S H Kelkar & Co Valuation Multiples

AbbVie is a pharmaceutical firm with a strong exposure to immunology (with Humira, Skyrizi, and Rinvoq) and oncology (with Imbruvica and Venclexta). The company was spun off from Abbott in early 2013. The 2020 acquisition of Allergan added several new products and drugs in aesthetics, including Botox. The 2024 acquisitions of Cerevel (neuroscience) and ImmunoGen (oncology) help supplement AbbVie's portfolio.

Since its founding in 1837, Procter & Gamble has become one of the world's largest consumer product manufacturers, with annual sales of nearly $85 billion. It operates with a lineup of leading brands, including more than 20 that generate annual global sales of more than $1 billion each, such as Tide laundry detergent, Charmin toilet paper, Pantene shampoo, and Pampers diapers. Sales outside its home turf represent just more than half of the firm's consolidated total.

L’Oréal is the largest beauty product maker in the world, with consumer products (37% of sales) and luxury beauty (35%) the major segments, followed by derma skin care (16%) and professional products (12%). The firm also has a diversified geographic footprint, generating 34% of sales in Europe, 27% from North America, 23% in North Asia, and the rest from various emerging markets across South Asia, Latin America, and Africa. L’Oréal owns a mix of premium and mass beauty brands sold through a wide range of channels such as mass retail, drugstores, department stores, travel retail, e-commerce, hair salons, and medi-spas. Leading brands include Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Maybelline, Kiehl’s, L’Oréal Paris, Kerastase, CeraVe, Garnier, and Armani.

Linde is the largest industrial gas supplier in the world, with operations in over 100 countries. The firm's main products are atmospheric gases (including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) and process gases (including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium), as well as equipment used in industrial gas production. Linde serves a wide variety of end markets, including chemicals, manufacturing, healthcare, and steelmaking. Linde generated approximately $34 billion in revenue in 2025.

With roughly one-third of the global branded diabetes treatment market, Novo Nordisk is the world's leading provider of diabetes care products. Based in Denmark, the company manufactures and markets a variety of human and modern insulins for patients with diabetes, as well as injectable and oral GLP-1 therapies, across its obesity and diabetes care segment. Novo also has a rare disease segment (contributing less than 10% of revenue) that specializes in protein therapies for hemophilia and other disorders.

Unilever is a diversified beauty, wellbeing, and personal care (44% of 2024 sales by value), homecare (20%), and packaged food (36%) company. Its brands include Dove personal-care products, Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Axe and Rexona deodorants, and TRESemme haircare. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years; notable purchases include Paula's Choice, Liquid I.V., Horlicks, and Wild deodorants. The company derives 58% of its sales from emerging markets and 42% from developed markets. The US is its largest market, accounting for around 20% of sales, followed by India, which accounts for 11% of sales.

Sherwin-Williams is the largest provider of architectural paint in the United States. The company has over 4,800 stores and sells premium paint at higher price points than most competitors. Sherwin-Williams also sells paint-related products in big-box stores and provides coatings for original equipment manufacturers.

Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, data center, hospitality, healthcare, and life sciences markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. Additionally, Ecolab sells customized water management and cooling solutions across its end markets. The company has a strong hold on the US market and is growing its presence abroad.

Nan Ya Plastics Corp manufactures and sells a variety of polyester and electronic products. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of plastic products, polyester fibers, petrochemical products, and electronic materials. Geographically, the company generates a majority of its revenue from Taiwan and the rest from China and other markets.

EssilorLuxottica is a combination of the leading manufacturer of premium frames and sunglasses and the leading manufacturer of optical lenses. Both companies are significantly larger than the next biggest competitor and command over 15% of the fragmented global eyewear market. The company has a broad geographical presence, with around 37% of sales in Europe, 45% in North America, and the rest in Asia and Latin America.

