Which are the best chemical stocks to buy?

Different chemical stocks could be more attractive to different investors based on their investment objectives and risk tolerances. However, top chemical stocks to consider include Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE:APD), Dow (NYSE:DOW), DuPont (NYSE:DD), Huntsman (NYSE:HUN), and Tronox Holdings (NYSE:TROX).

What are the five biggest chemical companies in the world?

The world's five biggest chemical companies based on market cap are: Linde (NYSE:LIN), Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW), EcoLab (NYSE:ECL), Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD), and Dow (NYSE:DOW).

What is the largest chemical company in the U.S.?

Ohio-based Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW), which manufactures specialty chemicals including paints and coatings, ranks as the largest publicly traded chemical company in the U.S. based on market cap.

What are the chemical stocks with the highest dividends?

Chemical stocks with especially high forward dividend yields include Dow, Huntsman, and Tronox.

Which chemical is most in demand?

Sulfuric acid is the chemical with the highest demand. It's used in a wide range of products, including car batteries, fertilizers, drain and toilet cleaners, and glue.

Best Chemical Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest in Them

By Keith Speights – Updated Apr 9, 2026 at 8:55 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

The global chemical industry generates over $6 trillion annually, offering diverse investment opportunities.
Chemical stocks range from large-cap companies like Air Products to smaller firms like Tronox, each with unique growth prospects.
Investing in chemical stocks can lead to solid dividends and supports portfolios with its essential role in various industries.

Chemical stocks are shares of companies that manufacture, process, and/or market chemical products. Chemicals are in the car you drive, the clothes you wear, and almost everything else. The global chemical industry is huge, with more than $6 trillion in total annual revenue. Any market of that size presents opportunities for investors. Here’s what you need to know about investing in chemical stocks.

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Chemical stocks ticker with lab flask — Image source: Getty Images.

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Top chemical stocks for 2026

There are quite a few large-cap companies in the chemical industry that attract significant investor attention. However, some smaller companies also offer significant upside potential. Here are five top chemical companies, including both large and small companies:

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield
Air Products And Chemicals (NYSE:APD)	$308.97	$68.8 billion	2.33%
Dow (NYSE:DOW)	$31.07	$22.4 billion	4.51%
DuPont de Nemours (NYSE:DD)	$146.26	$19.8 billion	1.58%
Huntsman (NYSE:HUN)	$10.30	$1.8 billion	4.98%
Tronox Plc (NYSE:TROX)	$5.96	$951.8 million	3.36%

Data as of Aug 15, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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1. Air Products & Chemicals

NYSE: APD

Air Products And Chemicals

Today's Change

(1.13%) $3.45

Current Price

$308.97

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$69B

Day's Range

$304.16 - $309.19

52wk Range

$229.11 - $314.87

Volume

474.5K

Avg Vol

1.3M

Gross Margin

32.11%

Dividend Yield

2.33%

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Air Products & Chemicals sells industrial chemicals and gases. The company markets its products in about 50 countries. These customers operate across a variety of industries, including electronics, food and beverages, manufacturing, metals, and refining.

The shift to clean energy should be a significant growth driver for Air Products & Chemicals over the next decade and beyond. The company already ranks as the largest supplier of hydrogen, which is being increasingly used as a fuel for buses, trucks, and other vehicles. It's also a leader in carbon capture and gasification -- a technology that converts coal, high-sulfur-content liquids, and natural gas into syngas used to make chemicals and fuel, as well as to generate energy.

The company generated $12 billion in sales in 2025. Air Products & Chemicals has increased its dividend for more than 40 consecutive years.

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2. Dow

NYSE: DOW

Dow

Today's Change

(2.34%) $0.71

Current Price

$31.07

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$22B

Day's Range

$30.63 - $31.20

52wk Range

$20.65 - $42.74

Volume

7.3M

Avg Vol

11.3M

Gross Margin

9.44%

Dividend Yield

4.51%

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Founded in 1897, Dow is one of the oldest chemical companies in the world. The company's products include coatings, industrial intermediates (chemicals used by other industries), plastics, and silicones, and are manufactured in 29 countries.

Although Dow's business was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, its future prospects appear strong. The global economic rebound has helped boost automotive, electronics, housing, and industrial markets -- all of which are key consumers of Dow's products. The long-term increase in demand for renewable energy, electric and autonomous vehicles, and high-speed 5G networks should also help Dow continue to grow.

The company's dividend is another big plus. Dow's dividend yield has remained near or above 4% throughout most of the period since its spinoff from DowDuPont in 2019.

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3. DuPont de Nemours

NYSE: DD

DuPont de Nemours

Today's Change

(1.50%) $2.16

Current Price

$146.26

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$20B

Day's Range

$143.10 - $146.81

52wk Range

$91.35 - $157.98

Volume

1.1M

Avg Vol

1.5M

Gross Margin

32.74%

Dividend Yield

1.58%

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DuPont de Nemours is even older than Dow, with its establishment dating back to the early 1800s. Customers use the company's products in multiple industries, including building and construction, electronics, healthcare, transportation, and worker safety.

Like Dow, DuPont has undergone many changes. The current company was one of three divisions of DowDuPont that separated in the 2019 reorganization. In February 2021, DuPont spun off its nutrition and biosciences business, and the unit merged with International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF +0.14%).

