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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedJul 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies444
  • 7D1.8%
  • 3M-5.5%
  • 1Y15.0%
  • YTD7.0%

Freeport-McMoRan is up 7.2%, leading the way for the Materials industry, which has gained 1.8%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 15%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 15% annually.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 26 Jul 2026US$1.9tUS$870.1bUS$57.4b21.8x32.6x2.1x
Tue, 23 Jun 2026US$2.0tUS$863.7bUS$53.8b21.9x36.3x2.3x
Thu, 21 May 2026US$1.9tUS$863.0bUS$53.6b20.9x34.6x2.2x
Sat, 18 Apr 2026US$2.0tUS$840.6bUS$42.7b22.5x46.8x2.4x
Mon, 16 Mar 2026US$1.9tUS$845.7bUS$43.6b20.8x43.2x2.2x
Wed, 11 Feb 2026US$2.0tUS$858.1bUS$41.1b25.4x49.4x2.4x
Fri, 09 Jan 2026US$1.8tUS$852.9bUS$45.8b25x39.4x2.1x
Sun, 07 Dec 2025US$1.7tUS$852.8bUS$45.8b22.7x36.5x2x
Tue, 04 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$847.2bUS$47.6b22.6x34.4x1.9x
Thu, 02 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$838.8bUS$47.2b24.6x35.9x2x
Sat, 30 Aug 2025US$1.7tUS$837.9bUS$47.3b24.1x35.2x2x
Mon, 28 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$834.9bUS$48.2b22.9x34x2x
Wed, 25 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$837.5bUS$48.4b21.8x32.1x1.9x
Fri, 23 May 2025US$1.6tUS$866.1bUS$49.8b20.5x31.2x1.8x
Sun, 20 Apr 2025US$1.5tUS$864.7bUS$55.2b18.9x26.4x1.7x
Tue, 18 Mar 2025US$1.5tUS$867.8bUS$54.0b22.1x28.5x1.8x
Thu, 13 Feb 2025US$1.6tUS$871.7bUS$49.1b20.7x32.6x1.8x
Sat, 11 Jan 2025US$1.5tUS$875.7bUS$49.4b18.3x30.7x1.7x
Mon, 09 Dec 2024US$1.7tUS$876.2bUS$49.7b20.7x33.3x1.9x
Wed, 06 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$877.6bUS$48.7b21.4x34.1x1.9x
Fri, 04 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$868.6bUS$50.1b21.1x33.8x1.9x
Sun, 01 Sep 2024US$1.7tUS$870.4bUS$49.8b21.5x33.2x1.9x
Tue, 30 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$865.9bUS$50.7b20.6x31.8x1.9x
Thu, 27 Jun 2024US$1.5tUS$870.9bUS$50.1b20.2x30.7x1.8x
Sat, 25 May 2024US$1.6tUS$871.5bUS$50.3b21.9x31.7x1.8x
Mon, 22 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$879.7bUS$52.4b16.4x29.7x1.8x
Wed, 20 Mar 2024US$1.6tUS$880.4bUS$52.5b17.3x29.8x1.8x
Fri, 16 Feb 2024US$1.4tUS$874.9bUS$58.1b19.1x24.7x1.6x
Sun, 14 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$905.9bUS$63.3b17.6x23.2x1.6x
Tue, 12 Dec 2023US$1.4tUS$906.1bUS$63.4b17x22.4x1.6x
Thu, 09 Nov 2023US$1.3tUS$909.6bUS$64.1b13.9x20.7x1.5x
Sat, 07 Oct 2023US$1.3tUS$894.2bUS$63.5b13.7x20.4x1.4x
Mon, 04 Sep 2023US$1.4tUS$889.8bUS$63.0b14.9x22x1.6x
Wed, 02 Aug 2023US$1.4tUS$914.5bUS$70.4b14.4x20.4x1.6x
Price to Earnings Ratio

20.4x


Total Market Cap: US$1.4tTotal Earnings: US$70.4bTotal Revenue: US$914.5bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 34.3x202420252026
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 34.3x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 2.0x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Materials industry have declined 6.6% 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 Market-1.05%
Materials1.77%
Packaging4.76%
Metals and Mining4.43%
Paper and Forestry Products0.61%
Chemicals-0.31%
Basic Materials-2.02%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 51.3x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 16.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 3.0% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper and Forestry Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 55% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 64% per year.
  • In contrast, the Metals and Mining 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
FCX Freeport-McMoRanUS$62.607.2%
+US$6.1b		39.5%PE30.6x
SCCO Southern CopperUS$179.293.9%
+US$5.7b		89.5%PE26.4x
AEM Agnico Eagle MinesUS$145.136.0%
+US$4.1b		14.4%PE13.6x
NEM NewmontUS$93.193.9%
+US$3.3b		41.7%PE11.4x
NUE NucorUS$247.564.6%
+US$2.5b		69.8%PE24.3x

