James Cropper Valuation Multiples

Founded in 1902, Air Liquide is one of the leading industrial gas companies in the world, serving over 3.8 million customers in 78 countries. The company generated approximately EUR 27.9 billion of revenue in 2025, serving a wide range of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, food and beverage, and electronics. Air Liquide employs approximately 65,000 people.

Merck KGaA operates in three main segments: life science, electronics, and healthcare. The life science segment provides laboratory consumables and instruments to researchers in academia and applied fields, including the biopharmaceutical industry. The electronics segment offers specialty materials to manufacture a variety of products, such as semiconductors and flat-screen televisions. In the healthcare segment, Merck develops, manufactures, and sells branded pharmaceuticals with significant therapeutic concentrations in oncology, multiple sclerosis, and fertility. In 1995, the E. Merck family publicly sold part of the company, resulting in the current 30% public ownership of the firm.

Disco Corp is a Japan-based company engaged in the manufacture and sale of precision processing equipment and related tools. The company operates as a single business segment focused on precision cutting, grinding, and polishing technologies used in semiconductor manufacturing and electronic component production. It provides equipment, consumables, and services that support high-precision wafer processing for the semiconductor and electronics industries.

Qnity is a specialty chemicals company created in 2025 after being spun off from DuPont. It sells chemicals and materials to the semiconductor industry, which generates the majority of sales, and also the electronics industry. Qnity specializes in materials science, including supplying key materials required to manufacture semiconductors and interconnected devices.

Smurfit WestRock manufactures corrugated packaging and consumer packaging, such as folding cartons and paperboard. After the merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock in summer 2024, Smurfit WestRock became the largest producer of containerboard in the world, with substantial operations in North America, South America, and Europe.

Coca-Cola Femsa, a subsidiary of Femsa, is the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola in volume terms. The company purchases beverage concentrates and syrup from Coca-Cola, which it then processes and packages for distribution through modern trade, traditional trade, and the on-premises channel. Mexico and Brazil make up 80% of the total volume and sales, with the rest from other Central and South American countries, including Panama, Guatemala, Uruguay, and Argentina. Femsa and Coca-Cola hold 47% and 28% economic interests in Coca-Cola Femsa through nonpublicly traded A and D shares, respectively, while controlling 56% and 33% of the voting power.

Packaging Corp. of America is the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States. It produces over 5 million tons of containerboard annually. The company's share of the domestic containerboard market is roughly 10%. PCA differentiates itself from larger competitors by focusing on smaller customers and operating with a high degree of flexibility.

Grace Fabric Technology Co Ltd is mainly engaged in the research and development, production and sales of electronic grade glass fiber cloth. The company's main products are high-end electronic grade glass fiber cloth products, mainly including ultra-thin, ultra-thin, thin electronic grade fiberglass cloth.

JX Advanced Metals Corp is engaged in business activities, with its main products being sputtering targets for semiconductors and rolled copper foil. In addition, the group is also involved in copper and rare metal resource development, smelting and recycling businesses, and is involved in a wide range of businesses from upstream to downstream. The Group consists of three reportable segments: Semiconductor Materials, Information and Communication Materials, and Basic Materials.

Amcor is a global producer of plastic packaging primarily for the fast-moving consumer goods industry. About 90% of earnings are exposed to the flexible packaging business. This is soft disposable plastic for a variety of food, drink, healthcare, and hygiene products. The remainder of earnings are from the Latin and North American rigids business, which is primarily beverage bottling for the soft drink industry. Operating in more than 35 countries, Amcor has market share in its established regions of North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. About half of group sales are derived from North America and the remainder is split equally between Western Europe and emerging markets. Australia and New Zealand sales make up less than 5% of group sales.

International Paper manufactures packaging products and cellulose fibers. It accounts for roughly one-third of the North American corrugated packaging market. The company also has a substantial presence in Europe following its acquisition of DS Smith. International Paper serves a variety of end markets, including industrial, consumer products, and manufacturing.

