Sectors & IndustriesBasic MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
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
C
Specialty Chemicals is Zen Rated C and is the 66th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Zen Rating
Financials
Market Cap
ROE
ROA
ROCE
ROIC
D/E
Current Ratio
Gross Margin
Profit Margin
Operating Margin
NGVT
INGEVITY CORP
$1.95B-113.30%-10.60%-10.42%-5.80%14.561.3636.50%-16.30%-11.68%
ODC
OIL-DRI CORP OF AMERICA
$903.62M22.40%14.70%21.29%23.30%0.512.5629.50%11.10%14.14%
SSL
SASOL LTD
$3.77B4.60%1.90%7.16%5.40%1.331.8748.20%2.70%8.34%
MTX
MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$1.85B0.10%0.10%2.39%2.80%1.071.9525.40%0.10%3.31%
MATV
MATIV HOLDINGS INC
$569.14M-70.30%-19.70%-23.15%-18.40%3.992.3717.70%-23.10%-20.96%
HDSN
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES INC
$389.52M7.30%5.90%8.28%19.00%0.253.8825.20%8.10%9.69%
FSI
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC
$111.50M8.00%5.10%9.90%10.90%0.403.4037.00%8.20%13.02%
CMT
CORE MOLDING TECHNOLOGIES INC
$161.48M6.30%4.30%7.25%9.90%0.432.8517.50%3.40%4.73%
IOSP
INNOSPEC INC
$1.85B1.50%1.10%0.63%1.30%0.392.8728.40%1.10%0.51%
BCPC
BALCHEM CORP
$4.64B11.90%8.80%12.85%29.30%0.322.6435.80%14.50%20.07%
FUL
FULLER H B CO
$3.14B6.20%2.30%6.95%8.00%1.641.9330.40%3.30%8.91%
NEU
NEWMARKET CORP
$7.42B32.20%15.10%23.72%22.10%0.982.6632.70%17.30%23.84%
SXT
SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP
$3.98B12.30%6.40%10.43%10.00%0.914.2533.30%8.60%12.93%
ESI
ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC
$6.06B9.60%4.90%8.14%12.80%0.904.1041.80%9.70%15.20%
HWKN
HAWKINS INC
$3.63B18.30%10.70%13.92%22.20%1.042.3123.10%8.40%12.07%
ECVT
ECOVYST INC
$974.42M-1.60%-0.60%2.11%1.80%1.562.8126.60%-1.60%5.02%
CC
CHEMOURS CO
$2.01B-80.90%-5.60%-0.25%-0.20%30.591.6818.30%-7.10%-0.24%
KWR
QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP
$2.25B-0.50%-0.30%2.78%4.40%1.122.5636.10%-0.40%3.75%
AVNT
AVIENT CORP
$2.84B5.10%2.00%4.81%7.30%1.592.0332.60%3.70%7.98%
OEC
ORION SA
$384.06M3.20%0.80%5.20%3.30%3.341.1021.40%0.80%3.96%
RPM
RPM INTERNATIONAL INC
$14.31B24.30%9.50%13.80%14.70%1.602.2641.30%9.20%11.98%
AXTA
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS LTD
$5.80B21.90%6.00%11.62%12.20%2.422.1234.60%8.60%14.26%
ECL
ECOLAB INC
$76.64B24.10%9.40%15.54%21.40%1.541.4443.90%13.60%18.61%
AVTR
AVANTOR INC
$9.39B11.50%5.50%9.85%18.50%1.030.9833.20%10.30%15.08%
PRM
PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC
$3.27B12.00%5.60%6.37%16.40%0.985.2356.50%23.20%25.89%
LIN
LINDE PLC
$214.12B17.50%8.10%12.72%18.80%1.200.9348.40%20.20%27.30%
CBT
CABOT CORP
$3.70B29.50%11.30%20.12%16.40%1.402.1325.20%11.10%16.33%
SNES
SENESTECH INC
$7.30M-197.80%-156.40%-194.42%-366.50%0.255.8361.30%-312.20%-311.05%
WDFC
WD 40 CO
$2.61B36.20%19.10%27.79%32.80%0.772.8454.90%14.10%16.44%
YMAT
J-STAR HOLDING CO LTD
N/AN/AN/A10.80%N/A0.881.2332.10%6.30%8.61%
DD
DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC
$31.80B-0.80%-0.50%1.71%3.40%0.571.4137.10%-1.50%4.29%
KOP
KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC
$535.07M5.00%1.30%7.01%5.20%2.802.6421.10%1.20%5.57%
IFF
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC
$15.40B-2.80%-1.40%-0.90%-1.20%0.811.8636.20%-3.50%-1.83%
OLN
OLIN CORP
$2.74B-0.70%-0.20%2.80%2.30%2.901.488.70%-0.20%2.57%
SCL
STEPAN CO
$1.07B4.80%2.40%4.61%3.70%0.951.3512.40%2.60%3.55%
LWLG
LIGHTWAVE LOGIC INC
$704.15M-66.60%-59.30%-67.66%-204.80%0.1320.7291.80%-22,473.20%-22,473.21%
PPG
PPG INDUSTRIES INC
$22.31B13.90%4.80%10.44%12.50%1.901.4240.90%6.90%11.66%
WTTR
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS INC
$1.22B4.20%2.30%4.73%5.00%0.782.0115.10%2.30%4.30%
SQM
CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
$12.38B14.30%6.20%12.56%9.60%1.222.5129.30%15.10%25.73%
GEVO
GEVO INC
$573.16M-12.00%-9.10%-7.71%-10.60%0.472.3344.30%-72.80%-60.46%
SHW
SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
$82.82B60.80%10.40%21.52%20.80%4.760.7848.90%11.00%16.01%
ALB
ALBEMARLE CORP
$11.34B-10.80%-6.40%-3.82%-3.80%0.662.317.80%-22.00%-11.75%
APD
AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC
$58.06B9.70%3.90%5.64%4.30%1.541.2931.90%12.90%17.24%
EMN
EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO
$6.90B14.40%5.50%9.34%9.70%1.601.6924.00%9.00%12.91%
ASH
ASHLAND INC
$2.21B-34.70%-16.60%-21.35%-21.60%1.452.6830.20%-46.00%-47.99%
KRO
KRONOS WORLDWIDE INC
$604.03M8.00%3.50%11.50%8.90%1.292.7918.90%3.60%9.42%
ALTO
ALTO INGREDIENTS INC
$84.93M-24.90%-14.60%-14.33%-11.40%0.882.891.10%-6.30%-5.26%
FEAM
5E ADVANCED MATERIALS INC
$153.75M-102.50%-41.40%-38.76%-24.60%0.120.72N/AN/AN/A
LYB
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES NV
$14.88B2.00%0.70%2.39%1.80%1.971.779.50%0.70%1.98%
FF
FUTUREFUEL CORP
$163.82M-13.50%-11.10%-13.95%-26.80%0.224.16-10.50%-16.00%-15.75%
BGLC
BIONEXUS GENE LAB CORP
$9.59M-35.50%-29.10%-38.93%-41.20%0.253.6313.40%-40.20%-40.92%
BSLK
BOLT PROJECTS HOLDINGS INC
$7.48MN/A-95.20%468.91%-64.00%-1.450.371.60%-375.60%-321.69%
WLK
WESTLAKE CORP
$9.97B-0.60%-0.30%1.30%1.30%0.972.4711.20%-0.60%2.03%
TSE
TRINSEO PLC
$73.70MN/A-14.40%-5.19%-2.70%-4.511.427.30%-12.00%-3.07%
NTIC
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
$73.81M4.20%3.10%6.18%7.20%0.312.0439.20%3.50%5.68%
CNEY
CN ENERGY GROUP INC
$1.64M-4.10%-3.70%-3.74%-3.80%0.0225.130.60%-11.50%-10.62%
LOOP
LOOP INDUSTRIES INC
$80.17MN/A-98.30%-103.71%-268.20%-6.852.81100.00%-119.60%-110.80%

