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
Sentiment
Market Cap
Shares
Institutional %
Insider %
Net Insider (L12M)
Net Insider (L3M)
HDSN
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES INC
$449.78M43,668,37050.54%49.46%Net BuyingNet Buying
NGVT
INGEVITY CORP
$2.05B36,466,28597.73%2.27%Net SellingNet Selling
SSL
SASOL LTD
$4.47B649,375,1042.63%0.00%
MTX
MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$1.98B31,376,11696.16%3.84%Net Selling
ODC
OIL-DRI CORP OF AMERICA
$990.57M14,638,22847.82%4.36%Net BuyingNet Selling
CMT
CORE MOLDING TECHNOLOGIES INC
$186.46M8,857,90770.02%26.13%Net SellingNet Selling
MATV
MATIV HOLDINGS INC
$669.74M54,672,51988.93%9.26%Net SellingNet Buying
BCPC
BALCHEM CORP
$4.98B32,455,19389.06%2.31%Net SellingNet Selling
AXTA
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS LTD
$6.67B216,574,15046.35%53.65%Net SellingNet Selling
NEU
NEWMARKET CORP
$7.67B9,396,62154.26%45.74%Net Selling
ESI
ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC
$6.41B241,616,67287.53%12.47%Net Selling
IOSP
INNOSPEC INC
$2.02B24,833,16169.02%30.98%Net Selling
ECL
ECOLAB INC
$74.89B283,624,91269.78%30.22%Net SellingNet Buying
LIN
LINDE PLC
$221.08B468,909,53281.83%0.27%Net SellingNet Buying
ECVT
ECOVYST INC
$1.06B117,400,51069.02%30.98%Net Selling
DD
DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC
$32.31B418,716,68572.39%1.56%Net SellingNet Selling
RPM
RPM INTERNATIONAL INC
$16.10B128,376,26583.20%2.69%Net SellingNet Selling
SXT
SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP
$4.29B42,466,13883.68%16.32%Net SellingNet Buying
AVNT
AVIENT CORP
$3.27B91,540,56795.02%4.98%Net SellingNet Buying
PPG
PPG INDUSTRIES INC
$24.46B225,700,00086.40%0.87%Net Selling
SNES
SENESTECH INC
$8.38M1,775,9302.62%97.38%
AVTR
AVANTOR INC
$8.66B681,738,67583.80%16.20%Net BuyingNet Buying
IFF
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC
$16.54B256,287,08177.50%22.50%Net BuyingNet Buying
HWKN
HAWKINS INC
$3.62B20,877,13070.69%12.29%Net Selling
OLN
OLIN CORP
$2.91B114,641,53579.09%20.91%Net BuyingNet Buying
OEC
ORION SA
$496.92M56,149,70693.11%5.80%Net Selling
CBT
CABOT CORP
$4.15B53,203,62471.88%28.12%Net SellingNet Buying
CC
CHEMOURS CO
$2.56B149,698,30097.19%2.81%Net BuyingNet Selling
PRM
PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC
$3.19B147,728,76579.41%20.59%Net SellingNet Buying
KWR
QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP
$2.44B17,394,61954.37%45.63%Net SellingNet Selling
WDFC
WD 40 CO
$2.82B13,533,86489.75%4.95%Net Selling
FUL
FULLER H B CO
$3.35B53,963,88696.98%2.51%Net BuyingNet Selling
SQM
CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
$12.47B285,637,80814.41%0.01%
ALB
ALBEMARLE CORP
$9.53B117,682,93290.27%9.73%Net SellingNet Selling
YMAT
J-STAR HOLDING CO LTD
N/A17,012,8870.00%0.00%
SCL
STEPAN CO
$1.10B22,616,44075.67%24.33%Net SellingNet Selling
LWLG
LIGHTWAVE LOGIC INC
$407.74M129,439,98619.16%17.57%Net Buying
KOP
KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC
$572.89M20,010,06888.35%11.65%Net SellingNet Selling
GEVO
GEVO INC
$457.08M241,839,08330.48%12.19%Net SellingNet Selling
SHW
SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
$88.06B249,333,31681.99%1.33%Net SellingNet Buying
APD
AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC
$63.42B222,553,64093.06%2.70%Net SellingNet Selling
WTTR
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS INC
$1.13B121,265,96348.84%51.16%Net SellingNet Selling
EMN
EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO
$7.58B114,832,41290.42%2.08%Net SellingNet Buying
ASH
ASHLAND INC
$2.34B45,705,95866.94%33.06%Net BuyingNet Buying
ALTO
ALTO INGREDIENTS INC
$91.11M77,210,17122.06%21.42%Net SellingNet Buying
KRO
KRONOS WORLDWIDE INC
$716.78M115,053,1163.92%96.08%Net BuyingNet Buying
LYB
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES NV
$16.93B321,648,42927.90%72.10%Net BuyingNet Selling
BGLC
BIONEXUS GENE LAB CORP
$9.38M1,796,5970.06%99.94%
FF
FUTUREFUEL CORP
$173.02M43,803,2439.57%90.43%Net Buying
WLK
WESTLAKE CORP
$11.25B128,246,2661.39%98.61%Net Selling
TSE
TRINSEO PLC
$90.96M35,952,5757.40%92.60%Net SellingNet Selling
LOOP
LOOP INDUSTRIES INC
$88.28M47,718,3503.26%96.74%Net BuyingNet Buying
CNEY
CN ENERGY GROUP INC
$1.08M487,3884.27%0.00%
FSI
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC
$129.22M12,656,5328.66%48.24%
NTIC
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
$72.19M9,474,36321.19%78.81%Net BuyingNet Buying
FEAM
5E ADVANCED MATERIALS INC
$79.47M20,017,74619.22%80.78%Net BuyingNet Buying

