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U.S. Materials Sector Analysis

UpdatedApr 05, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies444
  • 7D4.6%
  • 3M8.4%
  • 1Y42.4%
  • YTD10.3%

Over the last 7 days, the Materials industry has risen 4.6%, driven by gains in Southern Copper and Newmont of 9.7% and 12%, respectively. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 42%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 17% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 05 Apr 2026US$1.9tUS$845.8bUS$43.6b20.6x44.5x2.3x
Tue, 03 Mar 2026US$2.1tUS$845.4bUS$43.6b23.2x48.4x2.5x
Thu, 29 Jan 2026US$2.0tUS$854.7bUS$46.8b25.2x42.4x2.3x
Sat, 27 Dec 2025US$1.8tUS$853.0bUS$45.8b23.8x38.4x2.1x
Mon, 24 Nov 2025US$1.6tUS$852.7bUS$45.8b21.9x35x1.9x
Wed, 22 Oct 2025US$1.7tUS$836.6bUS$47.5b24.3x36x2x
Fri, 19 Sep 2025US$1.7tUS$838.2bUS$47.3b23.7x35.4x2x
Sun, 17 Aug 2025US$1.6tUS$838.2bUS$47.4b23.1x34.4x1.9x
Tue, 15 Jul 2025US$1.6tUS$832.9bUS$48.5b23x33.3x1.9x
Thu, 12 Jun 2025US$1.6tUS$852.8bUS$48.6b21.8x32.5x1.9x
Sat, 10 May 2025US$1.5tUS$852.7bUS$47.9b20.6x31.3x1.8x
Mon, 07 Apr 2025US$1.4tUS$863.9bUS$54.0b18.2x25.6x1.6x
Wed, 05 Mar 2025US$1.5tUS$868.7bUS$54.2b20.6x28.5x1.8x
Fri, 31 Jan 2025US$1.6tUS$872.8bUS$48.9b21.5x32.4x1.8x
Sun, 29 Dec 2024US$1.5tUS$876.0bUS$49.8b19.4x30.6x1.7x
Tue, 26 Nov 2024US$1.7tUS$876.1bUS$49.7b21.9x33.8x1.9x
Thu, 24 Oct 2024US$1.7tUS$875.3bUS$49.6b21.1x34.5x2x
Sat, 21 Sep 2024US$1.7tUS$870.5bUS$49.8b21.7x33.5x1.9x
Mon, 19 Aug 2024US$1.6tUS$870.9bUS$50.3b19.8x31.8x1.8x
Wed, 17 Jul 2024US$1.6tUS$866.4bUS$50.4b19.7x31.8x1.9x
Fri, 14 Jun 2024US$1.6tUS$871.2bUS$50.2b20.4x31.1x1.8x
Sun, 12 May 2024US$1.6tUS$871.6bUS$50.4b19.8x32.1x1.9x
Tue, 09 Apr 2024US$1.6tUS$880.2bUS$52.3b17.7x31x1.8x
Thu, 07 Mar 2024US$1.5tUS$880.0bUS$52.4b17.6x28.9x1.7x
Sat, 03 Feb 2024US$1.5tUS$901.3bUS$61.3b17.5x23.9x1.6x
Mon, 01 Jan 2024US$1.5tUS$905.2bUS$63.0b18.4x23.8x1.7x
Wed, 29 Nov 2023US$1.4tUS$908.2bUS$63.7b16.4x21.9x1.5x
Fri, 27 Oct 2023US$1.2tUS$885.8bUS$62.3b13.3x20x1.4x
Sun, 24 Sep 2023US$1.3tUS$889.8bUS$62.9b14.2x20.7x1.5x
Tue, 22 Aug 2023US$1.3tUS$887.4bUS$63.3b14x21.1x1.5x
Thu, 20 Jul 2023US$1.4tUS$936.3bUS$76.9b13.7x18.4x1.5x
Sat, 17 Jun 2023US$1.4tUS$937.1bUS$77.1b12.9x17.7x1.5x
Mon, 15 May 2023US$1.3tUS$934.7bUS$77.3b12.8x16.9x1.4x
Wed, 12 Apr 2023US$1.4tUS$952.5bUS$88.0b12.2x15.5x1.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.5x


