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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedApr 02, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies447
  • 7D3.7%
  • 3M12.2%
  • 1Y26.6%
  • YTD10.4%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has risen 4.2%, driven by gains from Newmont of 12%. In the same time, MP Materials was down 9.9%. This means that the industry has gained 26% over the past year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 18% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Thu, 02 Apr 2026US$1.9tUS$845.9bUS$43.5b21.4x44x2.3x
Sat, 28 Feb 2026US$2.1tUS$845.4bUS$43.6b23.2x48x2.5x
Mon, 26 Jan 2026US$2.0tUS$853.1bUS$46.3b25.4x42.8x2.3x
Wed, 24 Dec 2025US$1.8tUS$853.0bUS$45.8b23.5x38.3x2.1x
Fri, 21 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$852.7bUS$45.9b21.3x35x1.9x
Sun, 19 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$835.8bUS$47.1b24x35.6x2x
Tue, 16 Sep 2025US$1.7tUS$838.0bUS$47.2b24.7x35.7x2x
Thu, 14 Aug 2025US$1.6tUS$836.7bUS$48.0b23.4x33.8x1.9x
Sat, 12 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$835.7bUS$48.4b23.7x33.4x1.9x
Mon, 09 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$852.8bUS$48.4b21.4x32.2x1.8x
Wed, 07 May 2025US$1.5tUS$852.5bUS$49.0b20.4x30.5x1.8x
Fri, 04 Apr 2025US$1.5tUS$864.0bUS$54.0b19.1x28.6x1.8x
Sun, 02 Mar 2025US$1.6tUS$868.7bUS$54.4b21.2x29x1.8x
Tue, 28 Jan 2025US$1.6tUS$873.4bUS$49.2b21.1x32.5x1.8x
Thu, 26 Dec 2024US$1.5tUS$876.0bUS$49.8b19.5x30.9x1.8x
Sat, 23 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$876.0bUS$49.7b21.8x33.6x1.9x
Mon, 21 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$875.2bUS$50.1b21.5x34.7x2x
Wed, 18 Sep 2024US$1.6tUS$870.7bUS$49.8b21.9x32.9x1.9x
Fri, 16 Aug 2024US$1.6tUS$870.8bUS$50.1b20.1x31.4x1.8x
Sun, 14 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$866.4bUS$50.4b19.8x31.9x1.9x
Tue, 11 Jun 2024US$1.6tUS$871.2bUS$50.2b20.4x31.2x1.8x
Thu, 09 May 2024US$1.6tUS$871.9bUS$50.3b19.3x31.8x1.8x
Sat, 06 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$880.1bUS$52.3b17.8x30.7x1.8x
Mon, 04 Mar 2024US$1.5tUS$880.0bUS$52.3b17.8x28.9x1.7x
Wed, 31 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$902.9bUS$61.7b17.7x23.8x1.6x
Fri, 29 Dec 2023US$1.5tUS$906.2bUS$63.0b18.5x24.1x1.7x
Sun, 26 Nov 2023US$1.4tUS$908.1bUS$63.7b16.5x21.9x1.5x
Tue, 24 Oct 2023US$1.2tUS$893.5bUS$63.7b13.1x19.4x1.4x
Thu, 21 Sep 2023US$1.3tUS$889.8bUS$62.9b13.9x21.1x1.5x
Sat, 19 Aug 2023US$1.3tUS$887.3bUS$63.3b14x21.2x1.5x
Mon, 17 Jul 2023US$1.4tUS$936.3bUS$76.9b13.5x18.3x1.5x
Wed, 14 Jun 2023US$1.4tUS$937.0bUS$77.2b13.1x17.6x1.5x
Fri, 12 May 2023US$1.3tUS$934.8bUS$77.3b12.8x16.9x1.4x
Sun, 09 Apr 2023US$1.3tUS$952.5bUS$86.6b12x15.5x1.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.5x


Total Market Cap: US$1.3tTotal Earnings: US$86.6bTotal Revenue: US$952.5bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 32x202420252026
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 42.7x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 32.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.0x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.2x.
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 3.9% 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 sector?

US Market-0.32%
Materials3.66%
Metals and Mining8.34%
Basic Materials1.29%
Chemicals0.92%
Packaging-0.29%
Paper and Forestry Products-0.63%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 44.6x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 21.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 2.5% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Basic Materials industry, which is trading close to 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 35% 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 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
NEM NewmontUS$113.7912.1%
+US$12.6b		133.5%PE17.3x
SCCO Southern CopperUS$177.957.5%
+US$10.3b		95.7%PE33.9x
AEM Agnico Eagle MinesUS$210.089.4%
+US$9.0b		95.4%PE23.6x
AU AngloGold AshantiUS$103.5215.6%
+US$7.1b		175.3%PE19.9x
FCX Freeport-McMoRanUS$61.207.2%
+US$5.9b		60.2%PE40x

