Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedSep 18, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies439
  • 7D-0.3%
  • 3M-1.1%
  • 1Y16.6%
  • YTD10.4%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has dropped 3.8%, driven by a pullback from Southern Copper of 9.3%. In the past year, the industry has gained 16%. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 17% annually.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 18 Sep 2026US$1.9tUS$882.9bUS$58.2b21.2x32.6x2.2x
Sun, 16 Aug 2026US$2.0tUS$881.3bUS$57.6b22.4x34x2.2x
Tue, 14 Jul 2026US$1.9tUS$861.7bUS$53.7b21x34.8x2.2x
Thu, 11 Jun 2026US$1.9tUS$863.7bUS$53.8b20.4x35.3x2.2x
Sat, 09 May 2026US$2.0tUS$861.6bUS$54.2b20.9x36.1x2.3x
Mon, 06 Apr 2026US$1.9tUS$845.8bUS$43.6b20.6x44.5x2.3x
Wed, 04 Mar 2026US$2.1tUS$845.7bUS$43.6b22.5x48.3x2.5x
Fri, 30 Jan 2026US$2.0tUS$854.5bUS$43.5b25.5x45.8x2.3x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025US$1.8tUS$853.0bUS$45.8b23.8x38.7x2.1x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$852.7bUS$45.8b22x35x1.9x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$836.6bUS$47.5b24.3x35.3x2x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025US$1.7tUS$838.3bUS$47.3b23.7x35.5x2x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025US$1.6tUS$838.2bUS$47.4b23.1x34.4x1.9x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$832.9bUS$48.5b22.4x33.2x1.9x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$852.8bUS$48.6b21.5x32.2x1.8x
Sun, 11 May 2025US$1.5tUS$852.8bUS$47.7b20.6x31.6x1.8x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025US$1.4tUS$863.9bUS$54.0b17.7x25.6x1.6x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025US$1.5tUS$868.5bUS$54.1b21.1x28.1x1.8x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025US$1.6tUS$870.0bUS$48.8b21.6x32.8x1.8x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024US$1.5tUS$876.0bUS$49.8b19.4x30.6x1.7x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$876.0bUS$49.6b21.7x34.2x1.9x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$877.7bUS$50.2b21.1x33.9x1.9x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024US$1.7tUS$870.5bUS$49.8b21.7x33.3x1.9x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024US$1.6tUS$870.9bUS$50.3b20.5x31.8x1.8x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$866.5bUS$50.4b19.5x32.4x1.9x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024US$1.6tUS$871.2bUS$50.2b20.2x31.1x1.8x
Mon, 13 May 2024US$1.6tUS$871.4bUS$50.4b19.7x32.1x1.9x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$880.2bUS$52.3b17.8x31x1.8x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024US$1.5tUS$880.4bUS$52.4b17.4x29.5x1.8x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024US$1.5tUS$901.3bUS$61.3b17.5x23.9x1.6x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$905.2bUS$63.0b18.4x23.8x1.7x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023US$1.4tUS$908.1bUS$63.7b16.4x22x1.5x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023US$1.2tUS$904.2bUS$65.4b13.4x19.1x1.4x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023US$1.3tUS$889.8bUS$62.9b14.2x20.7x1.5x
Price to Earnings Ratio

20.7x


Total Market Cap: US$1.3tTotal Earnings: US$62.9bTotal Revenue: US$889.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 34.9x202420252026
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 34.9x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 2.1x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 2.5% 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 Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Materials sector?

US Market0.54%
Materials-0.32%
Paper and Forestry Products4.82%
Packaging1.85%
Metals and Mining0.098%
Chemicals-0.93%
Basic Materials-1.85%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 53.5x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 21.8%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 2.4% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 73% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 65% per year.
  • In contrast, the Metals and Mining industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 11% 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$201.372.4%
+US$2.4b		30.4%PE17.4x
NUE NucorUS$265.143.8%
+US$2.2b		97.4%PE20.9x
SW Smurfit WestrockUS$45.487.7%
+US$1.7b		3.0%PE47.9x
SCCO Southern CopperUS$196.111.0%
+US$1.7b		90.1%PE29.2x
STLD Steel DynamicsUS$245.353.5%
+US$1.2b		75.5%PE21.9x