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

What are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now in Oct 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 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: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) has a Due Diligence Score of 13, which is -21 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 34. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates NGVT as a "A".

NGVT passed 4 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Ingevity has seen its stock return 55.11% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 65 percentage points.

Ingevity has an average 1 year price target of $58.00, an upside of 8.23% from Ingevity's current stock price of $53.59.

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 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 Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: A, and AI: C.

Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) has a Due Diligence Score of 48, which is 14 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 34.

ODC passed 18 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Oil Dri Of America has seen its stock return 78.25% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 88 percentage points.

3. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)


Sasol (NYSE:SSL) is the #3 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 Sasol (NYSE:SSL) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: A.

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has a Due Diligence Score of 35, which is 1 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 34.

SSL passed 13 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sasol has seen its stock lose -14.96% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -5 percentage points.

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. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB)


Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB) has an annual dividend yield of 11.71%, which is 9 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.42%. 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 691% 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 6.42%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.42%. 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 -39.3% 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 5.53%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.42%. 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 45.9% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are specialty chemical stocks up?

Specialty chemical stocks were up 1.22% in the last day, and down -3.71% over the last week. Albemarle was the among the top gainers in the specialty chemicals industry, gaining 7.21% yesterday.

Shares of lithium-related stocks are trading higher amid continued strength after China's Commerce Ministry, last week, announced that foreign suppliers must obtain approval to export certain products containing rare-earth materials, and the country will require licenses for the export of specific lithium batteries. President Trump's recent social media post about China may have eased trade concerns.

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 -38.87% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -29 percentage points.

2. Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA)


Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA) 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.

Axalta Coating Systems has a valuation score of 57, which is 30 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 27. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Axalta Coating Systems's stock has dropped -27.45% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -18 percentage points.

3. Orion Sa (NYSE:OEC)


Orion Sa (NYSE:OEC) 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.

Orion Sa has a valuation score of 57, which is 30 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 27. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Orion Sa's stock has dropped -59.93% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -50 percentage points.

Are specialty chemical stocks a good buy now?

51.28% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 22.98% over the next year.

7.41% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 11.11% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 62.96% are rated C (Hold), 11.11% are rated D (Sell), and 7.41% 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 16.24x.
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.