Latest News

ALB
US$178.47
Albemarle
7D
-1.6%
1Y
147.0%

ALB: Lithium Tightening And Cost Discipline Will Drive Bullish Re Rating Ahead

Analysts have nudged Albemarle's price targets higher across the board, with several firms lifting their views by $10 to more than $100, as they point to stronger lithium pricing, disciplined cost control, and improving sentiment around electric vehicle and energy storage demand. Analyst Commentary Bullish analysts are leaning into a more constructive view on Albemarle, with a cluster of upgrades and higher price targets tied to lithium pricing, cost discipline, and renewed interest in battery supply chains.
NEM
US$113.79
Newmont
7D
12.1%
1Y
133.5%
AA
US$72.06
Alcoa
7D
22.8%
1Y
133.7%

AA: Higher Output And Trading Volumes Will Likely Still Fail To Justify Pricing

Analysts now place Alcoa's price target at about $46.37, compared with the prior $38.00. This reflects updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margin, discount rate, and future P/E levels.
AU
US$103.52
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
15.6%
1Y
175.3%

AU: New Arthur Project And Dividend Stream Will Support Future Upside

Analysts now place AngloGold Ashanti's fair value at $121.86, up from $98. This reflects updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, a slightly adjusted discount rate, and a lower future P/E multiple.
RGLD
US$264.35
Royal Gold
7D
13.5%
1Y
60.6%

Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD): The Streamer's Pivot and the "Fourmile" Growth Catalyst

Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) is currently navigating a period of high-impact strategic growth, trading at $239.60 USD on the NASDAQ as of the afternoon session on March 30, 2026.
HCC
US$91.90
Warrior Met Coal
7D
-5.1%
1Y
96.8%

HCC: Blue Creek Ramp And Execution Will Shape Balanced Medium Term Outlook

Narrative Update: Warrior Met Coal Analysts have lifted their consolidated price target on Warrior Met Coal by about $4 to roughly $106. This change reflects updated assumptions around valuation multiples, discount rate, and profitability, based on a series of recent target hikes across major firms.
IP
US$35.66
International Paper
7D
-2.2%
1Y
-34.5%

IP: European Containerboard Price Increases Will Support Turnaround Execution

The updated analyst price target for International Paper edges down by $0.40 to $46.47, as analysts balance recent conflicting signals in containerboard pricing with supportive commentary around European price increases and ongoing research coverage across the sector. Analyst Commentary Recent research on International Paper highlights a mixed picture, with bullish analysts pointing to supportive price actions in Europe and ongoing coverage, while more cautious voices focus on near term pricing pressure in U.S. containerboard and execution risks around the company’s transformation efforts.
NUE
US$173.72
Nucor
7D
5.2%
1Y
41.2%
USAR
US$14.80
USA Rare Earth
7D
-11.1%
1Y
116.1%
FCX
US$61.20
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
7.2%
1Y
60.2%
SMG
US$61.01
Scotts Miracle-Gro
7D
-9.8%
1Y
5.3%
KNF
US$82.11
Knife River
7D
-6.6%
1Y
-13.8%

KNF: EDGE Margin Gains And Integration Are Expected To Drive Future Upside

The analyst price target for Knife River has moved higher to a range of $81 to $109, as analysts highlight Q4 margin improvement, the benefits of the vertically integrated model and the EDGE strategy, while also flagging valuation, lower margin backlog and regulatory risks. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Knife River highlights a mix of optimism around execution and margins, alongside fresh questions on valuation and risk.
SCCO
US$177.95
Southern Copper
7D
7.5%
1Y
95.7%

SCCO: Stretched Valuation Will Face Pressure From Expected Production Declines

Southern Copper's updated fair value estimate has shifted lower to $67.81 from $73.93 as analysts adjust price targets in response to concerns about stretched valuation, softer near term operations, and the implications of richer profit margin and lower P/E assumptions. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Southern Copper has tilted more cautious, even as some price targets move higher in absolute terms.
MP
US$48.41
MP Materials
7D
-9.9%
1Y
92.4%

MP: Texas Magnet Campus And Federal Partnership Will Support Long-Term Upside

Analysts have slightly raised their price target on MP Materials to $92.80 from $92.33, citing updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News MP Materials plans to develop "10X," a large rare earth magnet manufacturing campus on a 120-acre site in Northlake, Texas, positioned less than 10 miles from its existing Independence facility in Fort Worth.
AEM
US$210.08
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
9.4%
1Y
95.4%
SW
US$40.13
Smurfit Westrock
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-14.7%

SW: Cost Resets And Reliable Dividend Will Support Future Share Price Momentum

Analysts now place Smurfit Westrock's fair value at $59.07, up from $52.82, reflecting updated views on the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins, and a higher assumed future P/E multiple. What's in the News Smurfit Westrock plans to permanently close one of the paper machines at its La Tuque, Quebec, mill, which has an annual production capacity of 127,000 tons of solid bleached sulfate paperboard, citing ongoing scale and cost challenges (Key Developments).