Total Market Cap: US$1.4tTotal Earnings: US$88.0bTotal Revenue: US$952.5bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Materials Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 32.1x202420252026
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 44.5x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 32.1x.
  • 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 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 Market3.46%
Materials4.64%
Metals and Mining9.27%
Basic Materials4.00%
Chemicals1.49%
Paper and Forestry Products0.91%
Packaging0.73%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 44.8x.
    • 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
SCCO Southern CopperUS$177.839.7%
+US$13.0b		135.4%PE33.9x
NEM NewmontUS$114.0511.7%
+US$12.9b		158.1%PE17.4x
AEM Agnico Eagle MinesUS$208.547.8%
+US$7.6b		109.6%PE23.4x
FCX Freeport-McMoRanUS$61.389.1%
+US$7.4b		110.6%PE40.2x
AU AngloGold AshantiUS$101.2213.5%
+US$6.1b		201.7%PE19.4x

Latest News

NEM
US$114.05
Newmont
7D
11.7%
1Y
158.1%

NEM: Higher Gold Price Hopes And New CEO Agenda Will Strain Expectations

Narrative Update: Newmont The analyst price target for Newmont has been cut by about $2.80 to $89.56 as analysts balance a higher discount rate and softer revenue growth expectations with stronger projected profit margins and a lower future P/E, informed by recent mixed price target revisions across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Newmont reflects a wide range of price targets, with some firms setting figures well above US$150 and others trimming estimates.
MP
US$49.73
MP Materials
7D
-4.0%
1Y
115.7%

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

Analysts now set their price target for MP Materials at about $93.20, compared with roughly $92.80 before. This reflects updated views on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E assumptions.
PKG
US$204.46
Packaging Corporation of America
7D
-3.7%
1Y
11.5%
KNF
US$73.91
Knife River
7D
-7.8%
1Y
-11.9%
LYB
US$79.60
LyondellBasell Industries
7D
-1.1%
1Y
37.3%

LYB: Tighter Polyethylene Supply And Dividend Cut Are Expected To ReRate Shares

Analysts have raised the price target on LyondellBasell Industries to $90, up from about $86.92. They cite higher assumed revenue growth, a lower profit margin, and a higher future P/E in light of recent upgrades and price target increases across the Street.
FCX
US$61.38
Freeport-McMoRan
7D
9.1%
1Y
110.6%

FCX: Copper Upswing And Grasberg Agreement Will Shape Balanced Future Returns

Narrative Update The updated analyst price target for Freeport-McMoRan reflects a modest adjustment in fair value to $67.40. This is supported by recent research that cites higher copper price assumptions, Grasberg clarity in Indonesia, and a series of price target revisions across the Street.
AMR
US$209.31
Alpha Metallurgical Resources
7D
-6.2%
1Y
92.9%

AMR: Heavy Buybacks And Expected Quarterly Loss Will Shape Future Returns

Analysts have kept Alpha Metallurgical Resources' average price target steady at $207.00, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, the discount rate, and future P/E. They view these assumptions as broadly consistent with prior expectations.
CF
US$129.97
CF Industries Holdings
7D
-4.7%
1Y
77.9%
AEM
US$208.54
Agnico Eagle Mines
7D
7.8%
1Y
109.6%

AEM: Exploration Program And Dividend Increases Will Drive Future Senior Gold Repricing

Analysts have trimmed the average price target for Agnico Eagle Mines by $30. This reflects updated metal price forecasts, refreshed company models, and a mix of recent rating changes across the coverage universe.
AA
US$71.53
Alcoa
7D
22.5%
1Y
188.3%

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$101.22
AngloGold Ashanti
7D
13.5%
1Y
201.7%

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.
HCC
US$94.89
Warrior Met Coal
7D
-4.3%
1Y
133.4%

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$34.79
International Paper
7D
-1.9%
1Y
-27.5%

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.
VMC
US$279.88
Vulcan Materials
7D
7.0%
1Y
21.3%
SCCO
US$177.83
Southern Copper
7D
9.7%
1Y
135.4%

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.
LIN
US$502.60
Linde
7D
2.3%
1Y
14.8%