Sectors & IndustriesBasic Materials

Best Basic Material Stocks to Buy Now (2024)

Top basic material stocks in 2024 ranked by overall Zen Score. See the best basic material stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the basic materials sector.

According to Zen Score, the 3 best basic material stocks to buy right now are:

Oil Dri Of America (NYSE:ODC) is the top basic material stock with a Zen Score of 63, which is 32 points higher than the basic material sector average of 31. It passed 23 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Oil Dri Of America has seen its stock return 63.83% over the past year, overperforming other basic material stocks by 43 percentage points.

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) is the second best basic material stock with a Zen Score of 62, which is 31 points higher than the basic material sector average of 31. It passed 23 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Albemarle has seen its stock lose -32.13% over the past year, underperforming other basic material stocks by -53 percentage points.

Albemarle has an average 1 year price target of $141.71, an upside of 17.78% from Albemarle's current stock price of $120.31.

Albemarle stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 17 analysts covering Albemarle, 29.41% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 17.65% have issued a Buy, 41.18% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 11.76% have issued a Strong Sell.

Vale Sa (NYSE:VALE) is the third best basic material stock with a Zen Score of 60, which is 29 points higher than the basic material sector average of 31. It passed 22 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Vale Sa has seen its stock lose -14.3% over the past year, underperforming other basic material stocks by -35 percentage points.

Vale Sa has an average 1 year price target of $16.75, an upside of 37.63% from Vale Sa's current stock price of $12.17.

Vale Sa stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 8 analysts covering Vale Sa, 37.5% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 25% have issued a Buy, 37.5% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Out of 132 basic material stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 basic material stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Futurefuel (NYSE:FF) has an annual dividend yield of 50.55%, which is 48 percentage points higher than the basic material sector average of 2.96%. Futurefuel's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Futurefuel's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Futurefuel's dividend payout ratio of 28.2% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Cvr Partners (NYSE:UAN) has an annual dividend yield of 22.08%, which is 19 percentage points higher than the basic material sector average of 2.96%. Cvr Partners's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% twelve times in the last 10 years. Cvr Partners's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Cvr Partners's dividend payout ratio of 226.5% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

National Steel Co (NYSE:SID) has an annual dividend yield of 14.74%, which is 12 percentage points higher than the basic material sector average of 2.96%. National Steel Co's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% six times in the last 10 years. National Steel Co's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

National Steel Co's dividend payout ratio of 136.5% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Basic material stocks were down -2.04% in the last day, and down -0.94% over the last week. Nexgen Energy was the among the top losers in the basic materials sector, dropping -9.82% yesterday.

NexGen Energy shares are trading lower after the company announced an upsized offering in Australia.

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, the 3 most undervalued basic material stocks right now are:

Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN) is the most undervalued basic material stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Hudson Technologies has a valuation score of 100, which is 72 points higher than the basic material sector average of 28. It passed 7 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Hudson Technologies's stock has gained 25.73% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the basic material sector by 5 percentage points.

Methanex (NASDAQ:MEOH) is the second most undervalued basic material stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Methanex has a valuation score of 86, which is 58 points higher than the basic material sector average of 28. It passed 6 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Methanex's stock has gained 5.55% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the basic material sector by -15 percentage points.

Algoma Steel Group (NASDAQ:ASTL) is the third most undervalued basic material stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Algoma Steel Group has a valuation score of 86, which is 58 points higher than the basic material sector average of 28. It passed 6 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Algoma Steel Group's stock has gained 6.69% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the basic material sector by -14 percentage points.