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U.S. Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 30, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies131
  • 7D0.005%
  • 3M8.9%
  • 1Y-4.7%
  • YTD8.0%

In the last week, the Chemicals industry is flat overall, with Air Products and Chemicals standing out by going down 3.0%. Unfortunately though, the industry is down 4.7% over the past 12 months. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 23% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 30 Jan 2026US$787.1bUS$371.5bUS$9.8b25.7x80.1x2.1x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025US$727.2bUS$371.7bUS$11.0b23.9x66.1x2x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025US$707.9bUS$371.7bUS$11.0b22.2x64.4x1.9x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025US$751.1bUS$367.8bUS$15.6b25.4x48.3x2x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025US$781.8bUS$367.7bUS$15.5b26.8x50.3x2.1x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025US$788.5bUS$367.8bUS$15.7b25.1x50.3x2.1x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025US$795.4bUS$376.6bUS$17.9b22.7x44.3x2.1x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025US$788.0bUS$378.4bUS$18.1b22.4x43.4x2.1x
Sun, 11 May 2025US$754.7bUS$378.5bUS$17.2b21.5x43.9x2x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025US$711.9bUS$380.9bUS$23.0b17.5x31x1.9x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025US$796.9bUS$380.3bUS$22.9b22.7x34.8x2.1x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025US$832.5bUS$382.1bUS$23.3b23.5x35.8x2.2x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024US$787.8bUS$384.3bUS$23.4b20.4x33.6x2x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024US$872.8bUS$384.3bUS$23.5b22.9x37.2x2.3x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024US$887.0bUS$388.9bUS$24.2b25.9x36.7x2.3x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024US$866.7bUS$383.8bUS$23.4b25.3x37x2.3x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024US$840.5bUS$384.5bUS$23.8b25.5x35.3x2.2x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024US$837.8bUS$379.9bUS$23.4b28.1x35.8x2.2x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024US$819.6bUS$377.3bUS$23.4b25.9x35x2.2x
Mon, 13 May 2024US$831.5bUS$377.4bUS$23.5b22.7x35.4x2.2x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024US$842.5bUS$384.6bUS$25.6b22.3x32.9x2.2x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024US$835.8bUS$384.5bUS$25.4b21.3x33x2.2x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024US$788.7bUS$397.0bUS$31.0b21.1x25.5x2x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024US$810.5bUS$397.9bUS$31.5b21.7x25.7x2x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023US$763.5bUS$398.8bUS$31.6b19x24.1x1.9x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023US$709.5bUS$404.8bUS$30.7b15.2x23.1x1.8x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023US$749.3bUS$412.0bUS$31.2b16.5x24x1.8x
Wed, 23 Aug 2023US$772.8bUS$412.0bUS$31.2b15.2x24.8x1.9x
Fri, 21 Jul 2023US$828.7bUS$444.3bUS$39.1b14.2x21.2x1.9x
Sun, 18 Jun 2023US$801.5bUS$444.6bUS$39.1b12.9x20.5x1.8x
Tue, 16 May 2023US$777.2bUS$444.6bUS$39.2b12.8x19.8x1.7x
Thu, 13 Apr 2023US$804.1bUS$452.1bUS$42.6b12.9x18.9x1.8x
Sat, 11 Mar 2023US$778.8bUS$452.1bUS$42.6b12.3x18.3x1.7x
Mon, 06 Feb 2023US$833.1bUS$458.0bUS$41.6b14.8x20x1.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

20x


Total Market Cap: US$833.1bTotal Earnings: US$41.6bTotal Revenue: US$458.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 39.5x202420252026
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 80.1x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 39.5x.
  • 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 38% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 6.7% 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 industry?

