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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedFeb 19, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies459
  • 7D-1.6%
  • 3M29.5%
  • 1Y28.6%
  • YTD16.2%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has dropped 1.6%, driven by Southern Copper declining 6.7%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 29%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 20% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 20 Feb 2026US$2.0tUS$849.4bUS$43.1b24.3x46.9x2.4x
Sun, 18 Jan 2026US$1.9tUS$853.2bUS$46.1b24.2x41.5x2.2x
Tue, 16 Dec 2025US$1.7tUS$852.8bUS$45.8b23.8x37.4x2x
Thu, 13 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$852.2bUS$46.0b22.6x35.7x1.9x
Sat, 11 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$836.0bUS$47.0b23.8x35.8x2x
Mon, 08 Sep 2025US$1.7tUS$837.9bUS$47.3b23.8x35.4x2x
Wed, 06 Aug 2025US$1.6tUS$841.2bUS$47.5b21.7x33.1x1.9x
Fri, 04 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$835.7bUS$48.4b23.2x33.5x1.9x
Sun, 01 Jun 2025US$1.5tUS$852.8bUS$48.5b20.6x31.5x1.8x
Tue, 29 Apr 2025US$1.5tUS$865.1bUS$55.8b20.1x26.7x1.7x
Thu, 27 Mar 2025US$1.6tUS$869.1bUS$53.9b21.5x28.9x1.8x
Sat, 22 Feb 2025US$1.6tUS$869.9bUS$54.4b21x29x1.8x
Mon, 20 Jan 2025US$1.6tUS$873.2bUS$49.2b19.9x32.2x1.8x
Wed, 18 Dec 2024US$1.6tUS$876.1bUS$49.7b20.7x31.9x1.8x
Fri, 15 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$877.4bUS$50.3b21.1x32.8x1.9x
Sun, 13 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$875.5bUS$50.5b21.9x33.8x2x
Tue, 10 Sep 2024US$1.6tUS$870.5bUS$49.8b20.7x31.7x1.8x
Thu, 08 Aug 2024US$1.6tUS$871.0bUS$49.9b19.5x31.2x1.8x
Sat, 06 Jul 2024US$1.5tUS$873.5bUS$49.9b19.5x31x1.8x
Mon, 03 Jun 2024US$1.6tUS$871.4bUS$50.2b22.1x32.1x1.8x
Wed, 01 May 2024US$1.6tUS$878.5bUS$50.4b16.8x30.8x1.8x
Fri, 29 Mar 2024US$1.6tUS$880.4bUS$52.2b18.3x30.9x1.8x
Sun, 25 Feb 2024US$1.5tUS$872.1bUS$51.6b19.4x29x1.7x
Tue, 23 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$905.8bUS$63.4b17.8x22.9x1.6x
Thu, 21 Dec 2023US$1.5tUS$906.1bUS$63.0b18.1x23.8x1.7x
Sat, 18 Nov 2023US$1.4tUS$908.2bUS$63.8b16.6x21.6x1.5x
Mon, 16 Oct 2023US$1.3tUS$893.9bUS$63.4b13.1x20.3x1.4x
Wed, 13 Sep 2023US$1.4tUS$889.7bUS$62.9b13.6x21.5x1.5x
Fri, 11 Aug 2023US$1.4tUS$888.2bUS$63.5b14.3x21.6x1.5x
Sun, 09 Jul 2023US$1.4tUS$936.0bUS$76.9b13.8x17.8x1.5x
Tue, 06 Jun 2023US$1.3tUS$934.7bUS$77.1b12.9x17.1x1.4x
Thu, 04 May 2023US$1.3tUS$935.9bUS$81.0b12.1x16.3x1.4x
Sat, 01 Apr 2023US$1.4tUS$952.4bUS$86.6b12.4x15.8x1.4x
Mon, 27 Feb 2023US$1.4tUS$950.7bUS$85.7b12x16.1x1.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.1x