Pidilite Industries Ltd manufactures and sells paints, adhesives, and sealants in two segments based on the customer: The Branded Consumer & Bazaar segment, which generates the majority of revenue, sells adhesives and sealants, construction and paint chemicals, art and craft materials, and others. These products are widely used by carpenters, painters, plumbers, mechanics, households, students, offices, etc. The Business to Business segment sells industrial products such as industrial adhesives, resins, and organic pigments and preparations, etc., and caters to various industries like packaging, joineries, textiles, paints, printing inks, paper, leather, etc. Pidilite Industries sells its products through dealers and distribution networks. The vast majority of its revenue comes from India.

UPM-Kymmene Oyj is a Finnish paper and biomaterials company. The company produces products related to the forestry industry including paper, pulp, and plywood. UPM is also a major electricity generator in Finland and is one of the global producers of self-adhesive labeling materials. It delivers responsible solutions and innovation for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers, and UPM Plywood. Geographically, the company has operational footprints in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and other regions.

Ball is the world's largest metal can manufacturer with market share over 30% in its three main regions (North America, Europe, and South America). The company is focused on increasing capacity amid a wave of new developed-market demand, while also investing in faster-growing emerging-market economies. Ball spun-off its glass jar business in 1993 and is now owned by Newell. The company reports three segments-beverage packaging, North and Central America (48% of 2025 revenue), beverage packaging, EMEA (30%), beverage packaging, South America (16%)-and it generated $13 billion in revenue in 2025.

Weyerhaeuser Co ranks among the world's key forest product companies. Following the 2016 sale of its pulp business to International Paper, Weyerhaeuser operates three business segments: timberlands, wood products, and real estate. Weyerhaeuser is structured as a real estate investment trust and is not required to pay federal income taxes on earnings generated by timber harvest activities. Earnings from its wood products segment are subject to federal income tax. Weyerhaeuser acquired fellow timber REIT Plum Creek in 2016.

Guangdong HEC Technology Holding Co Ltd is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of electronic materials and alloy materials. The company's products consist of high-purity aluminum, electrode foil, hydrophilic foil and coatings for hydrophilic foil, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, soft magnetic materials, and electrochemical products.

Avery Dennison Corp provides materials science and digital identification solutions, offering labeling and functional materials, RFID inlays and tags, software connecting physical and digital, and products that enhance packaging and customer experience. Serving industries including retail, apparel, e-commerce, logistics, food, pharmaceuticals, and automotive it operates through two reportable segments: Materials Group, which manufactures and sells pressure-sensitive label materials, graphics, reflective products, performance tapes, and other adhesive solutions, and earns the majority of revenue; and Solutions Group, which provides brand and price tickets, tags, labels with RFID inlays, and related services, supplies, and equipment.

Ganfeng is the world’s third largest and China’s largest lithium compounds producer and the world’s largest lithium metals producer in terms of production capacity. The company offers five major categories of more than 40 lithium compounds and metals products, which is one of the most comprehensive product offerings among the suppliers globally. Starting as a midstream manufacturer of lithium compounds and lithium metals, Ganfeng has successfully expanded into a vertically integrated business model with operations along the critical stages of the industry value chain, including upstream lithium extraction, midstream lithium compounds and metals processing, and downstream lithium battery production and recycling.

Crown Holdings is one of the world's largest producers of metal packaging. The company manufactures beverage cans, metal food cans, and closures as well as aerosol cans. With the purchase of Signode, the company also has a presence in a wide variety of protective transport packaging. Although it's headquartered in the United States, the vast majority of Crown's sales come from its operations in Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Posco Future M is in the business of coal chemistry and carbon materials. Its key business includes refractory manufacture and sale, furnace construction and maintenance, lime business, environmental business, comprehensive chemicals, carbon materials, and secondary battery anode materials, among others. The group operates in two segments: Basic Materials Division, which includes Refractory Business, Lime Mars Business, and Energy Materials Division, which includes the manufacture and sale of cathode and cathode materials. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Energy Materials Division.

