We recently compiled a list of the 10 Undervalued Chemical Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) stands against the other undervalued chemical stocks.
Key Trends Shaping the Future of the Chemical Industry
Chemicals are essential to our daily lives and play a crucial role in many sectors. The chemical industry provides the materials needed to create a wide range of products, from medicines and agricultural chemicals to plastics and cleaning supplies. This industry also supports innovations in renewable energy, such as solar panels and wind turbines. It also helps produce lightweight materials for vehicles, advanced batteries for electric cars, and durable building materials.
Increasing demand for sustainable and innovative products, advancements in technology, and urbanization, are some of the key factors driving growth of the chemicals market. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the chemicals market was valued at $5.11 trillion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% during 2024-2028 to reach a value of $7.78 trillion by the end of the forecast period.
The chemical industry is currently experiencing significant changes driven by sustainability and technological advancements. The industry plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges like climate change and resource efficiency. According to a recent sustainability report titled “Sustainability Starts with Chemistry,” released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) in May 2024, ACC member chemical companies have made significant progress in reducing emissions. Since 2017, these companies have cut sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by 43% and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 18%.
The report highlights that member companies of the ACC are exploring, developing, and deploying various innovative technologies that reduce emissions. These include methods for capturing, using, and storing carbon, as well as producing lower-emissions hydrogen and exploring alternative feedstocks. This showcases their commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.
Innovation continues to be a top priority for the chemicals industry. On January 16, 2024, McKinsey & Company published an article that discussed a survey conducted by the company of over 200 senior leaders in North America’s chemical sector, including top executives from leading companies, investment firms, and startups. The survey found that chemical process innovation is viewed as the most important focus area, with 90% of investors and 97% of industry leaders planning to invest more than $50 million in this area over the next two years. While AI-assisted discovery is not considered the top priority, it remains a significant area of interest. According to the survey results, 43% of investors and 75% of chemical industry leaders are looking to invest over $100 million in AI-driven product development.
Digitalization is another crucial factor shaping the future of the chemical industry. According to Deloitte’s 2024 chemical industry outlook, digital investments in the sector declined in 2023, partly due to a sluggish US economy and high interest rates. After a 6.6% increase in 2022, spending on information technology in the chemical industry is expected to drop by 0.1% in 2023. However, this drop is likely to be short-lived. Many chemical companies are launching AI programs aimed at accelerating research and development for sustainable products, predicting the effects of production changes, and gaining valuable insights by tracking data throughout the entire value chain.
Overall, as the chemical industry embraces sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation, it positions itself for growth. Companies that prioritize these trends can not only contribute positively to the environment but also achieve better financial performance in the long run.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 undervalued chemical stocks to invest in, we reviewed our own rankings, sifted through ETFs, and consulted various online resources. From an initial pool of over 30 chemical stocks, we focused on those trading at under or around 15 times their forward earnings as of October 24. We further narrowed down our selection by looking for chemical stocks expected to show positive earnings growth this year.
Next, we ranked the best chemical stocks based on hedge fund holdings. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 912 elite hedge funds. The 10 undervalued chemical stocks to invest in are ranked below in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them as of Q2 2024.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A close-up of a chemist in a white lab coat, mixing raw materials for specialty products.
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN)
Forward P/E: 11.95
Earnings Growth: 20.20%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) is an American company that produces a variety of advanced materials, chemicals, and fibers used in everyday products. The company serves multiple end markets, including transportation, building and construction, and consumables. In 2021, Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) began constructing one of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic advanced recycling facilities in Kingsport, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
In the second quarter of 2024, the company reported impressive financial results with sales revenue of $2.36 billion, reflecting a 2% increase driven by a 6% rise in sales volume, despite a 4% decline in selling prices. The company’s operating cash flow in Q2 2024 was robust at $367 million, allowing it to return $195 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Furthermore, Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) achieved a significant milestone by ramping up operations at its Kingsport methanolysis facility, which now processes hard-to-recycle feedstocks.
Eastman’s (NYSE:EMN) focus on specialty product offerings and effective price-cost management has led to a 300-basis-point margin improvement compared to the previous quarter. This strategic approach positions the company well for future growth as it also continues to enhance its circular economy initiatives.
EMN ranks among the top 5 on our list of the 10 undervalued chemical stocks to invest in. According to Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 hedge funds, 28 hedge funds held stakes in Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) in Q2 2024.
ClearBridge Investments stated the following regarding Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) in its “ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Strategy” second quarter 2024 investor letter:
“Helping companies meet these new rules will be ClearBridge holding Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN), which makes a range of advanced materials, chemicals and fibers for everyday purposes, among them plastics for food packaging. In a recent engagement with Eastman Chemical we discussed two different chemical recycling technologies it has developed: polyester renewal technology (‘PRT’) and carbon renewal technology (‘CRT’). PRT recycles polyester-based materials such as soda bottles, carpet fibers and even clothing, breaking down their basic molecules until they are indistinguishable from materials made from virgin or nonrecycled content. CRT operates in a similar way but can take a broader range of plastic types and replaces the use of coal as a feedstock to make fibers. Combining these two technologies gives Eastman a competitive advantage in molecular recycling, as it can take most types of waste plastics (Exhibit 1). Ironically, securing feedstock (i.e., waste plastic) has been a bottleneck to scaling molecular recycling as competitor technologies not using Eastman’s dual technologies often require the waste plastic to be separated purely according to grade, which waste and recycling companies do not readily offer. Eastman’s dual technology approach allows it to accept most plastic grades, making it less reliant on waste companies’ sorting.
Eastman’s first recycling plant is now operational in Tennessee, which will supply its internal Advanced Materials lines while also proving out the technology. The company is already working toward a second plant in Texas that will have Pepsi (PEP) as its anchor customer. In the second plant, not only will Eastman help Pepsi meet its recycled content goals, but it is also expected to receive long-term, take-or-pay volume commitments, for doing so. This should greatly improve earnings visibility, and in turn, potentially valuation…” (Click here to read the full text)
Overall EMN ranks 5th on our list of the undervalued chemical stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of EMN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EMN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.