Latest News

CRH
US$99.87
CRH
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-0.2%
PKG
US$254.39
Packaging Corporation of America
7D
9.1%
1Y
23.2%
AEM
US$145.13
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
6.0%
1Y
14.4%
SHW
US$317.51
Sherwin-Williams
7D
-4.2%
1Y
-6.6%
FCX
US$62.60
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
7.2%
1Y
39.5%
NEM
US$93.19
Newmont
7D
3.9%
1Y
41.7%
ALB
US$114.85
Albemarle
7D
-4.9%
1Y
37.2%
VMC
US$279.70
Vulcan Materials
7D
-3.0%
1Y
1.8%
Seeking Alpha • Jul 23

Vulcan Materials: Great Potential, But Not For Shareholders

Summary Vulcan Materials Company remains a "Hold" due to valuation, despite strong operational performance and a robust balance sheet. VMC benefits from public infrastructure demand, technological innovation, and exposure to high-growth U.S. markets, supporting long-term fundamentals. Recent Q1 results showed 7.4% revenue growth, margin expansion, and EBITDA rising to $447.1 million, but shares trade at a premium to peers. I await Q2 FY2026 results, but unless guidance meaningfully improves, my neutral stance and "Hold" rating remain unchanged. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
SCCO
US$179.29
Southern Copper
7D
3.9%
1Y
89.5%
Narrative Update • Jul 23

SCCO: Elevated P E And Copper Euphoria Will Restrain Future Returns

Southern Copper's analyst price targets have shifted higher, with the internal fair value estimate rising from $163.13 to $167.79 as analysts factor in updated copper price forecasts, firmer profit margin assumptions, and a tighter supply outlook for the metal. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Southern Copper shows a mix of optimism on copper fundamentals and caution on the stock's valuation and risk reward, with several price targets clustered around the US$135 to US$172 range.
IFF
US$75.94
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
-2.9%
1Y
-0.9%
MP
US$41.30
MP Materials
7D
-8.7%
1Y
-33.5%
SW
US$48.56
Smurfit Westrock
7D
9.6%
1Y
-0.6%
Seeking Alpha • Jul 20

Why I View Smurfit Westrock As Overvalued Above $40/Share

Summary Smurfit Westrock Plc is a BBB-rated, Ireland-based packaging company offering a well-covered 4.1% yield. SW trades at a seemingly high P/E due to multi-year earnings lows, making current valuation appear expensive. Despite sector-wide caution, I rate SW a 'Hold' with a $39/share price target, citing insufficient risk/reward upside. SW meets quality and dividend criteria but lacks compelling valuation or upside to justify a Buy at present. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
IP
US$42.16
International Paper
7D
12.2%
1Y
-24.3%
NUE
US$247.56
Nucor
7D
4.6%
1Y
69.8%
Narrative Update • Jul 16

NUE: Tight Steel Supply And Higher P E Assumptions Will Shape Returns

Nucor's updated analyst price target rises from about $189 to $234, reflecting analysts' focus on higher modeled revenue growth, a richer future P/E assumption, and continued support from recent price target revisions across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Nucor shows a mix of optimism on long term steel pricing and demand, paired with pockets of caution around valuation, earnings quality, and how much good news is already reflected in the stock.
ECL
US$268.75
Ecolab
7D
-1.5%
1Y
-1.1%
Seeking Alpha • Jul 09

Ecolab: Data Center Growth Insufficient To Support 33x P/E Ratio

Summary Ecolab remains a hold as the current valuation of 33x forward earnings fully prices in near-term growth prospects. ECL's high-tech/data center vertical offers long-term potential, but current contributions are modest and could require substantial M&A capital deployment. Recent acquisitions like CoolIT Systems, at 8.6x forward revenues, are initially dilutive and highlight Ecolab's aggressive strategy to scale high-tech exposure. Organic growth in various Ecolab markets remains slow, making sustained EPS growth reliant on successful, accretive M&A execution. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
SIM
US$26.51
Grupo Simec. de
7D
-11.2%
1Y
-5.2%