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Best Specialty Chemical Stocks to Buy Now (2025)
Top specialty chemical stocks in 2025 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Specialty Chemicals

Overview Zen Rating Price Value Growth Financials

Momentum Sentiment Forecast Dividends Due Diligence

Specialty Chemicals is Zen Rated C and is the 73rd ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries

Ticker	Company	Market Cap	ROE	ROA	ROCE	ROIC	D/E	Current Ratio	Gross Margin	Profit Margin	Operating Margin
NGVT	INGEVITY CORP	$1.15B	-136.30%	-19.00%	-24.90%	-15.60%	9.36	1.87	32.30%	-30.60%	-31.13%
ODC	OIL-DRI CORP OF AMERICA	$611.62M	20.90%	13.20%	20.24%	20.90%	0.50	2.86	29.70%	9.80%	13.11%
PRM	PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC	$1.49B	-0.60%	-0.20%	-0.27%	-0.70%	1.09	6.31	56.50%	-1.10%	-1.14%
HWKN	HAWKINS INC	$2.57B	19.00%	11.90%	18.69%	24.60%	0.55	2.50	23.00%	8.60%	12.23%
AXTA	AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS LTD	$6.88B	21.40%	5.40%	11.89%	11.60%	2.77	2.01	34.10%	7.40%	13.29%
CMT	CORE MOLDING TECHNOLOGIES INC	$135.13M	9.10%	6.10%	10.00%	12.80%	0.42	2.80	17.60%	4.40%	5.72%
NEU	NEWMARKET CORP	$5.42B	35.50%	14.70%	23.28%	20.70%	1.14	2.75	31.80%	16.60%	23.02%
MTX	MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$1.83B	9.90%	5.00%	9.44%	11.50%	0.92	2.84	25.90%	7.90%	13.35%
ESI	ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC	$4.58B	10.30%	4.90%	7.68%	11.00%	1.04	3.35	42.20%	9.90%	14.05%
SXT	SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP	$3.32B	11.70%	6.20%	10.93%	9.80%	0.91	3.55	32.60%	8.00%	12.30%
MATV	MATIV HOLDINGS INC	$268.23M	-5.50%	-1.90%	-0.19%	-0.20%	1.85	2.40	18.40%	-2.50%	-0.21%
BCPC	BALCHEM CORP	$5.12B	11.40%	8.10%	12.91%	25.80%	0.37	1.99	35.30%	13.50%	19.19%
KRO	KRONOS WORLDWIDE INC	$844.36M	10.70%	4.80%	13.40%	10.60%	1.34	2.32	19.00%	4.60%	10.20%
DD	DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC	$25.85B	3.00%	1.90%	4.66%	8.70%	0.55	1.33	36.40%	5.70%	11.97%
IFF	INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC	$19.09B	1.70%	0.80%	2.38%	3.10%	1.06	1.85	35.90%	2.10%	5.04%
AVTR	AVANTOR INC	$10.40B	12.80%	5.60%	10.61%	16.80%	1.03	1.07	33.60%	10.50%	15.81%
EMN	EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO	$9.13B	16.00%	6.00%	10.20%	10.60%	1.62	1.51	24.40%	9.60%	13.59%
CBT	CABOT CORP	$4.30B	30.70%	11.60%	21.35%	16.80%	1.56	2.00	24.50%	10.60%	15.48%
ECVT	ECOVYST INC	$683.08M	-0.90%	-0.40%	2.63%	2.20%	1.57	2.64	28.60%	-0.90%	6.30%
WDFC	WD 40 CO	$3.05B	37.10%	19.00%	28.82%	32.70%	0.89	2.40	54.10%	14.00%	16.27%
AVNT	AVIENT CORP	$2.94B	7.30%	2.90%	6.51%	9.90%	1.51	1.88	32.60%	5.20%	10.16%
OEC	ORION SA	$690.61M	9.10%	2.30%	7.71%	4.80%	2.91	1.19	22.80%	2.40%	5.50%
IOSP	INNOSPEC INC	$2.21B	2.90%	2.00%	2.34%	4.60%	0.43	2.58	29.40%	1.90%	1.73%
WTTR	SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS INC	$1.00B	3.90%	2.30%	4.52%	4.80%	0.57	1.65	15.10%	2.10%	3.52%
SQM	CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC	$10.08B	19.80%	8.50%	35.55%	30.10%	1.42	2.33	41.20%	12.40%	39.35%
