BASF (BAS.DE): analysis in plain words
Is BASF cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
BASF (BAS.DE) is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Xetra) and we classify it in materials and chemicals. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against BASF according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
BASF (BAS.DE) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | €54.30 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.1x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +14.2% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 9.1% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 4.20% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | €46.7 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The BASF figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any BAS.DE figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How BASF makes money
BASF is a chemical maker reporting segments including Chemicals (petrochemicals and intermediates), Materials (plastics and polyurethanes), Industrial Solutions, Nutrition & Care, Surface Technologies (auto catalysts and coatings) and Agricultural Solutions (seeds and crop protection). It supplies the auto, construction, farming and consumer industries, with Europe as its largest region.
Over the last 12 months, BASF brought in revenue of €63.6 billion. For every 100 it sells, BASF keeps 23.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and -0.8 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 93,032 full-time employees, that is about €684,000 of revenue per employee.
BASF against its sector
To know whether a BASF figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares BASF with the median of the 10 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | BASF | materials and chemicals median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 24.1x | 28.5x (10) |
| Revenue growth | +14.2% | +9.2% (11) |
| Net margin | 9.1% | 10.7% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 4.20% | 0.99% (11) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | 2.0x (11) |
In short, against the typical materials and chemicals company, BASF trades on a lower P/E, grows faster and earns a thinner margin. By size, BASF ranks number 2 of 4 materials and chemicals companies quoted in EUR on Fintols.
The bull case for BASF
These are the strengths in the BASF figures as of November 4, 2026:
- BASF generates real cash: €3.0 billion of free cash flow over 12 months, 6.5% of its stock market value.
- For income seekers, BASF pays a dividend yielding 4.20% at today's price, using 94% of its profit to fund it.
- Analysts expect BASF earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 17.7x, below the current 24.1x.
The main risk for BASF
The BASF figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: the price of what it sells (metals, chemicals), which depends on the world economy and is out of its control.
Frequently asked questions about BASF
Is it a good time to buy BASF stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell BASF, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, BASF stock trades at €54.30, 1% below its 52-week high (€55.05) and 31% above its low (€41.48). Its P/E is 24.1x against a materials and chemicals median of 28.5x, and 17.7x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With BASF, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does BASF pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, BASF pays €2.25 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 4.20%. It uses 94% of its profit to pay it. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 6.15%. The materials and chemicals median on Fintols is 0.99%.
Is BASF stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, BASF trades at 24.1x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the materials and chemicals median (28.5x). Including its debt, BASF is valued at 10.5x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make BASF expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are BASF's competitors?
On Fintols we compare BASF with ArcelorMittal, Air Liquide and Sherwin-Williams, which are also in materials and chemicals. As of November 4, 2026, ArcelorMittal is worth €41.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 27.1; Air Liquide is worth €119.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 33.8; Sherwin-Williams is worth $87.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 33.4. Each has a side-by-side comparison with BASF below.
BASF competitors
- ArcelorMittal (MTS) analysis · BASF vs ArcelorMittal comparison
- Air Liquide (AI.PA) analysis · BASF vs Air Liquide comparison
- Sherwin-Williams (SHW) analysis · BASF vs Sherwin-Williams comparison
To understand BASF better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like BASF: materials and chemicals stocks and Euro Stoxx 50 companies. Open the full BAS.DE analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about BASF, not investment advice.