Latest News

NUE
US$265.14
Nucor
7D
3.8%
1Y
97.4%
STLD
US$245.35
Steel Dynamics
7D
3.5%
1Y
75.5%
AEM
US$201.37
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
2.4%
1Y
30.4%
HL
US$18.96
Hecla Mining
7D
-5.3%
1Y
76.0%
NEM
US$124.39
Newmont
7D
-1.4%
1Y
58.8%
ALB
US$115.05
Albemarle
7D
-5.8%
1Y
42.2%
Narrative Update • Sep 17

ALB: Future Returns Will Rely On Retightening Lithium Supply Expectations

Albemarle's updated analyst price target has shifted lower, with a fair value estimate moving from $187.16 to $172.56 as analysts adjust models for softer lithium pricing assumptions, slightly higher discount rates, and revised growth expectations, while still recognizing stronger margin potential and a lower future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent street research on Albemarle reflects a mix of optimism on company-specific execution and caution around lithium pricing and broader chemical sector trends.
VMC
US$244.50
Vulcan Materials
7D
-2.4%
1Y
-18.1%
Seeking Alpha • Sep 15

Vulcan Materials Company: Clear Path To Doubling EBITDA

Summary Vulcan Materials Company is positioned as a high-margin, infrastructure-focused 'picks and shovels' play within the Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence, or HALO, theme. Aggregates drive 90% of VMC's gross profit, with a 72.7-year reserve life and a focus on unit profitability, evidenced by a 45% increase in cash gross profit per ton since 2022. VMC management targets a doubling of EBITDA in five to six years via M&A, greenfield expansion, and steady per-ton margin growth, despite cyclical construction demand risks. VMC trades at a premium (15.9x EV/EBITDA), but robust financial strength, capital return commitments, and infrastructure tailwinds support long-term capital appreciation potential. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
CTVA
US$81.53
Corteva
7D
-3.5%
1Y
15.4%
APD
US$286.12
Air Products and Chemicals
7D
-2.6%
1Y
-2.2%
IP
US$35.55
International Paper
7D
3.7%
1Y
-24.5%
SW
US$45.48
Smurfit Westrock
7D
7.7%
1Y
3.0%
EMAT
US$4.02
Evolution Metals & Technologies
7D
30.5%
1Y
-61.8%
AU
US$102.36
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
-1.5%
1Y
58.5%
Narrative Update • Sep 10

AU: Rich P/E And Softer Production Will Restrain Future Returns

Analysts have modestly raised their price target for AngloGold Ashanti to $82 from about $79, citing updated assumptions for discount rates, revenue trends, profit margins and expectations for future P/E ratios. What’s in the News for AngloGold Ashanti AngloGold Ashanti reported gold production of 744,000 oz for the second quarter of 2026, compared with 804,000 oz a year earlier, and 1,468,000 oz for the first half of 2026, compared with 1,524,000 oz a year earlier.
LIN
US$458.48
Linde
7D
-0.7%
1Y
-3.7%
Seeking Alpha • Sep 09

Linde: Strong Execution, But Peer Momentum And Higher CapEx Limit The Upside

Summary Q2 remained solid, but operating margin declined 60 basis points despite stronger pricing and volumes. The $8.1 billion backlog supports earnings visibility, although electronics growth is increasingly a sector-wide tailwind rather than a Linde-specific catalyst. Higher CAPEX and delayed project contributions temper the outlook, while APD and Air Liquide currently offer stronger margin-improvement stories. We raise our EPS estimate following improved guidance, but limited valuation upside and slower peer-relative growth support our Hold rating. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
SCCO
US$196.11
Southern Copper
7D
1.0%
1Y
90.1%
Seeking Alpha • Sep 05

Southern Copper Is A Cash Flow Machine, But Priced Wrong

Summary Southern Copper is a premier, low-cost copper producer with unmatched cash flow and a robust, fully funded growth pipeline. I downgrade SCCO to HOLD due to its premium valuation—26x forward earnings and 15x EV/EBITDA—despite strong fundamentals and a 6% effective yield. Q2 saw record results: 41% revenue growth, 60% EBITDA growth, and 72% net income growth, but a 3.5% dip in copper production, mainly in Peru. I prefer Ero Copper for new copper exposure, as it trades at a significant valuation discount to SCCO, offering greater upside and risk-adjusted opportunity. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
SHW
US$320.94
Sherwin-Williams
7D
1.1%
1Y
-8.2%
Narrative Update • Aug 26

SHW: Pricing Power And Housing Cycles Will Shape Fairly Valued Outlook

Analysts have lifted the Sherwin-Williams fair value estimate by about $8 to roughly $348. This reflects updated assumptions that emphasize pricing power and market share gains, while slightly trimming long term margin and P/E expectations.