Sectors & Industries Basic MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Best Specialty Chemical Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top specialty chemical stocks in 2026 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 61st ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries

Ticker	Company	Price	Volume	Vol 1d %	SMA 10	SMA 20	SMA 50	SMA 100	SMA 200	RSI	Stochastic %K	Stochastic %D	StochRSI %K	StochRSI %D	MACD	MACD Signal	MACD Histogram	Beta
MATV	MATIV HOLDINGS INC	$12.62	282,000	50.00%	12.78	12.57	12.46	11.96	9.39	50.66	71.43	80.85	69.82	84.69	0.20	0.15	0.05	1.22
NGVT	INGEVITY CORP	$66.17	384,000	102.11%	64.43	62.00	56.16	56.10	49.30	72.28	87.69	90.08	90.35	96.78	2.75	2.44	0.31	1.24
SSL	SASOL LTD	$6.31	4,440,000	563.68%	6.78	6.58	6.56	6.46	5.51	44.60	59.16	77.27	53.78	78.88	0.13	0.11	0.03	1.00
MTX	MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$67.12	130,000	68.83%	65.46	63.41	60.48	60.92	59.22	71.19	90.57	90.36	93.85	96.26	1.87	1.49	0.39	1.02
HDSN	HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES INC	$7.48	357,000	40.00%	7.20	7.08	7.10	8.36	8.02	61.48	87.75	83.44	95.12	92.82	0.02	-0.05	0.07	1.08
KWR	QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP	$157.98	125,000	12.61%	151.42	146.82	140.05	137.77	126.60	68.63	92.52	94.99	92.66	97.55	5.08	3.59	1.49	1.29
ALTO	ALTO INGREDIENTS INC	$2.70	716,000	45.53%	2.53	2.73	2.43	1.77	1.39	55.12	45.27	39.20	48.23	40.35	0.04	0.07	-0.03	1.21
IOSP	INNOSPEC INC	$79.86	151,000	14.39%	79.87	78.88	76.44	77.69	81.92	56.59	82.15	84.31	80.95	90.29	1.14	1.00	0.13	0.85
BCPC	BALCHEM CORP	$168.74	207,000	3.50%	160.07	158.12	155.94	154.41	157.46	72.52	90.97	79.82	95.31	86.69	2.38	1.29	1.09	0.77
SQM	CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC	$77.53	1,708,000	-15.78%	76.73	73.25	64.96	54.60	45.55	63.59	76.97	87.16	44.73	74.13	4.35	4.02	0.32	1.20
CMT	CORE MOLDING TECHNOLOGIES INC	$18.82	16,000	21.21%	19.23	19.90	19.43	19.50	17.92	43.48	19.38	21.64	21.77	23.48	-0.22	-0.05	-0.18	0.65
ECL	ECOLAB INC	$277.07	1,297,000	14.88%	272.19	268.35	264.78	268.20	264.60	66.04	89.66	91.54	97.41	96.92	3.21	1.99	1.21	0.87
FUL	FULLER H B CO	$60.54	883,000	-35.36%	63.24	61.79	59.62	59.72	58.31	46.10	47.14	68.68	31.96	61.40	1.16	1.16	0.00	1.02
ODC	OIL-DRI CORP OF AMERICA	$55.30	135,000	141.07%	51.61	50.65	52.66	56.98	54.80	67.11	94.57	93.19	99.86	99.91	0.39	-0.45	0.84	0.42
NEU	NEWMARKET CORP	$642.86	158,000	-39.69%	698.80	703.25	737.26	771.42	718.68	27.94	21.65	40.72	25.21	52.78	-17.04	-13.16	-3.89	0.60
PPG	PPG INDUSTRIES INC	$110.22	5,914,000	281.79%	107.20	105.31	101.49	103.24	106.56	71.73	92.35	88.04	100.00	96.56	2.07	1.61	0.46	0.99
KOP	KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC	$29.08	170,000	70.00%	28.28	27.76	28.20	28.16	29.11	58.79	79.84	79.45	94.20	95.69	0.25	-0.01	0.26	1.07
