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Croda International
(LSE:CRDA)
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Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
3,933.00 p
â–²(14.70% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:07/29/26
Overall score reflects a financially stable company with solid cash generation and manageable leverage, plus constructive trend signals with the stock trading above key moving averages. These positives are tempered by a demanding valuation (P/E ~70.9) and the need to prove a durable earnings recovery after the post-2022 profitability step-down, despite management’s reiterated guidance and improving H1 results.
Positive Factors
Differentiated specialty-chemicals model
Croda’s formulation-critical ingredients and technical support can deepen customer relationships because products are embedded in finished formulations and require qualification. This differentiated, value-added model supports repeat demand, premium positioning, and resilience versus commodity chemical competition over several quarters.
Negative Factors
Post-2022 earnings normalization
The sharp decline from 2022 profitability shows that Croda’s earnings base has not yet demonstrated consistent compounding through the cycle. Revenue volatility and lower returns can constrain reinvestment, make performance more dependent on recovery assumptions, and weaken confidence in near-term earnings durability.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Differentiated specialty-chemicals model
Croda’s formulation-critical ingredients and technical support can deepen customer relationships because products are embedded in finished formulations and require qualification. This differentiated, value-added model supports repeat demand, premium positioning, and resilience versus commodity chemical competition over several quarters.
Read all positive factors
Croda International (CRDA) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)
Market Cap
£5.02B
Dividend Yield3.06%
Average Volume (3M)449.49K
Price to Earnings (P/E)64.1
Beta (1Y)1.32
Revenue Growth3.36%
EPS Growth-43.08%
CountryUK
Employees5,954
SectorBasic Materials
Sector Strength58
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.57
Shares Outstanding139,635,440
10 Day Avg. Volume408,594
30 Day Avg. Volume449,493
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-1.00
Price to Book (P/B)1.72
Price to Sales (P/S)2.21
P/FCF Ratio21.91
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
£3,700.00Price Target Upside7.90% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering7
EPS Forecast (FY)1.58
Revenue Forecast (FY)£1.77B
Croda International Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Croda International Plc, established in 1925 and headquartered in Goole, United Kingdom, is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance specialty chemicals. The company serves a diverse international client base...
How the Company Makes Money
Croda makes money primarily by selling specialty chemical ingredients and related technologies to business customers (B2B), with revenue recognized from product shipments (and, where applicable, services tied to technical support and innovation). ...
Croda International Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Jul 28, 2026
(Q2-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 23, 2027
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a broadly positive operational and financial picture: organic growth, margin expansion, improved EPS and cash flow, strong outperformance in Consumer Care (notably Beauty Actives) and progress on transformation and AI initiatives. Headwinds remain in certain areas — Pharma Solutions phasing and lumpiness, Crop Protection weakness, regional F&F disruption, working-capital outflow and input-cost volatility — but management reiterated FY guidance and a clear path to their 3-year targets, viewing many challenges as within management control.Positive Updates
Revenue and Sales Growth
Group sales up 5% in constant currency to GBP 881m in H1; volumes +1% and price/mix +4%; organic sales guidance reiterated at 3–6% for FY2026.
Negative Updates
Pharma Solutions Underperformance and Lumpiness
Pharma Solutions (under 30% of pharma sales, c. GBP 60m) was below expectations in H1 due to phasing and lumpy project timing; management expects project revenues to improve in H2 but visibility remains more variable.
Read all updates
Q2-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Revenue and Sales Growth
Group sales up 5% in constant currency to GBP 881m in H1; volumes +1% and price/mix +4%; organic sales guidance reiterated at 3–6% for FY2026.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Management reiterated full‑year 2026 guidance: organic sales growth of 3–6% and a further increase in adjusted operating margin, with adjusted operating profit expectations unchanged, and said the group remains on track to deliver its 2028 financial framework. In H1 the business delivered sales +5% to £881m (new & protected products +7%), volumes +1%, price/mix +4%; adjusted operating profit +7% to £156m, EBITDA £208m, EPS +9% to 78p, free cash flow £38m (vs £28m), net debt £578m and leverage ~1.4x. Margins expanded 50bps to 17.7% aided by £18m of transformation savings in H1 (cumulative £46m) against a £100m transformation target; management expects operating margins to increase sequentially in H2, Pharma Solutions project revenues to recover in H2, working capital (H1 outflow £68m) to improve as a programme delivers ~£50m structural savings by 2028 (offsetting a £20–30m p.a. growth drag), and H1 capex was £43m.Croda International Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
62
Positive
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Cash Flow
70
Positive
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 1.72B | 1.70B | 1.63B | 1.69B | 2.09B | 1.89B |
| Gross Profit | 615.90M | 608.70M | 733.90M | 730.00M | 864.90M | 825.60M |
| EBITDA | 390.10M | 380.70M | 374.50M | 388.50M | 924.80M | 549.40M |
| Net Income | 79.50M | 62.00M | 158.50M | 171.00M | 649.30M | 320.80M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 3.53B | 3.41B | 3.51B | 3.58B | 3.61B | 3.29B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 205.30M | 172.80M | 166.80M | 172.50M | 320.60M | 112.80M |
| Total Debt | 783.20M | 696.60M | 699.10M | 710.10M | 615.80M | 936.00M |
| Total Liabilities | 1.34B | 1.21B | 1.21B | 1.21B | 1.18B | 1.53B |
| Stockholders Equity | 2.17B | 2.19B | 2.28B | 2.35B | 2.42B | 1.75B |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 187.80M | 171.80M | 137.60M | 156.80M | 160.90M | 190.50M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 283.40M | 289.50M | 319.40M | 337.50M | 313.30M | 349.20M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -93.00M | -109.80M | -139.10M | -409.80M | 418.10M | -218.40M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -175.90M | -152.60M | -182.60M | -52.40M | -550.90M | -111.90M |
Croda International Technical Analysis
Positive
3429.00
Price Trends
3323.49
Positive
3164.20
Positive
2975.25
Positive
Market Momentum
98.17
Negative
73.32
Negative
91.56
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:CRDA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 3429 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3406.65, above the 50-day MA of 3323.49, and above the 200-day MA of 2975.25, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 98.17 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 73.32 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 91.56 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GB:CRDA.