Total Market Cap: US$1.4tTotal Earnings: US$85.7bTotal Revenue: US$950.7bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 30.9x202420252026
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 46.9x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 30.9x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.9x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.4x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 21% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 3.7% 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-0.74%
Materials-1.60%
Packaging0.37%
Chemicals0.00079%
Basic Materials-2.25%
Metals and Mining-3.39%
Paper and Forestry Products-9.85%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Paper and Forestry Products industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 6.7x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 37.8%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 60.8% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Basic Materials industry, although it looks like investor sentiment has improved given that it's trading above its 3-year average of 23.7x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 38% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 61% 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
AEM Agnico Eagle MinesUS$224.479.4%
+US$9.6b		129.0%PE25.2x
LIN LindeUS$490.113.6%
+US$8.1b		6.1%PE33.2x
NEM NewmontUS$125.406.2%
+US$7.9b		160.8%PE19x
EMAT Evolution Metals & TechnologiesUS$13.1282.5%
+US$3.5b		18.0%PE-89.7x
CDE Coeur MiningUS$24.0614.9%
+US$2.0b		294.4%PE26.4x

Latest News

CRH
US$124.75
CRH
7D
-2.4%
1Y
17.6%
VMC
US$299.36
Vulcan Materials
7D
-6.4%
1Y
13.0%
SON
US$57.63
Sonoco Products
7D
12.1%
1Y
24.3%

Sustainability Trends And Cost Synergies Will Reshape This Packaging Leader’s Long Term Potential

Catalysts About Sonoco Products Sonoco Products is a global packaging company focused on consumer metal and paper cans and industrial uncoated recycled paperboard and converted products. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
SW
US$51.84
Smurfit Westrock
7D
3.1%
1Y
-6.3%

SW: Fair Value View Will Weigh Quebec Closures Against Earnings Potential

Analysts have raised their price target on Smurfit WestRock from $44.50 to $51.00. They attribute the higher valuation mainly to a revised future P/E assumption of 20.49x, along with adjusted expectations for revenue growth and profit margins.
AEM
US$220.64
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
1.6%
1Y
125.0%

AEM: Rich Pipeline And Capital Returns Will Ultimately Constrain Future Upside

We are raising our Agnico Eagle Mines fair value estimate to $136.62 from $110.25, reflecting analysts' higher price targets that are based on views of a robust growth pipeline, rising capital returns and support from multiple firms that continue to rank the company as a top pick in the senior gold space. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research shows a cluster of higher price targets for Agnico Eagle Mines, with several firms citing a robust growth pipeline and rising capital returns.
SOLS
US$80.92
Solstice Advanced Materials
7D
8.0%
1Y
n/a
APD
US$282.39
Air Products and Chemicals
7D
-3.7%
1Y
-10.9%

APD: Backlog Execution And NASA Hydrogen Wins Will Shape Turnaround Path

The analyst price target for Air Products and Chemicals has been raised by about $1 to approximately $302, as analysts incorporate higher published targets from multiple firms and modest adjustments to assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Air Products and Chemicals has centered on a series of upward price target revisions and one key rating change, providing a view into how analysts are framing valuation, execution risk, and growth potential.
AU
US$108.35
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
-3.5%
1Y
249.0%

AU: Higher Revenue Assumptions And Rich P/E Will Likely Pressure Future Returns

Analysts have raised their price target on AngloGold Ashanti to $75 from $67, reflecting updated views on revenue growth, margins and the stock's forward P/E profile. Valuation Changes Fair Value: revised up to $75.00 from $67.00, indicating a higher assessed value per share based on the updated inputs.
CTVA
US$76.59
Corteva
7D
1.7%
1Y
20.3%
IFF
US$82.96
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
7.8%
1Y
1.2%
NUE
US$184.54
Nucor
7D
-5.1%
1Y
32.0%
FCX
US$62.55
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
-4.4%
1Y
62.2%
SCCO
US$192.66
Southern Copper
7D
-6.7%
1Y
107.4%
LIN
US$485.28
Linde
7D
3.8%
1Y
5.0%
STLD
US$192.74
Steel Dynamics
7D
-6.3%
1Y
40.9%

STLD: Tariff Support And 2026 Outlook Will Balance Capacity And Acquisition Risks

Narrative Update The analyst price target for Steel Dynamics shifts slightly higher to about US$193 from about US$191, as analysts factor in refreshed 2026 outlooks that point to resilient steel pricing, incremental capacity driven market share gains for domestic mills, and mixed but generally supportive expectations for sector profitability despite a challenging macro backdrop. Analyst Commentary Recent research paints a mixed but generally constructive picture for Steel Dynamics, with several firms lifting price targets while one high profile downgrade highlights growing valuation and execution questions into 2026.
EMAT
US$13.12
Evolution Metals & Technologies
7D
82.5%
1Y
18.0%

Evolution Metals & Technologies Is Just The Beginning; Caution Is Advised

Jan 24