ECVT	ECOVYST INC	$10.70	905,000	22.80%	10.47	10.12	9.31	8.99	8.33	72.61	91.41	94.08	90.84	91.95	0.42	0.38	0.04	1.05
ESI	ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC	$29.48	1,735,000	-41.23%	28.11	26.79	26.35	26.16	24.21	72.15	91.36	90.54	96.59	96.07	0.81	0.50	0.32	1.33
SXT	SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP	$97.30	197,000	21.60%	96.31	96.00	95.00	97.36	97.84	55.28	57.00	53.44	58.13	54.82	0.55	0.38	0.18	0.82
SCL	STEPAN CO	$51.58	206,000	-21.07%	50.64	49.00	46.62	47.05	50.13	69.49	79.11	77.81	72.09	75.32	1.42	1.17	0.25	0.87
NTIC	NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP	$9.34	3,400	-86.40%	9.04	8.38	7.95	7.82	7.76	68.63	83.57	85.54	86.95	87.07	0.46	0.34	0.13	0.50
CBT	CABOT CORP	$70.92	353,000	-4.85%	71.63	68.98	65.64	70.18	73.47	57.42	82.41	86.29	61.68	72.45	1.78	1.50	0.28	1.13
FSI	FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC	$6.17	79,000	6.76%	6.45	6.68	7.00	8.24	6.58	39.09	11.32	7.18	16.20	8.66	-0.27	-0.21	-0.06	0.79
LIN	LINDE PLC	$438.96	3,235,000	38.43%	439.37	432.14	420.18	441.53	451.85	62.58	73.56	78.96	39.71	57.58	6.27	5.66	0.61	0.78
AVNT	AVIENT CORP	$35.65	1,152,000	-1.37%	34.01	32.70	31.10	32.47	33.43	73.66	91.00	92.74	94.44	98.15	1.20	0.83	0.37	1.44
DD	DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC	$42.86	4,375,000	-14.00%	43.23	42.08	40.70	58.65	63.87	50.64	71.85	77.28	72.94	80.21	0.09	-0.29	0.37	1.08
ALB	ALBEMARLE CORP	$163.04	4,818,000	53.24%	164.60	154.75	134.02	110.81	87.93	61.12	80.01	90.28	56.63	82.20	11.07	10.21	0.85	1.58
SHW	SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO	$357.83	1,355,000	-20.81%	347.99	336.41	335.16	341.29	344.55	68.85	92.37	91.88	90.03	91.04	6.89	3.71	3.18	0.83
GEVO	GEVO INC	$2.01	2,436,000	13.88%	2.02	2.06	2.10	2.09	1.69	44.39	40.73	38.87	74.46	77.23	-0.04	-0.04	0.00	2.03
ASH	ASHLAND INC	$62.89	545,000	-5.22%	62.31	60.83	56.81	53.74	52.62	61.63	82.26	87.04	72.08	86.45	1.88	1.74	0.15	0.92
WDFC	WD 40 CO	$204.99	162,000	4.52%	199.00	200.39	198.50	200.61	215.06	56.79	93.58	82.39	94.43	73.77	0.67	0.10	0.57	0.48
RPM	RPM INTERNATIONAL INC	$110.91	791,000	-29.88%	109.30	107.31	106.43	112.05	112.53	59.89	86.22	86.74	89.64	94.71	1.38	0.68	0.70	0.88
OEC	ORION SA	$6.38	464,000	-7.20%	6.02	5.60	5.18	6.46	8.74	73.12	90.07	88.34	97.53	97.13	0.31	0.21	0.10	1.22
LWLG	LIGHTWAVE LOGIC INC	$4.59	2,497,000	47.58%	4.26	3.75	4.14	4.18	2.80	64.61	84.17	87.53	94.18	95.71	0.18	0.03	0.15	1.95
HWKN	HAWKINS INC	$152.00	106,000	-25.87%	152.76	149.25	139.22	154.11	147.43	56.76	57.22	61.03	35.80	43.33	3.33	3.21	0.12	0.85
PRM	PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC	$28.62	964,000	20.80%	28.56	28.23	27.45	24.81	19.24	54.50	61.00	50.66	34.54	25.48	0.39	0.41	-0.02	1.05