Croda International Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 Neutral | £5.02B | 64.09 | 3.65% | 3.06% | 3.36% | -43.08% | |
61 Neutral | $10.43B | 7.12 | -0.05% | 2.87% | 2.86% | -36.73% | |
60 Neutral | £1.03B | 18.89 | 11.29% | 1.82% | -11.73% | ― | |
59 Neutral | £3.06B | -43.40 | -4.66% | 4.33% | 7.70% | -128.58% | |
55 Neutral | £319.44M | 59.47 | 2.02% | 1.86% | 6.98% | -41.36% | |
53 Neutral | £193.45M | -1.55 | -13.27% | 9.77% | -4.98% | -43.98% |
* Basic Materials Sector Average
GB:CRDA
Croda International
3,625.00
767.30
26.85%
GB:ELM
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182.00
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GB:ESNT
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118.80
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GB:JMAT
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2,416.00
256.27
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GB:SYNT
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115.20
58.20
102.11%
Croda International Corporate Events
Other
Croda Executives Add Shares Under Incentive Plan
Neutral
Oct 13, 2026
Croda International has disclosed a series of share purchases by senior executives and executive committee members under the company’s Share Incentive Plan. Ordinary shares were acquired on 12 October on the London Stock Exchange, including ...
DividendsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda discloses executive dividend reinvestment share purchase
Positive
Oct 9, 2026
Croda International has disclosed a small share transaction involving executive committee member Sandra Elaine Breene and a closely associated person, Alan Lamplough, under regulatory rules for persons discharging managerial responsibilities. The ...
DividendsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda CFO Adds Shares Through Dividend Reinvestment
Positive
Oct 9, 2026
Croda International has disclosed a routine share transaction by its Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Richard Oxley, under regulatory requirements for persons discharging managerial responsibilities. The filing reports that Oxley acquired ordinary...
DividendsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda Executive Committee Member Adds Shares via Dividend Reinvestment
Neutral
Oct 8, 2026
Croda International has disclosed a transaction involving Executive Committee member Sandra Elaine Breene, classified as a person discharging managerial responsibilities. The filing reports her participation in a dividend reinvestment, resulting i...
DividendsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda Executives Reinvest Dividends in Company Shares
Positive
Oct 8, 2026
Croda International has disclosed that its chief financial officer Stephen Oxley and executive committee member Sandra Breene, along with executive member Thomas Brophy and his closely associated person Sarah Brophy, participated in a dividend rei...
Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda CFO Reports Vesting of Buy-Out Share Plan Award
Neutral
Sep 30, 2026
Croda International Plc has disclosed a transaction involving its Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Richard Oxley, under regulatory requirements for persons discharging managerial responsibilities. The filing relates to the vesting of an equity awa...
Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda senior executives receive shares under incentive plan
Neutral
Sep 11, 2026
Croda International has disclosed share transactions involving its executive directors and members of the executive committee under the company’s Share Incentive Plan. Ordinary shares were purchased on behalf of eight persons discharging man...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Croda Grants Sharesave Options to Executive Committee Members
Positive
Sep 9, 2026
Croda International has granted options over ordinary shares to Executive Committee members Sandra Elaine Breene and Thomas Hermann Riermeier under its 2023 Sharesave Scheme. The options, each priced at £26.37 per share, cover 118 shares for ...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda Executives Acquire Shares Under Incentive Plan
Neutral
Aug 11, 2026
Croda International has disclosed routine share transactions involving seven senior executives, including two executive directors, members of the executive committee and the company secretary. The trades relate to purchases of ordinary shares unde...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda CFO Exercises Buy-Out Share Award and Sells Shares to Cover Tax
Neutral
Aug 7, 2026
Croda International has disclosed a management share transaction involving its Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Richard Oxley, in line with regulatory requirements for persons discharging managerial responsibilities. The filing reports the exercis...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Croda Executive Committee Member Sells Shares in Regulated Market Transaction
Neutral
Jul 31, 2026
Croda International Plc disclosed a share transaction involving executive committee member and PDMR Michelle Angela Lydon, in line with U.K. regulatory requirements for insider dealings. The company reported that Lydon conducted a sale of ordinary...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Croda lifts profit and margins on innovation-led growth, keeps 2026 outlook
Positive
Jul 28, 2026
Croda International reported a solid first-half performance for 2026, with group sales rising 2.9% to £880.5m and organic growth of 4.6% driven mainly by Consumer Care, where sales increased 8%. Beauty Actives grew 19%, Beauty Care 4%, Home C...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.