What is the largest market for plastics today?

The packaging sector is the largest user of plastics today.

Who is the largest plastic manufacturer in the U.S.?

Dow is the largest manufacturer of plastics in the United States.

Which plastic company share is best?

There is no one perfect stock for all buyers. Investors looking for a business primarily focused on plastics might pick Dow. But investors seeking more diversification would likely prefer ExxonMobil, which has a large plastics business in addition to its oil and gas operations.

How profitable is the plastic industry?

Profitability can vary based on demand, but overall, plastics is not a high-margin sector. Profitability in the sector is affected by factors such as raw material costs, supply chain disruptions, and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, which can raise operating costs.

Are plastic stocks a good long-term investment?

Plastics are in demand from a wide range of industries, providing some predictability. This is not a high-growth sector, but plastics can be a good long-term investment for those seeking a combination of modest growth and income.

Can investing in plastic stocks help hedge against inflation?

Materials companies tend to hold up well during periods of inflation, and plastics are essential to so many industries that demand remains resilient. However, it is important to keep in mind that plastic is made from hydrocarbons. When inflation is driven by an energy crisis, the cost of raw materials for plastic skyrockets.

6 Best Plastics Stocks in May 2026

By Lou Whiteman – Updated Mar 16, 2026 at 11:25 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Global plastic sales hit $647 billion in 2024, growing at 4.6% annually through 2033.
Investors can choose from companies that produce raw materials or finished plastic products.
Top stocks include ExxonMobil for polypropylene and Dow for diversified plastics.

Plastics are ubiquitous. From packaging to household goods to building materials to automotive components, there seems to be no limit to where plastics are found in our day-to-day lives.

With so much demand, there are many public companies focused on plastics from which investors can choose. It’s a massive market opportunity: Global total plastic sales were estimated at $647 billion in 2024, and the market is forecast to grow at a compound annualized rate of 4.6% through 2033.

Investors can select from companies that make the raw ingredients used to make plastics, companies that make the end products we use as consumers, and a few that do a bit of both. Here’s a look at some of the top names in plastics for investors to consider.

Loading paragraph...

Top plastics stocks to invest in for 2026

Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM)	$609.1 billion	2.78%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Dow (NYSE:DOW)	$25.1 billion	5.03%	Chemicals
LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB)	$22.1 billion	7.02%	Chemicals
Amcor Plc (NYSE:AMCR)	$18.1 billion	6.59%	Containers and Packaging
AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR)	$7.4 billion	1.63%	Containers and Packaging
Trinseo Plc (NYSE:TSE)	N/A	N/A	Chemicals

Data as of May 29, 2026. Showing 6 of 6 total entries.

Loading ticker_table...

1. ExxonMobil

NYSE: XOM

ExxonMobil

Today's Change

(-1.16%) $-1.70

Current Price

$145.26

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$609B

Day's Range

$144.71 - $146.93

52wk Range

$101.19 - $176.41

Volume

28M

Avg Vol

20.9M

Gross Margin

20.92%

Dividend Yield

2.78%

Loading company_card...

ExxonMobil (XOM -1.16%) is best known as an oil and gas company, but it is also a major producer of specialized polypropylene, a raw material used in plastics. Propylene is a molecule produced as part of the oil-refining process, making it a natural offshoot of ExxonMobil’s core business.

ExxonMobil significantly boosted polypropylene production in 2020 to meet increased demand for masks and medical supplies to support the COVID-19 pandemic response.

This company is deeply entrenched in the fossil fuel economy, but plastics offer some diversification from the oil giant's core petroleum offerings.

Loading paragraph...

2. Dow

NYSE: DOW

Dow

Today's Change

(-1.95%) $-0.67

Current Price

$33.75

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$25B

Day's Range

$33.45 - $34.52

52wk Range

$20.40 - $42.74

Volume

17.2M

Avg Vol

14.2M

Gross Margin

5.98%

Dividend Yield

5.03%

Loading company_card...

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: LYB

LyondellBasell Industries

Today's Change

(-2.49%) $-1.70

Current Price

$66.65

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$22B

Day's Range

$66.24 - $68.46

52wk Range

$41.58 - $83.94

Volume

6.4M

Avg Vol

7.8M

Gross Margin

10.01%

Dividend Yield

7.02%

Loading company_card...

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: AMCR

Amcor Plc

Today's Change

(-1.10%) $-0.43

Current Price

$38.82

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$18B

Day's Range

$38.71 - $39.41

52wk Range

$36.25 - $50.94

Volume

6.5M

Avg Vol

5.3M

Gross Margin

16.71%

Dividend Yield

6.59%

Loading company_card...