KWR	QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP	$1.83B	8.40%	4.30%	9.28%	13.80%	0.93	2.31	37.30%	6.30%	11.25%
SCL	STEPAN CO	$1.10B	4.20%	2.10%	4.56%	3.50%	0.97	1.21	12.50%	2.30%	3.42%
CC	CHEMOURS CO	$1.80B	12.60%	1.10%	6.85%	4.30%	11.44	1.68	19.90%	1.50%	6.76%
SHW	SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO	$83.44B	69.40%	11.30%	22.99%	22.50%	4.83	0.79	48.50%	11.60%	16.74%
FSI	FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC	$47.68M	8.30%	5.20%	9.35%	10.10%	0.49	2.92	34.60%	7.90%	11.77%
ECL	ECOLAB INC	$67.02B	25.00%	9.70%	16.11%	21.00%	1.55	1.26	43.50%	13.40%	18.00%
KOP	KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC	$504.97M	10.30%	2.70%	9.54%	6.90%	2.87	2.09	20.20%	2.50%	7.14%
FUL	FULLER H B CO	$2.97B	6.20%	2.30%	6.91%	7.90%	1.79	1.98	29.60%	3.20%	8.47%
SSL	SASOL LTD	$2.37B	-26.00%	-11.10%	-7.76%	-5.80%	1.52	2.32	49.90%	-16.10%	-8.76%
LIN	LINDE PLC	$214.99B	17.00%	8.10%	13.45%	19.60%	1.07	0.89	48.10%	19.90%	26.73%
OLN	OLIN CORP	$2.49B	5.20%	1.40%	5.55%	4.40%	2.73	1.27	11.30%	1.70%	5.04%
PPG	PPG INDUSTRIES INC	$23.10B	14.70%	5.30%	12.71%	13.30%	1.84	1.31	41.60%	7.00%	11.56%
HDSN	HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES INC	$232.45M	9.90%	8.10%	12.38%	21.80%	0.23	4.09	27.70%	10.30%	13.31%
RPM	RPM INTERNATIONAL INC	$13.36B	24.40%	9.70%	16.37%	15.70%	1.48	2.22	41.10%	8.80%	12.06%
FF	FUTUREFUEL CORP	$175.21M	7.40%	5.50%	7.67%	19.90%	0.20	4.95	8.10%	6.40%	6.75%
TSE	TRINSEO PLC	$119.57M	N/A	-12.30%	-2.63%	-1.40%	-5.27	1.37	7.60%	-9.90%	-1.44%
LYB	LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES NV	$18.81B	10.30%	3.70%	7.19%	5.50%	1.87	1.83	11.30%	3.40%	5.18%
ASH	ASHLAND INC	$2.43B	-0.80%	-0.40%	-6.01%	-6.90%	1.02	2.52	30.90%	-1.10%	-14.13%
APD	AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC	$59.04B	24.10%	10.10%	14.19%	11.10%	1.28	1.11	32.50%	31.90%	41.50%
WLK	WESTLAKE CORP	$11.98B	5.70%	2.90%	5.68%	6.00%	0.92	2.80	16.10%	5.00%	8.66%
GEVO	GEVO INC	$285.14M	-15.30%	-12.90%	-13.36%	-21.70%	0.19	8.36	29.00%	-464.90%	-441.98%
NTIC	NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP	$67.17M	5.40%	4.10%	7.31%	8.30%	0.29	2.18	39.20%	4.50%	6.54%
ALTO	ALTO INGREDIENTS INC	$61.29M	-23.50%	-14.30%	-14.89%	-11.80%	0.78	2.65	1.00%	-6.20%	-5.30%
LWLG	LIGHTWAVE LOGIC INC	$110.20M	-64.50%	-57.60%	-62.56%	-218.90%	0.13	15.75	92.30%	-23,571.00%	-23,570.99%
ALB	ALBEMARLE CORP	$6.44B	-12.30%	-7.40%	-6.33%	-5.80%	0.64	1.95	1.20%	-24.50%	-17.23%
SDST	STARDUST POWER INC	$30.68M	N/A	-480.40%	148.39%	708.10%	-1.47	0.09	N/A	N/A	N/A
CNEY	CN ENERGY GROUP INC	$1.51M	-14.00%	-12.50%	-14.15%	-14.10%	0.02	42.41	-0.40%	-27.60%	-26.91%
FEAM	5E ADVANCED MATERIALS INC	$14.08M	-926.10%	-79.70%	-94.62%	-43.70%	-9.91	0.15	N/A	N/A	N/A
SNES	SENESTECH INC	$3.35M	-178.10%	-143.50%	-226.79%	-385.10%	0.31	5.01	54.10%	-333.00%	-331.83%
LOOP	LOOP INDUSTRIES INC	$52.38M	-506.20%	-183.30%	791.88%	-274.30%	-1.68	0.12	100.00%	-21,454.00%	-21,368.25%
BGLC	BIONEXUS GENE LAB CORP	$5.01M	-17.50%	-14.60%	-18.55%	-21.00%	0.25	3.81	13.60%	-16.80%	-16.55%