Suzano SA produces and sells pulp and a variety of paper products. The company organizes itself into two segments based on product type: Pulp and Paper. The Pulp segment generates the majority of revenue. The firm's product portfolio includes printing and writing paper, paperboard, diapers, and sanitary napkins. The company owns forest land and plants in Brazil, where it harvests timber and turns the timber into pulp and paper in its plants.

CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells packaging and packaging-related products. The company operates through various segments, which include The CCL segment, which generates the majority of revenue, and sells pressure-sensitive and extruded film materials used for labels on consumer packaging, healthcare, automotive, and consumer durable products. The Avery segment sells software, labels, tags, dividers, badges, and specialty card products under the Avery brand. The Checkpoint segment includes the manufacturing and selling of technology-driven, inventory management and labeling solutions. Innovia segment manufactures specialty films. Its geographical segments include Canada; USA and Puerto Rico; Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina; Europe; and Asia, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand.

CETC Lantian Technology Co Ltd is mainly engaged in the research and development, production, sales, and services of electrical energy materials, products, and systems. Its business areas include physical power supplies, chemical power supplies, power supply systems, and other upstream and downstream products in the power supply chain.

Trelleborg AB manufactures products to seal, damp, and protect critical applications for a multitude of industries. It focuses on improving functionality, productivity, and minimizing energy waste for customers in transportation equipment, aerospace, and other industrial markets. The company has several different business areas: coated systems, industrial solutions, offshore and construction, sealing, and wheel. Products and components are molded to limit vibrations, provide automotive support, fit and protect tires, produce printing solutions, or offer support for other applications. Western Europe is an important region for the company and accounts for approximately half of total revenue.segments.

Tianqi Lithium is a leading new energy materials company headquartered in Sichuan, China. The company is the largest producer of mined lithium globally in terms of output and is ranked third in terms of revenue generated from lithium, according to Wood Mackenzie. It is also the world’s fourth largest and Asia’s second largest lithium compound producer, as measured by production output, according to the same source. Tianqi is the only lithium producer in China that has achieved 100% self-sufficiency and has fully vertically integrated lithium mines. It operates in critical stages of the lithium value chain, including: 1) mining of lithium ore and manufacturing of lithium concentrate; and 2) manufacturing of lithium compounds and derivatives.

Owens-Corning Inc is a building products company that offers roofing products and systems, insulation products (hermal and acoustical batts, loose fill insulation, spray foam insulation, wet use chopped strand, etc.), and doors and door systems. The company's reportable segments are: Roofing, Insulation, and Doors. Maximum revenue is generated from the Roofing segment, which manufactures and sells residential roofing shingles, oxidized asphalt materials, roofing components, and composite lumber mainly used in residential construction. This segment also manufactures and sells glass mat and specialty veil materials used in building and construction applications. Geographically, the company generates maximum revenue from the United States, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other markets.

Stora Enso Oyj is a renewable materials company. It provides renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and private forest owners. Its operating segments are Packaging Materials, Packaging Solutions, Biomaterials, Wood Products, Forest, and others. The Packaging Solutions division develops and sells premium fiber-based packaging products and services. Its high-end eco-friendly packaging products are used by brands across multiple market sectors, including the retail, e-commerce, and industrial sectors. Key revenue is generated from the Packaging Solutions segment.

Solstice Advanced Materials is a diversified specialty chemicals company created in late 2025 after being spun off from Honeywell. It sells chemicals and materials to a wide range of end markets. Its largest product category is refrigerants used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and autos, where Solstice sells low global warming potential refrigerants. The company also sells materials used for building and construction, semiconductor production, healthcare packaging, and defense. Additionally, Solstice runs the only US uranium conversion business currently in operation.

