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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedJun 24, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies447
  • 7D-4.5%
  • 3M2.0%
  • 1Y23.4%
  • YTD8.6%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has dropped 4.5%, driven by declines in Southern Copper and Newmont of 8.2% and 9.8%, respectively. In the past year, the industry has gained 23%. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 16% annually.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 24 Jun 2026US$1.9tUS$863.7bUS$53.8b21.2x36.2x2.3x
Fri, 22 May 2026US$1.9tUS$863.0bUS$53.6b20.6x35.3x2.2x
Sun, 19 Apr 2026US$2.0tUS$840.7bUS$42.7b22.5x47.3x2.4x
Tue, 17 Mar 2026US$1.9tUS$845.7bUS$43.6b20.8x43.2x2.2x
Thu, 12 Feb 2026US$2.0tUS$858.0bUS$41.1b25.9x49.8x2.4x
Sat, 10 Jan 2026US$1.8tUS$853.0bUS$45.8b25.5x40x2.1x
Mon, 08 Dec 2025US$1.7tUS$852.8bUS$45.8b22.7x36.5x2x
Wed, 05 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$847.4bUS$47.6b21.7x33.7x1.9x
Fri, 03 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$835.9bUS$46.9b24.7x35.8x2x
Sun, 31 Aug 2025US$1.7tUS$837.9bUS$47.3b24.1x35.3x2x
Tue, 29 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$834.8bUS$47.9b22.5x34.2x2x
Thu, 26 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$837.5bUS$48.4b21.6x32.1x1.9x
Sat, 24 May 2025US$1.6tUS$866.2bUS$49.9b20.7x31.4x1.8x
Mon, 21 Apr 2025US$1.5tUS$864.7bUS$55.2b18.9x26.4x1.7x
Wed, 19 Mar 2025US$1.6tUS$867.8bUS$54.0b22x28.8x1.8x
Fri, 14 Feb 2025US$1.6tUS$870.8bUS$49.8b20.9x32x1.8x
Sun, 12 Jan 2025US$1.5tUS$872.0bUS$49.3b18.3x30.5x1.7x
Tue, 10 Dec 2024US$1.7tUS$876.2bUS$49.7b21.1x33.3x1.9x
Thu, 07 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$876.9bUS$49.5b23.8x33.8x1.9x
Sat, 05 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$868.6bUS$50.1b21.4x33.4x1.9x
Mon, 02 Sep 2024US$1.7tUS$870.4bUS$49.8b21.5x33.2x1.9x
Wed, 31 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$865.9bUS$50.8b20.3x31.8x1.9x
Fri, 28 Jun 2024US$1.5tUS$870.9bUS$50.1b20.2x30.7x1.8x
Sun, 26 May 2024US$1.6tUS$871.5bUS$50.3b21.9x32x1.8x
Tue, 23 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$879.7bUS$52.4b16.4x29.7x1.8x
Thu, 21 Mar 2024US$1.6tUS$880.6bUS$52.2b17.3x30x1.8x
Sat, 17 Feb 2024US$1.5tUS$874.7bUS$57.4b19x25.5x1.7x
Mon, 15 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$905.9bUS$63.3b17.6x23.2x1.6x
Wed, 13 Dec 2023US$1.4tUS$906.1bUS$63.4b16.7x22.4x1.6x
Fri, 10 Nov 2023US$1.3tUS$908.9bUS$64.0b13.9x20.7x1.5x
Sun, 08 Oct 2023US$1.3tUS$894.2bUS$63.5b13.7x20.4x1.4x
Tue, 05 Sep 2023US$1.4tUS$889.8bUS$62.9b14.9x22x1.6x
Thu, 03 Aug 2023US$1.4tUS$903.7bUS$66.2b14.2x21.1x1.5x
Sat, 01 Jul 2023US$1.4tUS$936.2bUS$76.9b13.5x18x1.5x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18x


Total Market Cap: US$1.4tTotal Earnings: US$76.9bTotal Revenue: US$936.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 33.8x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the American Materials 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 33.8x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.0x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 11% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 2.6% 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-2.31%
Materials-4.50%
Packaging0.42%
Basic Materials-1.07%
Chemicals-1.95%
Paper and Forestry Products-4.31%
Metals and Mining-8.55%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 49.9x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 16.9%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 0.1% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 53% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 72% 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
CTVA CortevaUS$79.112.9%
+US$1.5b		7.9%PE42.3x
BALL BallUS$60.494.0%
+US$612.4m		6.2%PE17.2x
APD Air Products and ChemicalsUS$282.450.7%
+US$438.7m		0.5%PE29.7x
USAR USA Rare EarthUS$24.647.0%
+US$370.2m		96.6%PS767x
CCK Crown HoldingsUS$105.423.2%
+US$355.8m		1.0%PE16.2x

Latest News

USAR
US$24.64
USA Rare Earth
7D
7.0%
1Y
96.6%
Seeking Alpha • Jun 23

USA Rare Earth: Funding Now Secured, Scaling Comes Next

Summary USA Rare Earth remains a Strong Buy, driven by rapid midstream buildout and significant government funding de-risking execution. USAR secured $1.6 billion in low-cost government funding, and with $1.7 billion in cash, USAR is now very well-capitalized. Serra Verde is expected to deliver $550–$650 million annualized EBITDA by 2027, with USAR trading at a 24% EV/EBITDA discount to sector averages. USAR targets 600 tpa magnet capacity by year-end, scaling to 10,000 tpa post-2030, underpinned by robust inventory build and customer pipeline. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
MP
US$58.90
MP Materials
7D
3.2%
1Y
68.7%
STLD
US$243.69
Steel Dynamics
7D
-11.2%
1Y
90.1%
ESI
US$45.86
Element Solutions
7D
2.9%
1Y
105.7%
Seeking Alpha • Jun 22

