Earnings season accelerated this week, wrapping up a packed stretch that saw seven companies in the S&P 500’s Materials Sector (XLB) report quarterly results.
Quarter to date, XLB has climbed roughly 18%, while SPY has slipped 0.1%.
As of early 2026, heightened trade protectionism, led by U.S. tariff threats, has driven safe-haven demand while increasing demand uncertainty across other industries within the materials sector.
In this week’s earnings recap, out of the seven companies that reported, two surpassed profit estimates and five companies fell short of expectations. On the revenue side, six companies exceeded revenue estimates, while one company missed.
Below are the latest quarterly reports from five industry giants:
Shares of DuPont de Nemours (DD) rose on Tuesday after the industrial materials company reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and issued upbeat guidance for 2026.
Albemarle (ALB) fell post-market Wednesday after reporting a larger-than-expected Q4 adjusted loss and saying it will idle a major Australian lithium processing plant, as the company continues to face weak prices for the battery metal.
IFF (IFF) outlined a $10.5B–$10.8B 2026 sales forecast amid portfolio optimization and innovation focus. Full-year 2026 sales are expected to be in the range of $10.5 billion to $10.8 billion, and full-year 2026 adjusted operating EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $2.05 billion to $2.15 billion. Full-year guidance includes three months of our Soy Crush, Concentrates, and Lecithin business results, with the divestiture assumed to close on March 31, 2026.
Martin Marietta (MLM) projected a $2.49B adjusted EBITDA target for 2026 while advancing the SOAR 2030 strategy. Fourth-quarter aggregate shipments increased 2% to 48.9 million tons, reflecting strong infrastructure and non-residential construction activity, favorable weather across the company’s footprint, and contributions from acquisitions. The average selling price increased 5.3 percent to $23.11 per ton.
Ecolab (ECL) outlined 12%–15% EPS growth for 2026 as growth engines accelerate and Ovivo boosts the portfolio. This outlook includes an approximate $0.13 per share impact from non‑cash amortization related to the acquisition of Ovivo Electronics. For Q1, expect adjusted diluted EPS in the $1.67 to $1.73 range vs. $1.69 consensus, +11% to 15%.
For the next week, some notable companies that will report are CF Industries Holdings (CF), Newmont (NEM), and Vulcan Materials (VMC).