US Market0.25%
Materials1.56%
Chemicals0.0047%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals2.67%
Industrial Gases0.96%
Specialty Chemicals-0.40%
Commodity Chemicals-4.59%
Diversified Chemicals-6.37%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Specialty Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 60.6x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 25.0%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 1.3% 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 7.3% 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
LIN LindeUS$455.002.1%
+US$4.4b		1.9%PE30x
CTVA CortevaUS$73.843.2%
+US$1.5b		11.6%PE29.7x
SHW Sherwin-WilliamsUS$354.581.1%
+US$973.5m		-3.0%PE34x
CF CF Industries HoldingsUS$94.035.4%
+US$748.7m		2.0%PE10.6x
PPG PPG IndustriesUS$116.512.3%
+US$583.4m		-5.1%PE16.6x

Latest News

SHW
US$354.58
Sherwin-Williams
7D
1.1%
1Y
-3.0%
DOW
US$27.16
Dow
7D
-4.1%
1Y
-29.5%
IFF
US$69.60
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
-3.5%
1Y
-20.7%
PPG
US$116.51
PPG Industries
7D
2.3%
1Y
-5.1%
CTVA
US$73.84
Corteva
7D
3.2%
1Y
11.6%
DD
US$44.60
DuPont de Nemours
7D
1.8%
1Y
-41.8%
CF
US$94.03
CF Industries Holdings
7D
5.4%
1Y
2.0%
APD
US$256.02
Air Products and Chemicals
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-23.6%
LIN
US$455.00
Linde
7D
2.1%
1Y
1.9%
WLK
US$81.56
Westlake
7D
-6.0%
1Y
-29.6%

WLK: Planned Facility Closures And Impairment Charges Will Shape Fair Valuation Outlook

Analysts have lifted their price target on Westlake from about US$82 to roughly US$85, pointing to updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E as the key drivers behind the change. What's in the News Westlake plans to cease operations at several North American chlorovinyl facilities, including a PVC plant in Aberdeen, Mississippi, a VCM plant at Lake Charles North in Louisiana, and a diaphragm chlor alkali unit at Lake Charles South, with cessation targeted for December 2025 (Key Developments).
ECL
US$282.83
Ecolab
7D
0.5%
1Y
12.0%

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.
RPM
US$107.76
RPM International
7D
-3.3%
1Y
-15.5%

RPM: Cost Actions And Sales Rebound Will Support Earnings Recovery

Analysts have trimmed their price targets on RPM International by modest amounts, leading to a slight adjustment in the updated fair value estimate to about $145.03, as they weigh near term earnings pressures against cost actions, a sales rebound and valuation. Analyst Commentary Recent research highlights a mixed but generally constructive stance on RPM International, with several firms trimming price targets while still expressing confidence in the company’s ability to work through near term challenges.
ESI
US$29.81
Element Solutions
7D
2.7%
1Y
15.5%

ESI: Completed Buyback And Improved Assumptions Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have nudged their price target for Element Solutions from US$32.00 to about US$32.70, citing updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that slightly adjust their overall outlook. What's in the News From July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025, Element Solutions reported no share repurchases under its existing buyback program, with 0 shares repurchased for US$0 million in this tranche (Key Developments).
LYB
US$49.95
LyondellBasell Industries
7D
-3.1%
1Y
-34.4%

LYB: Commodity Oversupply And Weaker Pricing Power Will Restrain Future Returns

Narrative Update Analysts have nudged their price targets on LyondellBasell Industries higher by about US$5 to US$6, citing refinements to discount rate assumptions, expectations for a smaller revenue decline, improved profit margin forecasts, and a lower future P/E multiple in their updated models. Analyst Commentary While some targets have been nudged higher, there is a clear pocket of caution around LyondellBasell Industries, with several Bearish analysts trimming expectations and tempering enthusiasm on the stock.
SQM
US$81.64
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
7D
-2.6%
1Y
98.9%

SQM: Higher Lithium Hopes Will Face Persistent Chilean Royalty Pressure

Analysts have lifted their fair value estimate for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile to US$40 from US$37, reflecting updated assumptions for higher revenue growth, stronger profit margins, a lower discount rate, and a reduced future P/E multiple, supported by recent price target increases and more constructive sector views in Street research. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile highlights a mixed backdrop, with several firms lifting price targets and turning more constructive on lithium and broader sector sentiment.
ALB
US$180.70
Albemarle
7D
-4.0%
1Y
111.0%

ALB: Future Returns Will Hinge On Sustained Lithium Pricing Strength

The analyst price target for Albemarle has been raised from about $125.49 to roughly $147.79 as analysts factor in higher lithium price assumptions, improved profit margin expectations, and a lower future P/E multiple, supported by a broad wave of recent upgrades and target increases across major research firms. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Albemarle reflects a clear shift toward more constructive views, with several upgrades and higher targets built around revised lithium price decks, inventory tightness, and evolving demand themes such as energy storage and physical AI.