Sectors & IndustriesBasic 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 +28.50% per year, and are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy now. Learn More.

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:

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) is the #1 top specialty chemical stock out of 58 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

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

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has a Due Diligence Score of 29, which is -4 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates SSL as a "A".

SSL passed 11 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sasol has seen its stock return 171.92% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 164 percentage points.

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

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) is the #2 top specialty chemical stock out of 58 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: A, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) has a Due Diligence Score of 26, which is -7 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates MATV as a "A".

MATV passed 9 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Mativ Holdings has seen its stock return 3.48% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -5 percentage points.

Alto Ingredients (NASDAQ:ALTO) is the #3 top specialty chemical stock out of 58 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Alto Ingredients (NASDAQ:ALTO) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Alto Ingredients (NASDAQ:ALTO) has a Due Diligence Score of 45, which is 12 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33.

ALTO passed 14 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Alto Ingredients has seen its stock return 245.28% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 237 percentage points.

Alto Ingredients has an average 1 year price target of $8.50, an upside of 132.24% from Alto Ingredients's current stock price of $3.66.

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

Out of 37 specialty chemical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 specialty chemical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN) has an annual dividend yield of 5.11%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2%. 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 86.6% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB) has an annual dividend yield of 5.11%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2%. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two times in the last 10 years. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's dividend payout ratio of -364.6% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Olin (NYSE:OLN) has an annual dividend yield of 5.02%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2%. Olin's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Olin's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Olin's dividend payout ratio of -46.2% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Specialty chemical stocks were up 0.04% in the last day, and up 1.22% over the last week. J Star Holding Co was the among the top gainers in the specialty chemicals industry, gaining 14.15% yesterday.

J-Star Holdin shares are trading higher after the company reported H1 financial results.

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:

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) 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.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile has a valuation score of 43, which is 15 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 28. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's stock has gained 28.43% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by 20 percentage points.

Alto Ingredients (NASDAQ:ALTO) is the second 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.

Alto Ingredients has a valuation score of 43, which is 15 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 28. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Alto Ingredients's stock has gained 245.28% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by 237 percentage points.

Mativ Holdings (NYSE:MATV) 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.

Mativ Holdings has a valuation score of 43, which is 15 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 28. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Mativ Holdings's stock has gained 3.48% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -5 percentage points.

42.86% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 22.66% over the next year.

10.2% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 30.61% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 48.98% are rated C (Hold), 4.08% are rated D (Sell), and 6.12% are rated F (Strong Sell).