Amcor (AMCR -1.10%) is a global manufacturer of packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, and personal care products. The company generated $13.6 billion in sales in 2024 from 212 production sites in 40 countries.

Amcor, formed in the 1860s as Australian Paper Manufacturers, has continuously evolved over the years. It sold its paper goods operations in 2000 and followed that with a series of deals, including the $7 billion purchase of Bemis in 2019 and an $8.4 billion merger with Berry Global, to establish itself as a global leader in packaging. Amcor trades on both the New York and Australian stock exchanges.

Loading paragraph...

5. AptarGroup

NYSE: ATR

AptarGroup

Today's Change

(-0.12%) $-0.14

Current Price

$115.85

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$7.4B

Day's Range

$113.75 - $117.26

52wk Range

$103.23 - $164.28

Volume

559.6K

Avg Vol

514.9K

Gross Margin

28.99%

Dividend Yield

1.63%

Loading company_card...

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: TSE

Trinseo Plc

Today's Change

(0.00%) $0.00

Current Price

$0.00

Key Data Points

Loading company_card...

Loading paragraph...

Tips for investing in plastic stocks

Investing in plastics in 2026 requires moving beyond the "commodity" mindset. With the market divided between traditional giants and high-growth sustainability pioneers, your strategy should focus on resilience and regulatory positioning.

Investors use a "barbell strategy" to balance risk and reward, investing in both value names, such as large, established plastics manufacturers, and higher-growth sustainable materials companies.

Are plastic stocks right for you?

Environmentalists criticize plastics due to concerns about their fossil fuel-intensive production processes and the long time it takes for them to degrade, but there are no good alternatives for many applications. All of the companies on this list are exploring how to manufacture plastics from more environmentally friendly sources and create products that degrade faster when possible. Despite the concerns, plastic demand should continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Plastics aren’t likely to match other sectors, such as tech, in terms of massive growth potential, but these companies should be reliable performers selling into stable, growing markets that can provide ballast in a tech-heavy portfolio.

Loading paragraph...

FAQ

Plastics stocks FAQ

Loading faq...

About the Author

Lou Whiteman is a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst covering aerospace, defense, transport, manufacturing, specialty finance, and bank stocks. Previously, Lou was a financial analyst and senior writer for TheStreet, a venture capital specialist for The Deal LLC, and a high school personal finance teacher. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Loyola University Maryland and completed a fellowship at the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

TMFLouWhiteman

@louwhiteman

Lou Whiteman has positions in Amcor Plc. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amcor Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

6 Best Plastics Stocks in May 2026

Key Points

Top plastics stocks to invest in for 2026

1. ExxonMobil

Key Data Points

2. Dow

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

5. AptarGroup

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Tips for investing in plastic stocks

Are plastic stocks right for you?

Related investing topics

Best Metal Stocks of 2026: Your Guide to Investing in Metal

Best Materials Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Cyclical Stocks to Buy in 2026: Everything Investors Need to Know

9 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for May 2026

FAQ

Plastics stocks FAQ

What is the largest market for plastics today?

What is the largest market for plastics today?

Who is the largest plastic manufacturer in the U.S.?

Who is the largest plastic manufacturer in the U.S.?

Which plastic company share is best?

Which plastic company share is best?

How profitable is the plastic industry?

How profitable is the plastic industry?

Are plastic stocks a good long-term investment?

Are plastic stocks a good long-term investment?

Can investing in plastic stocks help hedge against inflation?

Can investing in plastic stocks help hedge against inflation?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Tips for investing in plastic stocks

Are plastic stocks right for you?

Best Metal Stocks of 2026: Your Guide to Investing in Metal

Best Materials Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Cyclical Stocks to Buy in 2026: Everything Investors Need to Know

9 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for May 2026

Plastics stocks FAQ

What is the largest market for plastics today?

What is the largest market for plastics today?

Who is the largest plastic manufacturer in the U.S.?

Who is the largest plastic manufacturer in the U.S.?

Which plastic company share is best?

Which plastic company share is best?

How profitable is the plastic industry?

How profitable is the plastic industry?

Are plastic stocks a good long-term investment?

Are plastic stocks a good long-term investment?

Can investing in plastic stocks help hedge against inflation?

Can investing in plastic stocks help hedge against inflation?

6. Trinseo

4. Amcor

Key Data Points

3. LyondellBasell Industries

How to invest in plastics stocks

Benefits of investing in plastics stocks