Svenska Cellulosa AB is Europe's private forest owner, engaged in different business segments such as the Forest segment, which generates key revenue, and supplies its industries with timber. The Wood segment includes five sawmills in northern Sweden and wood processing and distribution to the building materials trade in Sweden and France, The Pulp segment encompasses the production and sale of bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) and chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP), which are produced at the Ostrand pulp mill, The Containerboard segment includes packaging paper with kraft liner manufacturing at the Obbola and Munksund paper mills, and The Renewable Energy segment which encompasses production and sales of processed and unprocessed biofuels as well as liquid biofuels.

Kuang-Chi Technologies Co Ltd is engaged in the research and development, production, and sales of new-generation metamaterial cutting-edge equipment products in China. The company has two segments, which include the Metamaterials business segment and the Metamaterials research and development business segment. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Metamaterials business segment.

Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd operates in various business areas using its printing and information technologies. The company operates in the following segments: Life & Healthcare, Electronics, and Smart Communication. Its key revenue is derived from the Smart Communication segment, which includes the imaging communication business, focusing on photo printing, the Information Security business, providing business process outsourcing (BPO) and smart card services, and content & XR communication. The Life & Healthcare segment includes its mobility and industrial high-performance materials business, bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical packaging, and the packaging, living spaces, and beverages businesses. Electronics focuses on functional films, display components, and others.

Simpson Manufacturing Co Inc is a manufacturer of wood construction products. The company offers connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners, prefabricated lateral systems, concrete construction products, adhesives, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder-actuated tools, and fiber-reinforced materials. Simpson Manufacturing markets its products to the residential, light industrial, and commercial construction markets as well as the remodeling and do-it-yourself markets. The Company is organized into three reporting segments defined by the regions namely North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company generates the majority of its revenue from wood products.

Chongqing Genori Technology Co Ltd is engaged in the research, development, production and sales of core components for semiconductor equipment, as well as the provision of surface treatment services. The company's main products include equipment components made of silicon, quartz, silicon carbide, and alumina ceramics, as well as surface treatment services such as plasma regeneration, anodizing, and precision cleaning. These components and surface treatment services are used in semiconductor equipment for processes such as plasma etching and thin film deposition in the integrated circuit industry, and in panel manufacturing equipment for processes such as plasma etching, thin film deposition, and evaporation in the display panel industry.

SIG Group AG is a systems and solutions provider for aseptic carton packaging solutions, comprising filling machines, sleeves, and closures as well as after-market services. Its geographical segments include Europe; India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA); Asia Pacific (APAC) and Americas. It generates maximum revenue from the Europe segment. The company offers packaging solutions for the beverages and food industry.

Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co Ltd is a Japan-based company that manufactures functional materials and processing equipment. The processing equipment sold by the firm is mainly used in the manufacturing of semiconductors and liquid crystal display products. The materials used in the manufacturing of these products are also sold by the company, particularly for the photolithography process. The firm also sells inorganic and organic chemicals.

Valmet Oyj is a Finland-based company that supplies technologies, automation solutions, and other services to customers in the pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and energy industries. The company operates in two segments; Biomaterial Solutions and Services, covering pulp, energy, circularity, packaging, paper, and tissue; and Process Performance Solutions, focusing on flow control and automation technologies. The company generates maximum revenue from the Biomaterial Solutions and Services segment.

USA Rare Earth Inc is a vertically integrated, domestic rare earth magnet supply chain that supports the state of energy, mobility, and national security in the United States. USARE is developing an NdFeB magnet manufacturing plant in the United States, and establishing domestic rare earth and critical minerals supply, extraction, and processing capabilities to both supply its manufacturing plant and market surplus materials to third parties. Rare earth magnets are critical to various business sectors and industries, including the defense, automotive, aviation, industrial, medical and consumer electronics industries.

Rayonier Inc is a timberland real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, management, and investment of timberlands. The company operates through Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber, and Real Estate segments. The Southern Timber and Pacific Northwest Timber segments are involved in harvesting timber and related activities, as well as value-added services such as licensing properties for hunting, leasing land for mineral extraction and communication infrastructure, land-based solutions including carbon capture and solar energy, and log trading. The Real Estate segment is engaged in land sales across various categories, as well as residential and commercial leasing activities. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Southern Timber segment.