Specialty Chemical Stocks FAQ

What are the best specialty chemical stocks to buy right now in Sep 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. Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN)


Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN) is the #1 top specialty chemical stock out of 56 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 Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: B.

Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN) has a Due Diligence Score of 51, which is 18 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33.

HDSN passed 16 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Hudson Technologies has seen its stock return 30.21% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 33 percentage points.

Hudson Technologies has an average 1 year price target of $9.75, a downside of -5.34% from Hudson Technologies's current stock price of $10.30.

Hudson Technologies stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Hudson Technologies, 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.

2. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT)


Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT) is the #2 top specialty chemical stock out of 56 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 -20 points lower than the specialty chemical industry average of 33. 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 49.24% over the past year, overperforming other specialty chemical stocks by 52 percentage points.

Ingevity has an average 1 year price target of $58.00, an upside of 3.06% from Ingevity's current stock price of $56.28.

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 56 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 2 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 33.

SSL passed 13 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sasol has seen its stock lose -3.23% over the past year.

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 10.29%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.15%. 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 4.56%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.15%. 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. Chemours Co (NYSE:CC)


Chemours Co (NYSE:CC) has an annual dividend yield of 3.96%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 2.15%. Chemours Co's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Chemours Co's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Chemours Co's dividend payout ratio of -29.9% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are specialty chemical stocks down?

Specialty chemical stocks were down -0.9% in the last day, and down -1.01% over the last week.

We couldn't find a catalyst for why specialty chemical stocks are down.

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 18 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 25. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cabot's stock has dropped -26.19% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -23 percentage points.

2. Orion Sa (NYSE:OEC)


Orion Sa (NYSE:OEC) 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.

Orion Sa has a valuation score of 57, which is 32 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 25. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Orion Sa's stock has dropped -48.09% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -45 percentage points.

3. Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA)


Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA) 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.

Axalta Coating Systems has a valuation score of 43, which is 18 points higher than the specialty chemical industry average of 25. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Axalta Coating Systems's stock has dropped -12.4% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the specialty chemical industry by -9 percentage points.

Are specialty chemical stocks a good buy now?

52.5% of specialty chemical stocks rated by analysts are a buy right now. On average, analysts expect specialty chemical stocks to rise by 16.13% over the next year.

7.84% of specialty chemical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 7.84% of specialty chemical stocks are rated B (Buy), 68.63% are rated C (Hold), 7.84% are rated D (Sell), and 7.84% 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 17.24x.
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.