DuPont completed the acquisition of Laird Performance Materials for $2.3 billion in July 2021. The transaction boosted the company's leadership position in supplying electronics materials for several markets, including artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things, and 5G networks. DuPont's materials are already widely used in smartphones, semiconductors, and OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays.

The company sold the majority of its mobility and materials segment to Celanese (CE +3.07%) in 2022. It divested a majority stake in the Delrin polymer business in 2023.

More recently, Dupont acquired medical device company Donatelle Plastics in July 2024. This deal added Donatelle's injection molding manufacturing capabilities to the company's healthcare offerings. The company is also in the process of spinning off its electronics business as a separate entity.

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4. Huntsman Corporation

NYSE: HUN

Huntsman

Today's Change

(-0.19%) $-0.02

Current Price

$10.30

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.8B

Day's Range

$10.16 - $10.50

52wk Range

$7.29 - $16.09

Volume

1.8M

Avg Vol

5.5M

Gross Margin

13.50%

Dividend Yield

4.98%

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Huntsman generates more than 60% of its total revenue by selling polyurethane products, including insulation and construction materials. It also makes chemicals and materials used in fuel, along with lubricant additives, adhesives, coatings, apparel, furnishings, and more.

The company is a leader in the $8.2 billion North American spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation market. It's also a key player in the SPF markets in Asia and Europe, but still has significant room for growth.

Like several other major chemical companies, Huntsman has completed several acquisitions and divestitures in recent years. Most recently, the company sold its textile effects division to Archroma in 2023.

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5. Tronox Holdings

NYSE: TROX

Tronox Plc

Today's Change

(-0.67%) $-0.04

Current Price

$5.96

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$952M

Day's Range

$5.88 - $6.10

52wk Range

$2.86 - $10.59

Volume

2.2M

Avg Vol

2.8M

Gross Margin

5.24%

Dividend Yield

3.36%

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Tronox is the world's top vertically integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment. The company has mining operations in Australia and South Africa and pigment facilities in several other countries. Its operations provide raw materials for the production of titanium dioxide pigments used in paints, paper, plastics, and other products.

This chemical stock is more of a turnaround play than the others on our list. Tronox's share price declined sharply in 2024 and 2025, but has rebounded somewhat in 2026. The company has also reported multiple quarterly losses.

However, Tronox should be well-positioned to grow over the long term. Demand for titanium dioxide should increase by a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% through 2032. The company also has opportunities to expand its position as a supplier of rare earth oxides used in the production of permanent magnets.

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Did You Know?

Close to 80% of the chemical industry focuses on producing polymers and plastics, linking it closely with the oil industry.

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How to invest in chemical stocks

Once you have chosen a chemical stock, follow these steps to invest in the stock:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

What are the benefits and risks of investing in chemical stocks?

Benefits of investing in chemical stocks include:

The chemical industry should enjoy sustained long-term demand.
Chemical stocks offer significant global exposure and can provide diversification for anyone with a portfolio heavily weighted toward stocks dependent on U.S. sales.
Many chemical stocks offer solid dividends. The relatively stable cash flows of mature chemical companies enable them to pay attractive dividends and increase payouts over time.

However, risks associated with investing in chemical stocks include:

Chemical stocks are cyclical in nature. Cyclical stocks perform well when the economy is chugging along, but they can decline sharply when the economy struggles.
Chemical stocks can be highly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Many chemicals are made from petroleum and natural gas.
Geopolitical conflicts and steep tariffs can hamper chemical companies' growth.

Should you invest in chemical stocks?

Chemical stocks could be a good addition to the portfolios of investors who seek greater exposure to international markets. Many chemical stocks could also be attractive to income investors.

However, it's best to have a long-term investing horizon when buying chemical stocks. Their cyclical swings can increase a portfolio's volatility over shorter periods.

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Investing in chemical stocks FAQ

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About the Author

Keith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.

TMFFishBiz

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short February 2026 $75 calls on International Flavors & Fragrances. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Chemical Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Key Points

Top chemical stocks for 2026

1. Air Products & Chemicals

Key Data Points

2. Dow

Key Data Points

3. DuPont de Nemours

Key Data Points

4. Huntsman Corporation

Key Data Points

5. Tronox Holdings

Key Data Points

How to invest in chemical stocks

What are the benefits and risks of investing in chemical stocks?

Should you invest in chemical stocks?

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Investing in chemical stocks FAQ

Which are the best chemical stocks to buy?

Which are the best chemical stocks to buy?

What are the five biggest chemical companies in the world?

What are the five biggest chemical companies in the world?

What is the largest chemical company in the U.S.?

What is the largest chemical company in the U.S.?

What are the chemical stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the chemical stocks with the highest dividends?

Which chemical is most in demand?

Which chemical is most in demand?

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Top chemical stocks for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

How to invest in chemical stocks

What are the benefits and risks of investing in chemical stocks?

Should you invest in chemical stocks?

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Investing in chemical stocks FAQ

Which are the best chemical stocks to buy?

Which are the best chemical stocks to buy?

What are the five biggest chemical companies in the world?

What are the five biggest chemical companies in the world?

What is the largest chemical company in the U.S.?

What is the largest chemical company in the U.S.?

What are the chemical stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the chemical stocks with the highest dividends?

Which chemical is most in demand?

Which chemical is most in demand?

Key Data Points