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.

Industry: Specialty Chemicals
B
Specialty Chemicals is Zen Rated B and is the 36th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Market Cap
Price
Price Target
Upside/Downside
Top Analysts Upside/Downside
Consensus
Top Analysts Consensus
Analysts
Top Analysts
Fore. Revenue Growth
Fore. Earnings Growth
Forecast ROE
Forecast ROA
SSL
SASOL LTD
$9.02B$13.79N/AN/ABuy2N/AN/AN/AN/A
SQM
CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
$16.20B$56.70$90.0058.73%Strong Buy5N/AN/AN/AN/A
KRO
KRONOS WORLDWIDE INC
$931.14M$8.09$9.0011.25%Strong Buy12.79%N/A9.34%4.20%
AVNT
AVIENT CORP
$4.25B$46.35$53.6715.79%Strong Buy33.69%36.74%15.23%6.29%
ALTO
ALTO INGREDIENTS INC
$296.32M$3.82$7.0083.25%Strong Buy12.32%-11.79%N/AN/A
AVTR
AVANTOR INC
$10.78B$15.91$14.50-8.86%Hold112.97%25.25%11.90%5.97%
ODC
OIL-DRI CORP OF AMERICA
$1.07B$73.75N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
NGVT
INGEVITY CORP
$2.11B$62.40N/AN/AN/AN/A0.96%84.30%373.82%15.67%
LYB
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES NV
$19.23B$59.50$72.9122.54%Buy12-0.47%13.63%20.49%6.63%
NEU
NEWMARKET CORP
$6.37B$692.14N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
SCL
STEPAN CO
$1.55B$68.09N/AN/AN/AN/A4.77%193.37%N/AN/A
FUL
FULLER H B CO
$2.76B$51.34$62.2021.15%Strong Buy54.40%20.68%14.31%5.72%
MATV
MATIV HOLDINGS INC
$677.76M$12.28N/AN/AN/AN/A2.66%-6.04%N/AN/A
IOSP
INNOSPEC INC
$1.98B$80.21N/AN/AN/AN/A4.35%2.94%12.32%9.11%
ECVT
ECOVYST INC
$1.17B$10.76$15.1740.96%Buy35.60%67.69%19.85%8.49%
KWR
QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP
$2.71B$157.77$191.0021.06%Strong Buy43.58%29.80%13.25%6.42%
CBT
CABOT CORP
$3.71B$71.85$85.7519.35%Hold45.14%31.53%25.83%10.43%
EMN
EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO
$7.48B$65.39$74.2913.60%Buy82.70%8.75%16.40%6.66%
FF
FUTUREFUEL CORP
$222.39M$5.07N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
AXTA
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS LTD
$8.03B$37.53$39.445.10%Buy92.24%24.53%28.92%9.78%
BCPC
BALCHEM CORP
$5.59B$175.99$210.0019.32%Buy14.99%9.98%16.68%12.99%
MTX
MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$1.94B$62.59$90.0043.79%Strong Buy12.76%N/A15.25%6.78%
CMT
CORE MOLDING TECHNOLOGIES INC
$197.85M$22.38N/AN/AN/AN/A1.41%47.80%11.08%7.73%
SXT
SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP
$5.18B$121.68$147.0020.81%Strong Buy210.02%15.66%23.69%12.31%
WTTR
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS INC
$2.09B$15.07$24.6063.24%Strong Buy55.54%55.84%11.68%6.86%
ASH
ASHLAND INC
$3.56B$77.70$77.830.17%Buy64.74%76.04%13.85%5.66%
HWKN
HAWKINS INC
$3.22B$154.76$178.5015.34%Buy25.18%7.18%18.25%10.16%
OEC
ORION SA
$228.92M$4.05$6.5060.49%Hold10.03%N/A9.32%1.89%
CC
CHEMOURS CO
$2.00B$13.28$17.3830.84%Buy84.29%N/A215.38%4.58%
DD
DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC
$20.56B$155.14$206.2532.94%Strong Buy832.00%60.96%9.67%6.31%
KOP
KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC
$551.30M$29.33$54.0084.11%Strong Buy12.86%N/A23.06%5.41%
RPM
RPM INTERNATIONAL INC
$13.57B$106.38$122.8015.44%Strong Buy112.54%6.86%26.67%11.27%
PPG
PPG INDUSTRIES INC
$27.68B$125.31$131.605.02%Buy102.51%10.54%26.58%9.99%
ALB
ALBEMARLE CORP
$11.70B$99.12$164.8366.30%Buy180.03%31.15%20.24%13.27%
SOLS
SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS INC
$10.01B$63.65$78.3823.13%Strong Buy84.85%N/A44.57%11.48%
APD
AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC
$69.27B$311.08$340.509.46%Buy97.98%N/A28.60%9.82%
SHW
SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
$86.47B$357.93$372.003.93%Buy123.54%10.28%102.21%15.08%
ECL
ECOLAB INC
$86.03B$306.74$335.109.25%Strong Buy106.34%13.62%33.10%11.09%
LIN
LINDE PLC
$238.88B$520.33$564.118.41%Strong Buy94.03%12.83%28.91%12.94%
WDFC
WD 40 CO
$2.99B$223.56$305.0036.43%Strong Buy14.28%6.36%37.53%20.72%
PRM
PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC
$5.17B$31.58$41.5031.41%Strong Buy48.77%139.73%24.18%9.47%
FEAM
5E ADVANCED MATERIALS INC
$80.80M$1.94$6.75247.94%Buy1N/AN/AN/AN/A
OLN
OLIN CORP
$2.00B$17.56$20.7918.37%Hold144.01%N/AN/AN/A
WLK
WESTLAKE CORP
$8.20B$64.13$78.6722.67%Buy122.70%N/A10.93%4.91%
YMAT
J-STAR HOLDING CO LTD
$12.88M$1.18N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
IFF
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC
$21.54B$84.43$100.1318.59%Strong Buy8-6.29%57.16%11.01%6.12%
HDSN
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES INC
$184.77M$4.39$6.5048.06%Strong Buy25.18%N/AN/AN/A
GEVO
GEVO INC
$363.44M$1.47$2.0036.05%Hold16.96%N/A16.62%9.25%
STDN
STANDARD NUCLEAR INC
$1.99B$12.68$16.5730.69%Strong Buy8N/AN/A-164.30%86.75%
LWLG
LIGHTWAVE LOGIC INC
$756.96M$4.91N/AN/AN/AN/A2,595.37%N/A-6.04%-5.82%
CNEY
CN ENERGY GROUP INC
$6.37M$0.52N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
CITR
CITROTECH INC
$58.19M$2.58$16.00520.16%Buy11,588.71%N/A-142.94%-128.36%
BGLC
BIONEXUS GENE LAB CORP
$2.62M$0.89N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
LOOP
LOOP INDUSTRIES INC
$12.20M$0.25N/AN/AN/AN/A333.63%N/A-81.02%179.69%
FSI
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC
$85.58M$6.70N/AN/AN/AN/A43.17%N/A22.99%14.44%
SNES
SENESTECH INC
$6.18M$1.14N/AN/AN/AN/A74.53%N/A-34.74%-22.32%
NTIC
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
$70.75M$7.45N/AN/AN/AN/A12.84%N/A3.99%2.71%
ESI
ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC
$8.00B$32.96$48.5747.36%Strong Buy78.78%61.13%21.67%10.62%