Element Solutions: Buying Into An AI Bottleneck, But At A Fair Price

Summary Element Solutions (ESI) is executing a strategic pivot toward advanced semiconductor packaging, driving accelerated growth and margin expansion. ESI's Electronics segment leads revenue gains, with both organic growth and well-priced acquisitions like Micromax and EFC enhancing scale and profitability. Valuation is compelling: ESI trades at 25x FWD EV/EBITDA, with EBITDA guidance raised to $675M and further margin upside anticipated. Despite near-term working capital headwinds from elevated metal prices, ESI's core earnings and exposure to high-growth end-markets justify a Strong Buy rating. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
NEM
US$97.84
Newmont
7D
-9.8%
1Y
68.4%
SCCO
US$178.57
Southern Copper
7D
-8.2%
1Y
91.2%
AEM
US$160.16
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
-8.9%
1Y
32.9%
NUE
US$239.63
Nucor
7D
-7.5%
1Y
86.9%
FCX
US$64.40
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
-8.2%
1Y
53.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 22

FCX: Elevated Copper Hype Will Be Tested By Prolonged Grasberg Setbacks

Freeport-McMoRan's updated analyst price target has shifted modestly higher to about $49.27 from $48.99. This reflects analysts' broader reassessment of copper producers as several firms raise long term copper views and sector targets, including multiple recent increases in Freeport-McMoRan targets to the $58.50 to $77 range.
CTVA
US$79.11
Corteva
7D
2.9%
1Y
7.9%
Analysis Article • Jun 20

Corteva (CTVA) Stock Could Be 13% Undervalued After FMC Herbicide Deal

Why the new FMC partnership matters for Corteva stock Corteva (CTVA) recently signed a multi-year, co-exclusive supply and license agreement with FMC Corporation for rimisoxafen herbicide technology, giving the company another tool in corn and soybean crop protection. The deal covers North and South American markets, includes a US$200 million prepurchase payment from Corteva, and allows both companies to create their own premix formulations. Commercial sales are targeted by the end of the...
AU
US$83.79
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
-10.8%
1Y
80.6%
Analysis Article • Jun 20

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) Stock Could Be 24.1% Undervalued Ahead Of Earnings

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) is back in focus as investors look ahead to an upcoming earnings release. Many expect it to show significant earnings expansion and improved profitability, given its role in global gold production. See our latest analysis for AngloGold Ashanti. At a share price of $90.87, AngloGold Ashanti has had a 7 day share price return of 5.30%, while its 1 year total shareholder return of 99.85% and 5 year total shareholder return of 447.65% point to strong momentum built over a...
CCK
US$105.42
Crown Holdings
7D
3.2%
1Y
1.0%
Analysis Article • Jun 20

Crown Holdings (CCK) Stock Could Be 18.8% Undervalued After Fresh Buy Signals

Crown Holdings (CCK) is back on traders screens after technical indicators and moving averages flashed fresh buy signals, coinciding with strong institutional ownership and recently reported year over year gains in revenue and net profit. See our latest analysis for Crown Holdings. At a share price of $101.54, Crown Holdings has recently gained ground, with a 7 day share price return of 2.62% and a 30 day share price return of 5.27%. Its 1 year total shareholder return is slightly negative,...
APD
US$282.45
Air Products and Chemicals
7D
0.7%
1Y
0.5%
Narrative Update • Jun 18

APD: Semiconductor Contract And Raised Guidance Will Support Future Stock Upside

Analysts have raised their price targets for Air Products and Chemicals by about $20 in recent weeks, citing updated assumptions around discount rates, profit margins and future P/E multiples that support a slightly higher valuation framework. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around Air Products and Chemicals clusters around a consistent theme, with several firms adjusting price targets and a few issuing upgrades as they revisit valuation assumptions, discount rates and profit expectations for the stock.
BALL
US$60.49
Ball
7D
4.0%
1Y
6.2%
Narrative Update • Jun 17

BALL: Tighter Can Supply And 2026 Cash Returns Should Support Upside

For Ball, the analyst price target edges slightly lower to about $70.79, as analysts factor in modestly softer revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, while also pointing to tighter beverage can supply and supportive industry demand as key offsets. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Ball clusters around a mix of cautious tweaks to price targets and more upbeat views on the company’s volume outlook, especially in beverage cans.
LIN
US$512.26
Linde
7D
-1.1%
1Y
10.6%
Analysis Article • Jun 17

Linde (LIN) Stock Could Be 4.9% Undervalued As Space Launch Demand Draws Attention

Fresh analyst commentary on Linde (LIN) highlights its role in supplying industrial gases to the growing commercial space launch market, with expectations of a modest positive contribution to annual volume growth. See our latest analysis for Linde. Linde’s recent analyst attention around commercial space launch activity comes on top of strong share price momentum, with a roughly 21% year to date share price return and a 5 year total shareholder return close to 91%, suggesting that interest...
EMAT
US$7.44
Evolution Metals & Technologies
7D
7.4%
1Y
-38.0%
Seeking Alpha • Jun 10

Evolution Metals & Technologies: Capital Needs In A High Capital Cost Environment

Summary Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. is a SPAC targeting rare earth recycling and production, an industry with high capital intensity. EMAT's balance sheet is dominated by goodwill with minimal tangible assets, signaling large outstanding CAPEX needs overall. They are burning cash, with not a lot left on hand, and they don't have major CAPEX outlays yet. Reinflation risks, high capital costs, and potential overvaluation drive a cautious stance toward EMAT in a market where cash burners have reflexivity risks, especially the expensive ones. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha