ESI

Element Solutions

$39.84

-5.17%
Jun 5, 2026
Bobby Quantitative Model
Element Solutions Inc. is a specialty chemicals company that supplies a broad range of performance-enhancing solutions for electronics and industrial applications, operating in the Chemicals - Specialty industry. The company is a key supplier to the electronics hardware supply chain, with its core Electronics segment providing critical materials for printed circuit boards and semiconductor packaging, establishing it as a vital, niche player in the semiconductor ecosystem. The current investor narrative is driven by its exposure to the cyclical recovery in the semiconductor and electronics end-markets, with recent financial results showing strong year-over-year revenue growth, positioning the stock as a play on the broader electronics manufacturing rebound.

People also watch

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

SHW

Analysis
Ecolab

Ecolab

ECL

Analysis
Air Products & Chemicals

Air Products & Chemicals

APD

Analysis
PPG Industries

PPG Industries

PPG

Analysis
Albemarle Corporation

Albemarle Corporation

ALB

Analysis

ESI 12-Month Price Forecast

Historical Price
Current Price $39.84
Average Target $39.84
High Target $45.816
Low Target $33.864000000000004

Wall Street consensus

Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on Element Solutions's 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $51.79 and implied upside of +30.0% versus the current price.

Average Target

$51.79

3 analysts

Implied Upside

+30.0%

vs. current price

Analyst Count

3

covering this stock

Price Range

$32 - $52

Analyst target range

Buy
0 (0%)
Hold
1 (33%)
Sell
2 (67%)

Analyst coverage for ESI appears limited, with only 3 analysts providing estimates in the provided dataset, and no explicit price targets or consensus recommendation data is available. The lack of a broad analyst consensus and target prices suggests the stock may have limited institutional coverage, which is common for mid-cap companies like Element Solutions with a market cap of approximately $6.05 billion. This limited coverage can lead to higher volatility and less efficient price discovery compared to heavily followed large-cap peers. Insufficient analyst coverage data is available to present a target price range, implied upside/downside, or a clear Buy/Hold/Sell distribution. The available data shows three recent institutional ratings from UBS, Truist Securities, and Keybanc, all maintaining positive 'Buy' or 'Overweight' stances as of February 2026, indicating a bullish sentiment among the firms that do cover it. The absence of a wide target range or recent downgrades in the provided data points suggests a degree of stability in the limited analyst view, but the overall picture remains one of a stock with sparse sell-side research, which investors should factor into their due diligence process.

Drowning in data?

Find the real signal!

Bulls vs Bears: ESI Investment Factors

The evidence currently tilts slightly bearish due to valuation and momentum concerns, though the bull case is underpinned by strong sector tailwinds and financial health. The bulls point to ESI's entrenched position in the recovering electronics supply chain, robust gross margins, and strong free cash flow generation. The bears highlight the stock's extreme run-up to premium valuation multiples, severe quarterly earnings volatility, and recent technical divergence from the market. The single most important tension in the investment debate is whether the company's Q4 2025 earnings collapse to a 0.9% net margin was a one-time anomaly or a sign of underlying cyclical and operational fragility. The resolution of this earnings quality question will determine if the forward P/E of 20.5x represents a reasonable entry point for growth or a value trap.

Bullish

  • Strong Electronics Market Leverage: ESI is a key supplier to the semiconductor and electronics hardware supply chain, a high-growth market. This strategic positioning is the primary driver of the stock's 94.7% one-year return, which has massively outperformed the SPY by 67.6%.
  • Robust Gross Margin Profile: The company maintains a stable and attractive gross margin of 41.96% (TTM), indicating strong pricing power and a defensible niche in specialty chemicals. This margin stability supports profitability despite volatile quarterly net income.
  • Healthy Balance Sheet & Cash Flow: ESI has a strong liquidity position with a current ratio of 3.68 and a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. It generates substantial free cash flow ($227.6M TTM), supporting its dividend (payout ratio 40.8%) and financial flexibility for growth.
  • Expected Earnings Recovery Priced In: The forward P/E of 20.5x is significantly lower than the trailing P/E of 31.7x, reflecting analyst expectations for a sharp earnings rebound to an estimated $2.31 EPS. The valuation premium is justified by its high-growth end-market exposure.

Bearish

  • Extreme Earnings Volatility & Q4 Miss: Q4 2025 net income collapsed to just $6.1M (0.9% margin) from $98.0M in Q1 2025, driven by a $120.1M 'other expenses' charge. This extreme volatility and lumpy profitability raise significant concerns about earnings quality and predictability.
  • Premium Valuation After Massive Run-Up: The stock trades at a 31.7x trailing P/E, a premium to typical specialty chemical peers. It is also near the top of its 52-week range, having risen 94.7% in a year, suggesting much of the recovery optimism is already priced in, limiting upside.
  • High Beta & Recent Momentum Divergence: With a beta of 1.26, ESI is 26% more volatile than the market. Recent momentum shows signs of stalling, with the stock down 4.5% over the past month while the SPY gained 4.6%, indicating potential profit-taking and a loss of relative strength.
  • Limited Analyst Coverage & Visibility: Only 3 analysts cover the stock, and no explicit consensus price targets are available. This sparse coverage can lead to higher volatility, less efficient price discovery, and increased reliance on a small number of opinions.

ESI Technical Analysis

The stock is in a powerful, sustained uptrend, evidenced by a staggering 94.67% price increase over the past year. As of the latest close at $42.01, the stock is trading near the top of its 52-week range, approximately 92% of the way between its 52-week low of $20.95 and high of $45.52, indicating strong momentum but also potential overextension. The stock has significantly outperformed the broader market, with a relative strength of 67.63% versus the SPY over the same period, highlighting its strong sector-specific tailwinds. Recent momentum shows signs of consolidation after a sharp run-up, with the stock down 4.50% over the past month, diverging from the SPY's 4.6% gain and resulting in a negative 1-month relative strength of -9.10%. However, the 3-month performance remains exceptionally strong at +36.71%, significantly outpacing the SPY's 12.6% gain, suggesting the longer-term uptrend remains intact despite a recent pullback. The stock's beta of 1.26 indicates it is approximately 26% more volatile than the market, which is consistent with its cyclical, materials-based business model. Key technical support is anchored at the 52-week low of $20.95, though a more relevant near-term support level is likely around the $35 area where the stock consolidated in late February. Immediate resistance is at the 52-week high of $45.52; a decisive breakout above this level could signal a continuation of the bullish trend. Conversely, a breakdown below the recent consolidation range near $40 could indicate a deeper correction is underway. The elevated beta of 1.26 underscores the stock's higher volatility, which investors must factor into position sizing and risk management.

Beta

1.26

1.26x market volatility

Max Drawdown

-18.0%

Largest decline past year

52-Week Range

$21-$46

Price range past year

Annual Return

+87.4%

Cumulative gain past year

PeriodESI ReturnS&P 500
1m-9.9%-0.0%
3m+29.6%+8.7%
6m+51.0%+8.0%
1y+87.4%+23.1%
ytd+53.6%+8.2%

Bobby - Your AI Investment Partner

Get real-time data, AI-driven personalized investment analysis to make smarter investment decisions

ESI Fundamental Analysis

Revenue growth has been positive but volatile on a quarterly basis, with the most recent Q4 2025 revenue of $676.2 million representing an 8.33% year-over-year increase. However, sequential revenue trends show inconsistency, with Q4 2025 revenue up from Q3's $656.1 million but down from the stronger Q2 2025 figure of $625.2 million. The company's Electronics segment, which generated $487.3 million in a prior period, is the primary growth driver, though specific segment growth rates are not available in the provided data. The overall trajectory suggests a company benefiting from an industry recovery, albeit with lumpy quarterly performance typical of the cyclical specialty chemicals sector. Profitability is positive but has shown significant quarterly fluctuations. Net income for Q4 2025 was $6.1 million, a sharp decline from $98.0 million in Q1 2025 and $54.7 million in Q4 2024. The gross margin for Q4 2025 was 40.91%, which is consistent with the trailing twelve-month gross margin of 41.96% and indicates stable pricing power. The operating margin for the quarter was 10.31%, but net margin compressed to just 0.90%, impacted by a substantial $120.1 million in other expenses, highlighting potential one-time charges or non-operating items affecting bottom-line consistency. The balance sheet appears healthy with a strong current ratio of 3.68 and a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, indicating ample liquidity and a manageable debt load. The company generated $227.6 million in trailing twelve-month free cash flow, providing solid internal funding for operations and shareholder returns, as evidenced by a dividend payout ratio of 40.78%. Return on equity (ROE) stands at 7.13%, which is modest but improved from negative figures in prior years, suggesting a recovery in capital efficiency. The robust free cash flow generation supports the company's financial flexibility.

Quarterly Revenue

$676200000.0B

2025-12

Revenue YoY Growth

+0.08%

YoY Comparison

Gross Margin

+0.40%

Latest Quarter

Free Cash Flow

$227600000.0B

Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

Electronics Segment

Open an Account, get $2 TSLA now!

Valuation Analysis: Is ESI Overvalued?

Given the company's positive net income, the primary valuation metric selected is the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio. The trailing P/E ratio is elevated at 31.70x, while the forward P/E is significantly lower at 20.46x, based on estimated EPS of $2.31. This substantial gap implies the market is pricing in a strong recovery in earnings growth over the next twelve months, expecting profitability to rebound sharply from the depressed Q4 2025 level. Compared to industry averages, Element Solutions trades at a premium. Its trailing P/E of 31.70x and forward P/E of 20.46x are above typical specialty chemical peers, which often trade in the mid-to-high teens. The Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of 2.37 and EV/EBITDA of 14.28 further confirm a premium valuation. This premium is likely justified by the company's direct leverage to the high-growth semiconductor and advanced electronics markets, which command higher multiples than traditional chemical companies, and its demonstrated margin profile with a 41.96% gross margin. Historically, the stock's current trailing P/E of 31.70x is near the upper end of its own range observed over the past several quarters, which has fluctuated widely from negative figures to over 247x during periods of minimal earnings. The current P/S ratio of 2.37 is below its historical peaks above 10x seen in 2024, suggesting the sales multiple has compressed even as the earnings multiple expanded due to improved profitability. Trading near the top of its own historical earnings-based valuation band suggests the market has already priced in a significant earnings recovery, leaving less room for multiple expansion.

PE

31.7x

Latest Quarter

vs. Historical

Low-End

5-Year PE Range -37x~385x

vs. Industry Avg

N/A

Industry PE ~N/A*

EV/EBITDA

14.3x

Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

Financial & Operational Risks: ESI's primary financial risk is extreme earnings volatility, as evidenced by net income plunging from $98.0M in Q1 2025 to just $6.1M in Q4 2025, compressing the net margin to 0.9%. This was largely driven by a $120.1M 'other expenses' charge, highlighting susceptibility to significant non-operating items. While the balance sheet is strong (D/E 0.61, Current Ratio 3.68), the company's valuation of 31.7x trailing P/E is dependent on a swift earnings recovery, creating execution risk. Revenue concentration in the cyclical Electronics segment adds operational risk if end-market demand falters.

Market & Competitive Risks: The stock's premium valuation (P/E 31.7x, EV/EBITDA 14.3x) is vulnerable to compression, especially if the broader market de-rates growth-oriented or cyclical stocks. The beta of 1.26 confirms higher sensitivity to market downturns. Competitive risks stem from its niche position; while defensible via high gross margins (42%), it remains exposed to pricing pressure from larger chemical conglomerates or technological shifts in semiconductor packaging. The recent 4.5% monthly decline against a rising market suggests early signs of sector rotation or profit-taking after its 94.7% annual gain.

Worst-Case Scenario: The worst-case scenario involves a double-whammy of a semiconductor downcycle coinciding with a failure to stabilize bottom-line profitability. This could trigger multiple compression towards peer averages (mid-teens P/E) and a re-test of the 52-week low. A realistic downside scenario could see the stock fall 35-40% from the current $42.01 price to the $25-$27 range, which aligns with its trading levels from late 2025 and represents a move towards its 52-week low of $20.95. Such a decline would be catalyzed by a guidance cut, a consecutive quarter of weak earnings, or a broader market sell-off impacting high-beta names.