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U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 05, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies62
  • 7D1.1%
  • 3M4.0%
  • 1Y12.7%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Specialty Chemicals industry has risen 1.1%, driven by gains from Ecolab of 1.1%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 13%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 20% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 05 Apr 2026US$352.6bUS$149.3bUS$5.8b30.2x60.4x2.4x
Tue, 03 Mar 2026US$387.0bUS$149.2bUS$5.8b33.4x66.5x2.6x
Thu, 29 Jan 2026US$370.0bUS$156.5bUS$5.1b29x72.8x2.4x
Sat, 27 Dec 2025US$339.6bUS$156.1bUS$4.8b25.7x71.1x2.2x
Mon, 24 Nov 2025US$329.4bUS$156.1bUS$4.8b23.7x69x2.1x
Wed, 22 Oct 2025US$345.0bUS$151.0bUS$5.1b27.3x67.6x2.3x
Fri, 19 Sep 2025US$339.5bUS$150.8bUS$5.1b27.7x66.7x2.3x
Sun, 17 Aug 2025US$347.3bUS$150.9bUS$5.2b26.2x66.6x2.3x
Tue, 15 Jul 2025US$344.5bUS$152.8bUS$5.2b25.6x66.2x2.3x
Thu, 12 Jun 2025US$343.3bUS$154.6bUS$5.4b22.7x63.5x2.2x
Sat, 10 May 2025US$327.6bUS$154.7bUS$4.3b20.5x76.3x2.1x
Mon, 07 Apr 2025US$306.3bUS$155.7bUS$6.5b18.7x46.8x2x
Wed, 05 Mar 2025US$354.6bUS$155.4bUS$6.5b23.9x54.5x2.3x
Fri, 31 Jan 2025US$361.3bUS$158.3bUS$5.4b24.9x67x2.3x
Sun, 29 Dec 2024US$351.5bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b22.8x64.1x2.2x
Tue, 26 Nov 2024US$383.7bUS$158.3bUS$5.5b25.2x70x2.4x
Thu, 24 Oct 2024US$392.3bUS$161.9bUS$7.2b26.4x54.4x2.4x
Sat, 21 Sep 2024US$392.8bUS$164.1bUS$6.7b26.7x58.5x2.4x
Mon, 19 Aug 2024US$372.8bUS$164.7bUS$7.1b26.1x52.6x2.3x
Wed, 17 Jul 2024US$362.3bUS$159.1bUS$7.5b28.5x48.3x2.3x
Fri, 14 Jun 2024US$353.9bUS$156.5bUS$7.5b28.6x47x2.3x
Sun, 12 May 2024US$364.3bUS$156.5bUS$7.5b28.2x48.4x2.3x
Tue, 09 Apr 2024US$359.3bUS$158.6bUS$8.5b27.1x42x2.3x
Thu, 07 Mar 2024US$348.4bUS$158.5bUS$8.5b27.3x41.1x2.2x
Sat, 03 Feb 2024US$345.4bUS$165.4bUS$13.5b27.4x25.6x2.1x
Mon, 01 Jan 2024US$358.7bUS$164.6bUS$13.0b31.4x27.6x2.2x
Wed, 29 Nov 2023US$324.4bUS$164.9bUS$13.0b27.9x24.9x2x
Fri, 27 Oct 2023US$295.3bUS$165.4bUS$10.6b20.3x27.9x1.8x
Sun, 24 Sep 2023US$315.4bUS$165.4bUS$10.4b21x30.2x1.9x
Tue, 22 Aug 2023US$328.7bUS$165.4bUS$10.4b23.7x31.5x2x
Thu, 20 Jul 2023US$351.4bUS$165.0bUS$9.9b20.6x35.3x2.1x
Sat, 17 Jun 2023US$333.0bUS$165.3bUS$10.0b19.4x33.4x2x
Mon, 15 May 2023US$313.3bUS$165.5bUS$10.1b19.9x30.9x1.9x
Wed, 12 Apr 2023US$320.7bUS$162.0bUS$9.1b20.5x35.3x2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

35.3x


Total Market Cap: US$320.7bTotal Earnings: US$9.1bTotal Revenue: US$162.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Specialty Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 62.2x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the American Specialty Chemicals 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 62.2x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 3.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.4x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Specialty Chemicals industry have declined 14% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 2.7% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Comparison

How does U.S. Specialty Chemicals compare with similar industries?