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

What are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now in Nov 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. Sasol (NYSE:SSL)


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: A, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Sasol (NYSE:SSL) has a Due Diligence Score of 29, which is -5 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 34. 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 101.9% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 90 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.

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


Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) 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 Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: B.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile (NYSE:SQM) has a Due Diligence Score of 41, which is 7 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 34.

SQM passed 15 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile has seen its stock return 9.29% over the past year, underperforming other specialty chemical stocks by -3 percentage points.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile has an average 1 year price target of $90.00, an upside of 58.73% from Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's current stock price of $56.70.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 5 analysts covering Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile, 60% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 20% have issued a Buy, 20% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO)


Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) 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 Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: B.

Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) has a Due Diligence Score of 25, which is -9 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 34. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates KRO as a "A".

KRO passed 9 out of 38 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Kronos Worldwide has seen its stock return 74.73% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 63 percentage points.

Kronos Worldwide has an average 1 year price target of $9.00, an upside of 11.25% from Kronos Worldwide's current stock price of $8.09.

Kronos Worldwide stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Kronos Worldwide, 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 37 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 5.78%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 1.98%. 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 86.9% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

2. Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN)


Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE:EMN) has an annual dividend yield of 5.14%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 1.98%. 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 59.3% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

3. Olin (NYSE:OLN)


Olin (NYSE:OLN) has an annual dividend yield of 4.56%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 1.98%. 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 -40.6% 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 1.89% in the last day, and down -1.85% over the last week. Lightwave Logic was the among the top gainers in the specialty chemicals industry, gaining 12.49% yesterday.

Shares of electronic equipment, instruments & components companies are trading higher amid broader market strength and declining oil prices, which are easing inflation concerns and reducing expectations for interest rates to remain elevated for longer. Declining borrowing-cost pressures could support business investment and demand for electronic equipment, while improving investor sentiment toward growth-oriented sectors.

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


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 13 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 30. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Chemical & Mining Co Of Chile's stock has gained 9.29% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -3 percentage points.

2. Alto Ingredients (NASDAQ:ALTO)


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 13 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 30. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Alto Ingredients's stock has gained 135.8% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by 124 percentage points.

3. Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB)


Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (NYSE:LYB) 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.

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv has a valuation score of 43, which is 13 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 30. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Lyondellbasell Industries Nv's stock has gained 39.12% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by 27 percentage points.

Are specialty chemical stocks a good buy now?

50% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 19.04% over the next year.

8% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 22% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 62% are rated C (Hold), 6% are rated D (Sell), and 2% 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 -101.62x.
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