Sectors & IndustriesBasic MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals

Best Specialty Chemical Stocks to Buy Now (2023)

Top specialty chemical stocks in 2023 ranked by overall Zen Score. See the best specialty chemical stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the specialty chemicals industry.

According to Zen Score, the 3 best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now are:

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) is the top specialty chemical stock with a Zen Score of 59, which is 20 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 39. It passed 23 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile has seen its stock lose -43.82% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -47 percentage points.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile has an average 1 year price target of $77.07, an upside of 49.86% from Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's current stock price of $51.43.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 7 analysts covering Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile, 42.86% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 28.57% have issued a Buy, 14.29% have issued a hold, while 14.29% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) is the second best specialty chemical stock with a Zen Score of 58, which is 19 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 39. It passed 22 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Albemarle has seen its stock lose -50.01% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -54 percentage points.

Albemarle has an average 1 year price target of $200.14, an upside of 56.37% from Albemarle's current stock price of $127.99.

Albemarle stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 14 analysts covering Albemarle, 28.57% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 28.57% have issued a Buy, 14.29% have issued a hold, while 14.29% have issued a Sell rating, and 14.29% have issued a Strong Sell.

Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) is the third best specialty chemical stock with a Zen Score of 56, which is 17 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 39. It passed 20 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Oil Dri Of America has seen its stock return 71.5% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 68 percentage points.

Out of 39 specialty chemical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 specialty chemical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) has an annual dividend yield of 9.96%, which is 7 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.66%. Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% eighteen times in the last 10 years. Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's dividend payout ratio of 65.4% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has an annual dividend yield of 9.63%, which is 7 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.66%. 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 169.2% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) has an annual dividend yield of 8.85%, which is 6 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.66%. Kronos Worldwide's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Kronos Worldwide's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Kronos Worldwide's dividend payout ratio of -135.7% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Specialty chemical stocks were up 0.21% in the last day, and up 0.66% over the last week. Avantor was the among the top gainers in the specialty chemicals industry, gaining 0.43% yesterday.

Avantor shares are trading higher following the company's investor day, where it announced a new strategic operating model, a multi-year cost optimization initiative and reaffirmed fiscal year 2023 guidance.

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, the 3 most undervalued specialty chemical stocks right now are:

Core Molding Technologies (NYSEMKT:CMT) is the most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Core Molding Technologies has a valuation score of 71, which is 31 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 40. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Core Molding Technologies's stock has gained 75.61% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by 72 percentage points.

Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN) is the second most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Eastman Chemical Co has a valuation score of 71, which is 31 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 40. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Eastman Chemical Co's stock has dropped -0.48% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -4 percentage points.

Flexible Solutions International (NYSEMKT:FSI) is the third most undervalued specialty chemical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Flexible Solutions International has a valuation score of 71, which is 31 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 40. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Flexible Solutions International's stock has dropped -51.68% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -55 percentage points.