Materials stocks: 11 companies analyzed
The 11 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, such as Linde, Freeport-McMoRan and Newmont: P/E, growth, margin and dividend with dated figures.
Materials covers chemical makers, miners, steelmakers, aluminum and copper producers, industrial gas suppliers, paper and packaging companies and cement producers. Many sell commodities whose price is set on global markets, so profits rise and fall with that price. Others, like specialty chemical or industrial gas companies, sell more differentiated products or work under long-term contracts, which gives them more control over their margins. Their customers include construction, automotive, food, consumer goods and electronics makers, so demand tracks the broader economy.
For commodity producers, position on the cost curve is what matters most: the lowest-cost producer survives when prices slump. Look at EBITDA margin across a full cycle, not just in a boom year, and at net debt, because heavy leverage at the bottom of the cycle can be dangerous. For miners, reserve life and ore quality count; for specialty chemicals, margin stability and spending on innovation. Industrial gas companies are prized for long contracts and steady pricing.
Risks include price cycles, slowdowns in big consuming economies, energy costs, environmental rules, accidents and political risk in the countries where mines operate. If you’re new to investing, remember that a very low P/E at a miner or steelmaker often shows up exactly when prices are at their peak. The market is already betting that those profits won’t last, so a cheap-looking multiple deserves extra skepticism. The reverse also holds: in a slump, the P/E can look sky-high even when the business is fine.
With data as of November 4, 2026, of the 11 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, the largest by market value is Linde ($240.9 billion) among those quoted in dollars and Air Liquide (€119.6 billion) among those quoted in euros, the fastest-growing in its latest quarter is Nucor (+32.0% in sales) and the highest dividend yield belongs to BASF (4.20%). The typical company in the group trades on a P/E of 28.5x and keeps a net margin of 10.7% (medians). Figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses; N/A means the figure is not available.
Materials companies on Fintols
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Dividend yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linde (LIN) | $240.9 billion | 34.8x | +9.2% | 19.3% | 1.25% |
| Newmont (NEM) | $122.7 billion | 13.7x | +15.2% | 34.7% | 0.97% |
| Air Liquide (AI.PA) | €119.6 billion | 33.8x | +0.8% | 13.1% | 1.84% |
| Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) | $89.9 billion | 26.3x | +8.2% | 13.0% | 0.97% |
| Ecolab (ECL) | $88.4 billion | 42.9x | +12.7% | 12.0% | 0.96% |
| Sherwin-Williams (SHW) | $87.8 billion | 33.4x | +7.9% | 10.7% | 0.94% |
| Air Products (APD) | $71.0 billion | N/A | +4.6% | -0.4% | 2.31% |
| Nucor (NUE) | $60.8 billion | 17.1x | +32.0% | 9.3% | 0.82% |
| BASF (BAS.DE) | €46.7 billion | 24.1x | +14.2% | 9.1% | 4.20% |
| ArcelorMittal (MTS) | €41.4 billion | 27.1x | +5.2% | 2.9% | 0.99% |
| Acerinox (ACX) | €3.9 billion | 29.8x | +12.4% | 2.0% | 3.98% |
Materials comparisons
- Freeport-McMoRan vs Linde
- Linde vs Newmont
- Linde vs Nucor
- Freeport-McMoRan vs Newmont
- Freeport-McMoRan vs Nucor
- Newmont vs Nucor
- Ecolab vs Sherwin-Williams
- Air Products vs Sherwin-Williams
Other sectors
- Software and cloud
- Hardware and devices
- Semiconductor
- Internet and media
- Telecom
- Banking
- Financial services
- Insurance
- Healthcare
- Consumer staples
- Retail
- Luxury and apparel
- Restaurant
- Automotive
- Energy
- Utility
- Industrial
- Aerospace and defense
- Travel and leisure
- Construction and infrastructure
- Real estate (REIT)
See all stocks by sector or by index: S&P 500, S&P 100, IBEX 35 and Euro Stoxx 50. Educational content, not investment advice.