Top 3 Picks
2026 Outlook
The chemicals sector is expected to expand through 2026, driven by trends in sustainable production, bio-based materials, and the global push for decarbonization, potentially increasing demand by 3-5% annually according to industry forecasts. Regulatory advancements, such as stricter emissions standards, will favor companies investing in green technologies, while challenges like fluctuating energy costs could temper growth. Overall, the sector's outlook remains positive, with projected revenue growth supported by emerging markets and technological innovations.
Complete Rankings
| Rank | Stock | Score | Price | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Westlake Corporation
|
65.9 | $74.15 | $9.8B |
|
2
|
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
|
65.0 | $68.03 | $15.6B |
|
3
|
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Class A
|
64.3 | $44.39 | $15.6B |
|
4
|
Aemetis, Inc. (DE) Common Stock
|
61.0 | $1.59 | $144M |
|
5
|
Sensient Technology Corporation
|
58.7 | $93.44 | $3.9B |
|
6
|
Green Plains, Inc.
|
58.3 | $10.28 | $591M |
|
7
|
TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.
|
58.0 | $0.79 | $20M |
|
8
|
Codexis, Inc.
|
57.6 | $1.61 | $226M |
|
9
|
Comstock Inc.
|
56.5 | $3.89 | $164M |
|
10
|
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP
|
56.3 | $18.95 | $738M |
|
11
|
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. Class A Common Stock
|
55.0 | $1.99 | $68M |
|
12
|
Gevo, Inc.
|
54.0 | $2.06 | $484M |
|
13
|
NewMarket Corporation
|
54.0 | $687.75 | $7.9B |
|
14
|
REX American Resources Corp.
|
52.9 | $32.40 | $1.0B |
|
15
|
Alto Ingredients, Inc. Common Stock
|
51.8 | $2.66 | $80M |
In-Depth Analysis: Top Chemicals Stocks
WLK
Westlake Corp is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, polymers, and building products. Its Performance and Essential Materials segment offers a wide range of essential building blocks for making products utilized in everyday living, including olefins, vinyl chemicals, polyethylene, and epoxies. Its Housing and Infrastructure Products segment produces key finished goods for building products, pipe and fittings, and global compounds …
Westlake Corporation is a significant player in the Chemicals sector due to its production of essential materials like olefins, vinyl chemicals, and polyethylene, which serve as critical building blocks for industries such as construction, packaging, and consumer goods. Its Performance and Essential Materials segment ensures a reliable supply of these products, supporting global demand for everyday essentials and positioning the company as a key supplier in a competitive market.
Westlake's profitability is currently challenged, with a profit margin of -8.3% indicating operational losses and a return on equity of -8.7% reflecting poor returns for shareholders, which may stem from industry cyclicality or cost pressures. Additionally, the -9.0% revenue growth highlights declining sales, underscoring potential financial health risks that could persist without strategic improvements.
Investors may consider Westlake stock in 2026 given its Tradestie Score of 65.9, which signals moderate upside potential amid expected recovery in the chemicals sector driven by increasing demand for polymers and building products. The company's diverse portfolio, including epoxies and polyethylene, positions it to benefit from global infrastructure investments and sustainable material trends. Furthermore, as economic conditions stabilize, Westlake's established manufacturing capabilities could lead to improved revenue growth and profitability by 2026.
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances is the largest specialty ingredients producer globally. It sells ingredients for the food, beverage, health, household goods, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. The company makes proprietary formulations, partnering with customers to deliver custom solutions. Through its taste and scent segments, which each generate around 25% of profits, IFF is a leading flavor and fragrances producer. The …
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) is the largest global producer of specialty ingredients, playing a pivotal role in the chemicals sector by supplying proprietary formulations to key industries like food, beverage, health, and personal care. Its partnerships for custom solutions enable innovation and market leadership, making it essential for driving product development in these areas.
IFF's negative profit margin of -4.3% and return on equity of -3.2% highlight current challenges in profitability and efficient use of equity, potentially stemming from industry headwinds or operational inefficiencies. Coupled with a revenue growth decline of -7.9%, these metrics indicate strained financial health that requires strategic improvements for long-term stability.