Shandong Sunpaper Co Ltd is a China-based paper-making company. It manufactures and distributes paper products. The company operates through five segments. The Thermoelectric segment focuses on generating and supplying electricity as well as steam. The Pulp segment covers the manufacturing and marketing of chemical mechanical pulp and dissolving pulp. The Paper-Making segment is responsible for producing and distributing various paper products. The Chemical segment manufactures and sells papermaking-related chemical products. The Trade segment offers commercial trading services. The company's main products include cultural paper, packaging paper, FMCG paper products, specialty grades, food-grade paper, various pulp products, and other related items.

West Fraser Timber is a softwood lumber company that also produces wood panels and pulp products. The company produces its wood products globally, with lumber mills in British Columbia, Alberta, Europe, and the Southeastern United States. Following its acquisition of Norbord in 2021, West Fraser is one of the largest oriented strand board producers in the world.

Chengdu Ultra Pure Applied Materials Co Ltd is engaged in the research, development, production and sales of special coated parts for semiconductor equipment, precision optical devices and special materials.

Materion Corp offers products that include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium and copper-based alloys, beryllium composites, ceramics, and engineered clad and plated metal systems. Its segments are: Performance Materials provides beryllium and non-beryllium containing alloy systems and custom engineered parts. Electronic Materials produces chemicals, microelectronics packaging, and specialty metal products, including vapor deposition targets and preforms. Precision Optics produces thin film coatings and optical filter materials. The Other reportable segment includes unallocated corporate costs and assets. It operates in the United States, Asia, Europe, and other countries.

Poco Holdings Co Ltd is engaged in production and sales of alloy powder. The company manufactures magnetic materials, inductors, chip inductors, coils, magnetic electronic components and related equipment; stainless steel powder, steel alloy powder, iron powder, copper powder, aluminum powder, special metal alloy powder.

E Ink Holdings Inc researches, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic paper display panels. The Company sells e-paper products such as Internet of Things applications and consumer electronics.

Holmen AB produces and sells timber, wood products, a variety of paper products, and electricity generated through renewable energy sources. The company organizes itself into four segments based on product type: Forest, Board and Paper, Wood Products, and Renewable Energy. The company's product portfolio includes logs, biofuel, paperboard for consumer packaging, paper for books, construction timber, and renewable energy from hydro and wind power. The company's customer segment is composed of printing firms, sawmills, pulp mills, paper mills, the construction industry, and the packaging industry, among others. The vast majority of revenue comes from the company's paper and paperboard segments combined, and it earns the majority of its revenue in Europe.

Mitsui Chemicals Inc manufactures and sells a variety of chemicals, plastics, and chemical-based products. The firm organizes itself into four segments. The Basic & Green Materials segment provides ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, catalysts, phenols, PTA, PET resins, polyurethane, and industrial chemicals. The ICT Solutions segment supplies semiconductors, electronic components, process and optical materials, and battery-related materials. The Life & Healthcare Solutions segment covers vision care, nonwovens, oral and personal care materials, and agricultural chemicals. The Mobility Solutions segment offers elastomers, functional compounds, polypropylene compounds, and automotive-related products, while Others include related businesses.

Over its 100-year-plus history, Sonoco Products has steadily assembled a diverse portfolio of industrial and consumer packaging product offerings such as flexible and rigid plastics, reels and spools, pallets, and composite cans. The company serves a variety of consumer and industrial end markets throughout North America. Sonoco has raised its dividend each year for more than 40 years.

Mondi PLC makes and sells packaging and paper products. The company's operating segments include Corrugated Packaging; Flexible Packaging and Uncoated Fine Paper. It generates maximum revenue from the Flexible Packaging segment. Flexible Packaging segment includes Kraft paper; Paper bags; Consumer flexibles; Functional paper and films and Pulp. The majority of revenue comes from Europe.