US Market3.46%
Materials4.64%
Chemicals1.49%
Specialty Chemicals1.10%
Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals1.99%
Industrial Gases1.92%
Commodity Chemicals1.19%
Diversified Chemicals-1.67%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
ECL EcolabUS$264.281.1%
+US$821.9m		11.1%PE36x
SHW Sherwin-WilliamsUS$318.000.8%
+US$646.8m		-4.2%PE30.4x
PRM Perimeter SolutionsUS$25.5919.9%
+US$635.1m		173.7%PS5.9x
EMN Eastman ChemicalUS$75.075.4%
+US$442.3m		-0.6%PE18.1x
IFF International Flavors & FragrancesUS$72.432.0%
+US$362.7m		-0.9%PS1.7x

Latest News

EMN
US$75.07
Eastman Chemical
7D
5.4%
1Y
-0.6%

EMN: Future Earnings Recovery Will Struggle With Persistent Commodity Oversupply

Analyst price targets for Eastman Chemical have shifted higher by several dollars into the mid $70s to mid $80s range, as analysts factor in updated commodity chemical forecasts, evolving geopolitical supply constraints, and a slightly adjusted risk profile reflected in modest tweaks to discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions. Analyst Commentary Street research on Eastman Chemical over recent months has featured a mix of higher price targets and recalibrated views on risk, as firms respond to commodity market forecasts, geopolitical bottlenecks in key shipping routes, and sector wide concerns around capacity and demand.
FTK
US$16.02
Flotek Industries
7D
-8.0%
1Y
142.7%
MTX
US$69.30
Minerals Technologies
7D
-1.7%
1Y
24.3%
IFF
US$72.43
International Flavors & Fragrances
7D
2.0%
1Y
-0.9%

IFF: Fair Outlook Weighs Portfolio Optimization Progress Against Macro And Execution Risks

International Flavors & Fragrances' analyst fair value estimate has moved from about $66 to roughly $77.61. Analysts attribute this change to higher price targets, portfolio optimization progress, updated models after recent results, and a slightly lower discount rate as key drivers.
PPG
US$103.24
PPG Industries
7D
-0.6%
1Y
4.1%
AVNT
US$35.07
Avient
7D
-1.4%
1Y
15.2%
SHW
US$318.00
Sherwin-Williams
7D
0.8%
1Y
-4.2%
ASPI
US$4.29
ASP Isotopes
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-2.7%
KWR
US$120.57
Quaker Chemical
7D
-3.4%
1Y
13.9%

KWR: M&A Execution And Share Gains Will Support Future Upside

Narrative Update: Quaker Chemical Analyst Price Target Shift Analysts now center their price target for Quaker Chemical around $183, reflecting a blend of Seaport's downgrade, Deutsche Bank's lift to $170, and RBC Capital's reset to $184 after Q4 results and softer 2026 guidance, while still acknowledging ongoing share gains in flat to slightly weaker end markets. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Quaker Chemical highlights a split view on how the story stacks up after Q4 results and updated guidance, with price targets clustering in the mid to high $100s.
ALB
US$178.09
Albemarle
7D
-0.8%
1Y
204.4%

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.
SXT
US$92.33
Sensient Technologies
7D
6.5%
1Y
23.7%

SXT: Future Natural Color Investments And Acquisitions Will Drive Upside Potential

Analysts have kept Sensient Technologies' fair value estimate steady at $119.00 per share, with only minor tweaks to assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that collectively support maintaining the existing price target rather than resetting it higher or lower. What's in the News The company reported that from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, it repurchased 0 shares for $0 million, while completing a total of 6,267,019 shares repurchased for $440.29 million under the buyback program announced on August 21, 2014 (company filing).
ECL
US$264.28
Ecolab
7D
1.1%
1Y
11.1%

ECL: Structural Pricing Power Will Support Execution On CoolIT Data Center Deal

Ecolab's updated analyst price target edges down from $321.86 to $320.43 as analysts factor in higher revenue growth assumptions, slightly lower projected profit margins, and a modestly reduced future P/E multiple, following a mix of recent target increases, target cuts, and rating changes across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Ecolab shows a mix of optimism and caution, with several firms adjusting ratings and targets around pricing power, deal valuation, and execution.
ESI
US$34.08
Element Solutions
7D
2.2%
1Y
86.2%

ESI: Ongoing Buybacks And Refined Assumptions Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts now place Element Solutions' price target at about $38.78, up slightly from $38.50. This reflects refreshed assumptions around fair value and P/E, alongside modest tweaks to discount rate, revenue growth, and profit margin inputs.
AXTA
US$26.82
Axalta Coating Systems
7D
-0.1%
1Y
-9.8%

AXTA: Akzo Merger Synergies Will Outweigh Auto Refinish Volume Headwinds

Axalta Coating Systems' updated analyst price target has shifted by about $2, reflecting revisions to fair value, discount rate, revenue growth and profit margin assumptions. Recent research points to mixed views, as some analysts cite upside from the Akzo deal, while others flag timing of cost savings and softer auto refinish volumes.
PRM
US$25.59
Perimeter Solutions
7D
19.9%
1Y
173.7%
SOLS
US$76.42
Solstice Advanced Materials
7D
1.9%
1Y
n/a