By 2026, IFF's dominant position in specialty ingredients is poised for rebound, driven by anticipated growth in the personal care and pharmaceutical sectors, which could reverse the recent -7.9% revenue decline. The Tradestie Score of 65.0/100 reflects moderate investment potential, suggesting that IFF's innovative formulations and customer partnerships may lead to improved profitability. Investors should consider this stock for its exposure to expanding global demand in health and household goods, positioning it for potential upside as economic conditions stabilize.
LYB
LyondellBasell is a petrochemical producer with operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and also a major producer of polyethylene and propylene oxide. Its chemicals are used in various consumer and industrial end products. Well over half of LyondellBasell's production comes from its North American operations.
LyondellBasell matters in the Chemicals sector as the world's largest producer of polypropylene and a major player in polyethylene and propylene oxide, enabling it to influence global supply chains for essential materials used in packaging, automotive, and industrial applications. Its extensive operations across the US, Europe, and Asia provide a diversified platform to meet rising demand in key markets, solidifying its competitive edge.
LyondellBasell's profitability is currently weak, with a negative profit margin of -3.2% indicating operational losses, and a return on equity of -10.6% reflecting poor returns on shareholders' investments. The -10.2% revenue growth further highlights financial strain, potentially due to market fluctuations and reduced demand in the petrochemical industry.
By 2026, LyondellBasell could rebound as global demand for polypropylene surges in sectors like sustainable packaging and electric vehicles, leveraging its position as the largest producer to capitalize on this growth. The Tradestie Score of 64.3 suggests moderate upside potential, especially with anticipated economic recovery driving revenue from -10.2% to positive territory. Additionally, its global footprint in high-growth regions like Asia positions it for operational efficiencies and market share gains, making it an attractive buy for long-term investors.
AMTX
Aemetis Inc is an renewable fuel and biochemicals company focused on the production of renewable fuels and chemicals through the acquisition, development and commercialization of technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products through the conversion of first-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into biorefineries. It owns and operates an approximately 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California. …
Aemetis Inc. matters in the Chemicals sector as a leader in renewable fuels and biochemicals, leveraging technologies to convert first-generation ethanol and bio-based materials into sustainable alternatives to petroleum products, which aligns with global decarbonization efforts and addresses the rising demand for green chemicals.
Aemetis demonstrates weak profitability with a profit margin of -43.6%, indicating significant operational losses that strain financial health, while a revenue growth of -27.3% reflects declining sales amid competitive pressures in the sector.
By 2026, Aemetis could benefit from the expanding renewable fuels market, projected to grow due to increasing government incentives and stricter emissions regulations, potentially reversing its -27.3% revenue decline through enhanced biofuel demand. The company's focus on innovative biochemical technologies positions it for market share gains in sustainable chemicals, as evidenced by its Tradestie Score of 61.0, suggesting moderate upside for investors anticipating a green energy boom. Overall, this makes Aemetis a speculative opportunity for those targeting long-term environmental trends.
SXT
Sensient Technologies Corp manufactures and markets natural and synthetic colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients. Sensient's offerings are predominantly applied to consumer-facing products, including food and beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and personal care industries. Its principal products are flavors, flavor enhancers, ingredients, extracts, and bionutrients, essential oils, dehydrated vegetables and other food ingredients, natural and synthetic food and beverage …
Sensient Technologies Corp is a significant player in the chemicals sector, specializing in natural and synthetic colors, flavors, and specialty ingredients that are essential for industries like food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Its focus on consumer-facing applications positions it as a key supplier for brands prioritizing quality, regulatory compliance, and innovation in product formulation.
Sensient's 8.7% profit margin reflects moderate efficiency in converting revenue to profit, while its 12.3% ROE indicates strong returns on shareholder equity, suggesting effective capital utilization. With a 5.0% revenue growth rate and a P/E ratio of 28.9, the company maintains steady financial health but trades at a premium, implying investor expectations for future earnings growth.