AVTR	AVANTOR INC	$12.16	9,168,000	-14.40%	12.21	11.77	11.52	12.39	12.89	56.22	57.70	68.57	45.58	65.46	0.22	0.16	0.06	1.00
FEAM	5E ADVANCED MATERIALS INC	$3.88	35,000	-43.09%	3.70	3.51	3.83	4.15	4.12	54.56	72.63	67.23	88.39	82.53	-0.01	-0.08	0.07	1.03
CC	CHEMOURS CO	$15.61	5,295,000	54.78%	14.28	13.11	12.53	13.80	12.95	77.23	88.97	91.99	100.00	99.63	0.79	0.45	0.34	1.60
EMN	EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO	$68.67	1,265,000	2.85%	68.15	65.88	63.05	63.48	69.71	61.11	87.18	83.80	69.33	72.69	1.80	1.51	0.29	1.11
WTTR	SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS INC	$11.82	803,000	100.25%	11.43	11.05	10.76	10.49	9.62	62.82	86.14	80.98	84.44	78.49	0.27	0.17	0.09	1.05
IFF	INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC	$71.68	2,046,000	75.62%	69.21	68.08	66.73	65.14	69.53	68.48	93.44	90.08	100.00	97.05	1.22	0.87	0.35	0.86
APD	AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC	$267.53	1,444,000	17.40%	263.30	254.68	253.62	262.58	271.52	66.81	86.12	88.37	91.87	93.57	4.77	2.97	1.80	0.75
OLN	OLIN CORP	$23.41	1,344,000	-9.00%	22.91	21.85	20.93	22.40	21.58	61.03	72.96	76.84	75.94	79.04	0.73	0.52	0.22	1.36
LYB	LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES NV	$50.91	4,334,000	-28.15%	48.37	45.85	45.05	47.58	52.90	67.21	88.13	90.06	86.43	90.77	1.64	0.87	0.76	0.93
FF	FUTUREFUEL CORP	$3.38	155,000	-17.11%	3.30	3.27	3.33	3.64	3.82	56.14	80.71	80.98	90.70	93.91	0.00	-0.02	0.03	0.80
KRO	KRONOS WORLDWIDE INC	$5.46	381,000	0.53%	5.20	4.88	4.79	5.19	5.86	65.30	94.82	93.29	96.71	95.02	0.19	0.10	0.09	1.07
WLK	WESTLAKE CORP	$87.87	905,000	-50.52%	82.56	78.27	70.86	75.63	78.80	72.49	88.50	91.64	83.84	92.25	4.48	3.31	1.18	1.09
CITR	GENERAL ENTERPRISE VENTURES INC	$7.51	24,500	89.92%	7.59	7.78	N/A	N/A	N/A	45.50	16.67	19.14	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.23
SNES	SENESTECH INC	$2.09	33,000	114.29%	2.18	2.23	2.58	3.44	3.50	35.01	25.93	28.55	32.69	33.44	-0.15	-0.16	0.01	0.90
TSE	TRINSEO PLC	$0.50	967,000	32.83%	0.63	0.57	0.75	1.44	2.25	39.22	12.48	18.93	34.46	42.25	-0.05	-0.06	0.01	1.71
YMAT	J-STAR HOLDING CO LTD	$0.58	16,100	-30.60%	0.55	0.55	0.70	0.96	N/A	46.52	59.31	56.10	78.73	74.76	-0.05	-0.06	0.01	0.86
LOOP	LOOP INDUSTRIES INC	$1.15	36,200	-76.03%	1.13	1.05	1.10	1.39	1.34	56.50	78.05	78.84	85.25	87.48	0.02	-0.00	0.02	1.11
BGLC	BIONEXUS GENE LAB CORP	$3.64	13,000	140.74%	3.84	3.96	4.31	4.81	4.39	31.34	6.77	9.75	6.79	12.91	-0.17	-0.16	-0.01	41.48
AXTA	AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS LTD	$33.57	7,487,000	24.78%	33.02	32.72	30.75	30.02	30.32	69.44	88.78	79.87	60.68	50.20	0.73	0.76	-0.03	1.09
CNEY	CN ENERGY GROUP INC	$0.55	62,000	-18.42%	0.63	0.61	1.02	1.61	2.24	32.64	15.42	20.41	52.00	55.34	-0.11	-0.14	0.02	1.05

