6% in the last 12 months. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 24% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 16 Jan 2026US$778.6bUS$372.0bUS$11.0b23.8x70.7x2.1x
Sun, 14 Dec 2025US$719.0bUS$371.7bUS$11.0b24x65.5x1.9x
Tue, 11 Nov 2025US$706.3bUS$371.6bUS$11.0b23.2x64.5x1.9x
Thu, 09 Oct 2025US$763.3bUS$367.8bUS$15.6b26.4x49.1x2.1x
Sat, 06 Sep 2025US$788.9bUS$367.6bUS$15.5b26.9x50.8x2.1x
Mon, 04 Aug 2025US$756.0bUS$374.7bUS$15.1b23.8x50x2x
Wed, 02 Jul 2025US$777.7bUS$378.4bUS$18.1b22x42.9x2.1x
Fri, 30 May 2025US$768.3bUS$378.4bUS$18.1b22.3x42.6x2x
Sun, 27 Apr 2025US$737.0bUS$379.8bUS$21.7b19.2x34x1.9x
Tue, 25 Mar 2025US$779.8bUS$380.9bUS$23.0b20.9x33.8x2x
Thu, 20 Feb 2025US$825.2bUS$381.2bUS$22.7b21.3x36.3x2.2x
Sat, 18 Jan 2025US$811.8bUS$384.4bUS$23.4b23.2x34.6x2.1x
Mon, 16 Dec 2024US$825.9bUS$384.3bUS$23.4b22.2x35.2x2.1x
Wed, 13 Nov 2024US$862.3bUS$385.6bUS$23.7b25.4x36.4x2.2x
Fri, 11 Oct 2024US$891.6bUS$390.5bUS$24.3b26.1x36.7x2.3x
Sun, 08 Sep 2024US$832.8bUS$383.8bUS$23.4b25.4x35.5x2.2x
Tue, 06 Aug 2024US$831.8bUS$385.3bUS$24.2b24.6x34.4x2.2x
Thu, 04 Jul 2024US$797.9bUS$379.9bUS$23.4b25.3x34.1x2.1x
Sat, 01 Jun 2024US$820.0bUS$377.3bUS$23.4b25.9x35x2.2x
Mon, 29 Apr 2024US$806.2bUS$382.7bUS$26.3b21.3x30.6x2.1x
Wed, 27 Mar 2024US$842.7bUS$384.6bUS$25.4b20.8x33.2x2.2x
Fri, 23 Feb 2024US$796.2bUS$384.7bUS$25.5b22.1x31.2x2.1x
Sun, 21 Jan 2024US$784.3bUS$398.9bUS$31.7b20x24.7x2x
Tue, 19 Dec 2023US$800.2bUS$398.4bUS$31.6b21.3x25.3x2x
Thu, 16 Nov 2023US$756.6bUS$399.0bUS$31.7b17.5x23.9x1.9x
Sat, 14 Oct 2023US$739.1bUS$412.0bUS$31.2b15.6x23.7x1.8x
Mon, 11 Sep 2023US$780.4bUS$412.0bUS$31.2b16.1x25x1.9x
Wed, 09 Aug 2023US$794.0bUS$411.9bUS$30.9b15.2x25.7x1.9x
Fri, 07 Jul 2023US$794.3bUS$444.3bUS$39.1b13.8x20.3x1.8x
Sun, 04 Jun 2023US$777.6bUS$444.6bUS$39.1b13.3x19.9x1.7x
Tue, 02 May 2023US$800.3bUS$444.9bUS$40.5b13.7x19.8x1.8x
Thu, 30 Mar 2023US$786.9bUS$452.1bUS$42.6b12.5x18.5x1.7x
Sat, 25 Feb 2023US$814.4bUS$450.4bUS$40.0b12.9x20.3x1.8x
Mon, 23 Jan 2023US$820.1bUS$461.0bUS$43.3b15x18.9x1.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.9x


Total Market Cap: US$820.1bTotal Earnings: US$43.3bTotal Revenue: US$461.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 38.8x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Chemicals industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 70.7x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 38.8x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.4x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.1x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Chemicals industry have declined 37% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 6.9% 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.S. Materials industry?