Sensient's 5.0% revenue growth highlights its potential in expanding markets for natural ingredients, driven by increasing consumer demand for clean-label products in food and personal care by 2026. The company's 12.3% ROE demonstrates robust profitability and efficient equity management, making it appealing for investors seeking stable returns. Additionally, with a Tradestie Score of 58.7, Sensient could benefit from sector tailwinds like regulatory shifts toward sustainable chemicals, potentially elevating stock performance through enhanced market share and earnings.
GPRE
Green Plains Inc manufactures and sells ethanol and ethanol byproducts in two segments based on function. The ethanol production segment, which generates the majority of revenue, includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil. The agribusiness and energy services segment includes grain handling and storage, commodity marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, …
Green Plains Inc. is a significant player in the Chemicals sector as a leading producer of ethanol and its byproducts, such as distillers grains and renewable corn oil, which contribute to the biofuels market and support sustainable energy transitions. Its ethanol production segment, generating the majority of revenue, positions the company as a key supplier in the renewable chemicals space amid growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives.
Green Plains exhibits weak profitability with a profit margin of -8.4%, indicating that the company is operating at a loss due to high costs or declining prices in the ethanol market. Additionally, a negative ROE of -22.0% reflects poor returns on shareholders' equity, compounded by a -22.8% revenue growth, signaling financial strain and potential challenges in maintaining operational efficiency.
By 2026, increasing global demand for biofuels driven by stricter environmental regulations could boost Green Plains' revenue, especially with their focus on high-value byproducts like Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil. The company's Tradestie Score of 58.3/100 suggests moderate potential for recovery, and operational improvements in their ethanol production segment may lead to profitability turnaround. Furthermore, as the Chemicals sector shifts toward renewables, Green Plains' strategic position in agribusiness could capitalize on emerging opportunities in sustainable energy markets.
TOMZ
TOMI Environmental Solutions Inc is a leader in bacteria decontamination and infectious disease control, offering environmentally friendly solutions for indoor air and surface disinfection and decontamination. Its flagship product, SteraMist, uses patented and registered Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) to deliver a low-percentage (7.8%) hydrogen peroxide-based fog or mist to affect all indoor environments and surface areas. Its product portfolio includes …
TOMI Environmental Solutions matters in the Chemicals sector as a pioneer in eco-friendly disinfection technologies, with its SteraMist product utilizing patented Binary Ionization Technology to address growing demands for sustainable pathogen control in healthcare and industrial applications.
TOMI's profitability is severely challenged, evidenced by a -91.4% profit margin and -120.0% ROE, indicating substantial losses and poor returns on equity that highlight operational inefficiencies. Additionally, a -20.9% revenue growth rate reflects declining sales, further straining the company's financial health and sustainability.
Investors should consider buying TOMZ in 2026 due to the expected increase in demand for advanced disinfection solutions amid ongoing global health concerns and regulatory pushes for environmentally friendly chemicals. The company's patented SteraMist technology offers a competitive edge in expanding markets like healthcare and food safety, potentially driving revenue recovery from its current -20.9% growth trajectory. Moreover, with a Tradestie Score of 58.0, indicating moderate upside potential, TOMI is positioned for turnaround as sector innovations gain traction.
CDXS
Codexis Inc is a provider of enzymatic solutions for efficient and scalable therapeutics manufacturing that leverages its proprietary CodeEvolver technology platform to discover, develop, and enhance novel, high-performance enzymes. Codexis enzymes solve challenges associated with small molecule pharmaceuticals manufacturing and nucleic acid synthesis. The Company is currently developing its proprietary ECO Synthesis manufacturing platform to enable the scaled manufacture of …
Codexis Inc. matters in the Chemicals sector due to its innovative use of the CodeEvolver technology platform, which enables the development of high-performance enzymes that enhance efficiency in therapeutics manufacturing. This positions the company as a key player in addressing challenges for small molecule pharmaceuticals, potentially driving sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the industry.