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

What are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now in Apr 2025?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now are:

1. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT)

Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) is the #1 top specialty chemical stock out of 56 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) has a Due Diligence Score of 6, which is -30 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 36. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates NGVT as a "A".

NGVT passed 2 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Ingevity has seen its stock lose -33.84% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -21 percentage points.

Ingevity has an average 1 year price target of $48.50, an upside of 53.14% from Ingevity's current stock price of $31.67.

Ingevity stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Ingevity, 0% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 50% have issued a Buy, 50% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC)

Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) is the #2 top specialty chemical stock out of 56 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) has a Due Diligence Score of 47, which is 11 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 36.

ODC passed 17 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Oil Dri Of America has seen its stock return 20.46% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 33 percentage points.

3. Perimeter Solutions (NYSE:PRM)

Perimeter Solutions (NYSE:PRM) is the #3 top specialty chemical stock out of 56 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Perimeter Solutions (NYSE:PRM) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Perimeter Solutions (NYSE:PRM) has a Due Diligence Score of 22, which is -14 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 36. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates PRM as a "B".

PRM passed 7 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Perimeter Solutions has seen its stock return 37.43% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 50 percentage points.

Perimeter Solutions has an average 1 year price target of $14.00, an upside of 40.7% from Perimeter Solutions's current stock price of $9.95.

Perimeter Solutions stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Perimeter Solutions, 100% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the specialty chemical stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 34 specialty chemical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 specialty chemical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has an annual dividend yield of N/A, which is N/A percentage points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.39%. Sasol's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% five times in the last 10 years. Sasol's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Sasol's dividend payout ratio of -16.2% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Chemours Co (NYSE:CC)

Chemours Co (NYSE:CC) has an annual dividend yield of 8.29%, which is 6 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.39%. Chemours Co's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Chemours Co's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Chemours Co's dividend payout ratio of 172.4% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV)

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) has an annual dividend yield of 8.13%, which is 6 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.39%. Mativ Holdings's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Mativ Holdings's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Mativ Holdings's dividend payout ratio of -44.4% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are specialty chemical stocks up?

Specialty chemical stocks were up 2.49% in the last day, and up 0.81% over the last week.

We couldn't find a catalyst for why specialty chemical stocks are up.

What are the most undervalued specialty chemical stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued specialty chemical stocks right now are:

1. Core Molding Technologies (NYSEMKT:CMT)

Core Molding Technologies (NYSEMKT:CMT) is the most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Core Molding Technologies has a valuation score of 43, which is 10 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Core Molding Technologies's stock has dropped -21.46% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -9 percentage points.

2. Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO)

Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) is the second most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Kronos Worldwide has a valuation score of 71, which is 38 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Kronos Worldwide's stock has dropped -36.4% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -24 percentage points.

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN) is the third most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Eastman Chemical Co has a valuation score of 43, which is 10 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Eastman Chemical Co's stock has dropped -18.31% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -6 percentage points.

Are specialty chemical stocks a good buy now?

47.5% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 30.17% over the next year.

1.96% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 11.76% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 64.71% are rated C (Hold), 11.76% are rated D (Sell), and 9.8% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the specialty chemicals industry?

The average P/E ratio of the specialty chemicals industry is 27.35x.

WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.