US Market0.31%
Materials4.64%
Chemicals2.85%
Commodity Chemicals6.88%
Diversified Chemicals6.44%
Specialty Chemicals4.09%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals2.04%
Industrial Gases0.47%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Specialty Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 60.2x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 25.6%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 2.1% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Diversified Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 88% over the next 5 years.
  • In contrast, the Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 6.7% 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
SHW Sherwin-WilliamsUS$356.134.4%
+US$3.7b		0.6%PE34.1x
ALB AlbemarleUS$173.789.8%
+US$1.8b		84.2%PS4.1x
ECL EcolabUS$277.732.2%
+US$1.7b		16.1%PE39.6x
SQM Sociedad Química y Minera de ChileUS$79.587.5%
+US$1.6b		98.8%PE43.3x
DOW DowUS$27.947.8%
+US$1.4b		-31.6%PS0.5x

Latest News

NEU
US$650.00
NewMarket
7D
-9.0%
1Y
30.4%
FSI
US$5.85
Flexible Solutions International
7D
-15.1%
1Y
3.7%
SOLS
US$60.51
Solstice Advanced Materials
7D
16.1%
1Y
n/a
PPG
US$110.07
PPG Industries
7D
4.5%
1Y
-8.0%
SQM
US$79.58
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
7D
7.5%
1Y
98.8%

Investors Appear Satisfied With Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.'s (NYSE:SQM) Prospects As Shares Rocket 28%

Jan 15
Investors Appear Satisfied With Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.'s (NYSE:SQM) Prospects As Shares Rocket 28%
HWKN
US$153.19
Hawkins
7D
-0.3%
1Y
36.8%
ALB
US$173.78
Albemarle
7D
9.8%
1Y
84.2%
FTK
US$16.07
Flotek Industries
7D
-10.7%
1Y
81.4%
SHW
US$356.13
Sherwin-Williams
7D
4.4%
1Y
0.6%

SHW: Pricing Power And Margins Will Be Tested In Mixed Chemicals Backdrop

Narrative Update We are making a small upward adjustment to our Sherwin-Williams price target of about $0.80, reflecting analysts' mixed but generally constructive updates to revenue growth, margins, and long term P/E assumptions following recent Street research. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Sherwin-Williams shows a mix of optimism and caution, with price targets clustered in a relatively tight range and ratings spread between Neutral and Buy.
ECL
US$277.73
Ecolab
7D
2.2%
1Y
16.1%

ECL: Fair Outlook Balances Margin Strength With Uncertain Chemical And Agriculture Backdrop

Analysts have inched their fair value estimate for Ecolab higher, with the price target moving by about US$2.56 to US$294.71, citing updated views on revenue growth potential, a slightly adjusted discount rate, and ongoing discussion of industry catalysts such as chemical sector oversupply, mixed agriculture trends, and possible demand support from improving PMI indicators and future rate cuts. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates around Ecolab point to a generally constructive stance, with price targets nudging higher and coverage being reinstated with a positive angle.
WLK
US$88.30
Westlake
7D
11.0%
1Y
-25.0%

WLK: Capacity Closures And Impairment Charges Will Shape Fairly Balanced Prospects

Analysts have nudged their price target for Westlake slightly higher to about US$82 per share, reflecting updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News Westlake plans to shut certain North American chlorovinyl facilities, including a PVC plant in Aberdeen, Mississippi, a VCM plant and a diaphragm chlor alkali unit in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and its styrene plant in Lake Charles, with cessation of operations targeted for December 2025 and an expected workforce reduction of about 295 employees (company announcement).
DOW
US$27.94
Dow
7D
7.8%
1Y
-31.6%

DOW: Cost Driven Earnings Will Prove Fragile In Weak Commodity Cycle

Narrative Update on Dow Analysts have nudged their average price target on Dow higher to around the mid 20s. This reflects mixed views that balance recent cost driven earnings strength with ongoing caution around the durability of commodity and end market demand.
TSE
US$0.55
Trinseo
7D
-32.2%
1Y
-87.4%
ASIX
US$17.94
AdvanSix
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-41.9%
ICL
US$5.53
ICL Group
7D
-0.7%
1Y
-3.2%
CMT
US$18.91
Core Molding Technologies
7D
-3.9%
1Y
24.4%