Codexis exhibits severe profitability challenges with a profit margin of -120.8%, indicating that for every dollar of revenue, the company incurs $1.21 in losses, alongside a ROE of -114.3% that reflects inefficient use of shareholders' equity. Additionally, a revenue growth decline of -33.0% underscores ongoing financial strain, suggesting the need for operational improvements to achieve stability.
By 2026, Codexis's proprietary CodeEvolver platform could capitalize on growing demand for advanced enzymatic solutions in therapeutics manufacturing, potentially reversing the -33.0% revenue decline through new partnerships and product launches. The Tradestie Score of 57.6 indicates moderate investment appeal, supported by the biotech sector's expansion driven by innovations in enzyme technology. Investors may find value in Codexis if it successfully scales its enzymes to improve profitability, leveraging its unique position in efficient drug production.
LODE
Comstock Inc innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to energy abundance by efficiently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources, such as waste and other forms of woody biomass into renewable fuels, and end-of-life electronics into recovered electrification metals. Comstock's innovations group is engaged in developing and using artificial intelligence technologies for advanced materials development.
Comstock Inc. matters in the Chemicals sector due to its innovative technologies for converting under-utilized resources like woody biomass into renewable fuels, addressing the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions amid global decarbonization efforts. This positions the company as a potential leader in bio-based chemical production, contributing to the sector's shift towards circular economy practices.
Comstock Inc.'s profitability is severely challenged, as evidenced by a ROE of -55.5%, indicating substantial losses relative to shareholders' equity and poor capital efficiency. The -90.3% revenue growth further highlights financial instability, suggesting operational difficulties that could hinder long-term sustainability in the competitive Chemicals sector.
By 2026, Comstock Inc. could benefit from the projected expansion of the renewable fuels market, driven by increasing regulatory pressures for sustainability and a potential rebound in demand for bio-based chemicals, which might offset current revenue declines. The company's proprietary technologies for efficient resource conversion offer a competitive edge in the growing biomass energy sector, potentially leading to partnerships or acquisitions that enhance growth. Additionally, with a Tradestie Score of 56.5/100 indicating moderate investment appeal, the stock may appreciate if the firm successfully commercializes its innovations amid rising global energy transition investments.
WLKP
Westlake Chemical Partners LP is a part of the chemical industry in the United States. Its operations are conducted through OpCo, it acquires and develops ethylene production facilities, which convert ethane into ethylene. OpCo sells ethylene and its co-products such as propylene, crude butadiene, pyrolysis gasoline, and hydrogen to Westlake and other customers located in the United States. Its assets …
Westlake Chemical Partners LP is a significant player in the Chemicals sector as it specializes in ethylene production, a foundational chemical for plastics, polymers, and other derivatives, thereby supporting critical supply chains in the U.S. industry. Through its OpCo operations, the company acquires and develops ethylene facilities, ensuring a steady supply of ethylene and co-products like propylene and crude butadiene, which are essential for manufacturing processes.
Westlake Chemical Partners LP exhibits moderate profitability with a 4.3% profit margin, indicating efficient cost management relative to revenue, while its 36.5% ROE highlights strong returns on shareholder equity, demonstrating effective utilization of investments. Additionally, the company's 11.5% revenue growth and 13.4 P/E ratio reflect improving financial health and a reasonably valued stock based on earnings.
Investors should consider buying WLKP stock in 2026 due to its robust 11.5% revenue growth, signaling potential for continued expansion in the ethylene market amid rising demand for chemical products. The impressive 36.5% ROE underscores the company's ability to generate high returns on equity, making it attractive for long-term gains. Furthermore, with a P/E ratio of 13.4, the stock appears undervalued relative to its earnings potential, positioning it well for appreciation as the sector grows.
Methodology
Stocks are ranked using the Tradestie Score, a proprietary 0-100 rating that combines fundamental quality (profitability, balance sheet strength), growth metrics (revenue and earnings growth), valuation (P/E, PEG ratio), and momentum factors. Scores are updated daily based on the latest market data. Learn more about our methodology.