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

What are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now in Jan 2026?

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. Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV)

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) is the #1 top specialty chemical stock out of 57 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 Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) has a Due Diligence Score of 12, which is -20 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 32. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates MATV as a "A".

MATV passed 4 out of 38 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Mativ Holdings has seen its stock return 30.51% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 29 percentage points.

2. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT)

Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) is the #2 top specialty chemical stock out of 57 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: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: C.

Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) has a Due Diligence Score of 16, which is -16 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 32. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates NGVT as a "A".

NGVT passed 5 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Ingevity has seen its stock return 42.42% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 40 percentage points.

Ingevity has an average 1 year price target of $65.00, a downside of -1.77% from Ingevity's current stock price of $66.17.

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.

3. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) is the #3 top specialty chemical stock out of 57 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 Sasol (NYSE:SSL) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has a Due Diligence Score of 46, which is 14 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 32.

SSL passed 18 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Sasol has seen its stock return 26.71% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 25 percentage points.

What are the specialty chemical stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 36 specialty chemical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 specialty chemical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB)

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB) has an annual dividend yield of 10.71%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.31%. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend payout ratio of -144.5% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Futurefuel (NYSE:FF)

Futurefuel (NYSE:FF) has an annual dividend yield of 7.1%, which is 5 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.31%. Futurefuel's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Futurefuel's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Futurefuel's dividend payout ratio of -30.4% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN) has an annual dividend yield of 4.85%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.31%. Eastman Chemical Co's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Eastman Chemical Co's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Eastman Chemical Co's dividend payout ratio of 54.9% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are specialty chemical stocks down?

Specialty chemical stocks were down -0.79% in the last day, and down -0.63% over the last week. Sasol was the among the top losers in the specialty chemicals industry, dropping -11.75% yesterday.

Sasol shares are trading lower after JP Morgan downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight.

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. Cabot (NYSE:CBT)

Cabot (NYSE:CBT) 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.

Cabot has a valuation score of 43, which is 16 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 27. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cabot's stock has dropped -21.37% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -23 percentage points.

2. Avient (NYSE:AVNT)

Avient (NYSE:AVNT) 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.

Avient has a valuation score of 71, which is 44 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 27. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Avient's stock has dropped -14.16% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -16 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 16 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 27. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Eastman Chemical Co's stock has dropped -25.15% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -27 percentage points.

Are specialty chemical stocks a good buy now?

56.76% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 9.21% over the next year.

4.08% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 14.29% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 69.39% are rated C (Hold), 6.12% are rated D (Sell), and 6.12% 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 -2.98x.

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.

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

1. Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV)

2. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT)

3. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)

1. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB)

2. Futurefuel (NYSE:FF)

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

1. Cabot (NYSE:CBT)

2. Avient (NYSE:AVNT)

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

Company

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Sectors & IndustriesBasic MaterialsSpecialty ChemicalsBest Specialty Chemical Stocks to Buy Now (2026)Top specialty chemical stocks in 2026 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.

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

1. Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV)

2. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT)

3. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)

1. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB)

2. Futurefuel (NYSE:FF)

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

1. Cabot (NYSE:CBT)

2. Avient (NYSE:AVNT)

3. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)

Company

Stock Tools

Stock Ideas