Since its founding in 1806, Colgate-Palmolive has grown into a leading player in the household and personal care industry. In addition to its namesake oral care line (which accounts for more than 40% of its total sales), the firm manufactures shampoos, shower gels, deodorants, and home care products sold in over 200 countries. International sales account for about 70% of its total business, including approximately 45% from emerging regions. It also owns specialty pet food maker Hill's (around one-fifth of sales), which sells a majority of its products through veterinarians and specialty pet retailers.

Shin Etsu Chemical is an industrial conglomerate that was founded in 1926. Some of its largest product groups are silicon metal, polymer, silicone, rare-earth, and cellulose products. It holds top rankings in several markets, notably as the largest PVC and silicon wafer producer globally. Shin-Etsu is most exposed to the construction, semiconductors, and pharmaceutical sectors. Shin Etsu employed 27,274 people as of March 31 and has production bases in 17 countries.

Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the world's largest supplier of hydrogen and helium. It has a unique portfolio serving customers across industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated roughly $12 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025.

BASF is one of the world’s leading chemical companies. It's headquartered in Germany near the Rhine River, which helps with logistics-related savings. Founded in 1865, it produces a vast array of chemicals, plastics, resins, and agricultural solutions. While the company serves multiple industries, it most prominently serves the automotive, agricultural, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. BASF is a first mover in the energy transition and aims to rapidly expand its recycled and bio-based product portfolio.

Galderma was formed in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L’Oreal. It subsequently became a subsidiary of Nestle, called Nestle Skin Health, before being carved out and launched as a stand-alone company in 2019, acquired by a consortium led by Sweden-based EQT fund. The company went public in March 2024 and is listed on the SIX Swiss exchange. Galderma’s science-based portfolio spans multiple dermatology categories, including injectable aesthetics, dermatological skincare, and therapeutic dermatology. It derives around 40% of net sales from the US and employs around 7,00 people.

Bayer AG is a German life-sciences group founded in 1863 and headquartered in Leverkusen. It is publicly listed and operates pharmaceuticals, consumer-health and crop-science businesses. Its healthcare operations develop, manufacture and commercialise prescription medicines and consumer products globally. Bayer announced an agreement in December 2024 to acquire HiDoc Technologies and its Cara Care digital application for irritable bowel syndrome. The transaction supported Bayer Consumer Health’s precision-health strategy and expanded its digital care offering. Cara Care was expected to remain available through Germany’s reimbursed digital-health system following completion. Bayer earns revenue principally from product sales and related healthcare businesses.

Reckitt Benckiser was formed in 1999 through the merger of the British firm Reckitt & Colman and Dutch-based Benckiser. Recently rebranded under the corporate name Reckitt, it sells a portfolio that includes a variety of household and consumer health brands, such as Lysol, Finish, Durex, and Mucinex, many of which hold a number-one or number-two position in their categories globally. Reckitt has repositioned its portfolio and has entered the infant formula market through the acquisition of Mead Johnson in 2017, expanded its consumer health presence by acquiring Schiff Nutrition, K-Y, and Biofreeze, and has exited the food industry. The firm operates in 60 countries and sells products in more than 200, generating over 40% of core sales from emerging markets.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd is an Indian consumer goods company. The firm offers different brands from distinct categories, from cosmetics and hygienic items, including detergents, soaps, shampoos, skincare, toothpaste, and deodorants, to food and beverages (tea, coffee, packaged foods). Its product portfolio contains household brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Pepsodent, Closeup, Pureit, Axe, Brooke Bond, Bru, Knorr, Kissan, Pond's, Vaseline, Lakme, Dove, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Kwality Wall's, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, and Fair and Lovely. The company's segments include Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Foods, and others. Geographically, it generates a majority of its revenue from India.

Spun off from Roche in 2000, Givaudan is one of the world's leading flavor and fragrance manufacturers, with a presence in more than 80 countries. It sources more than 11,000 different ingredients from over 100 countries. The company serves end consumer markets with fragrances for personal, home, and laundry care brands, including prestige perfumes. In flavors, customers are in beverages, savory, snacks, sweet goods, and dairy. Givaudan has nearly 10,000 employees, and its perfumery team is the largest in the industry.

Haleon is one of the largest consumer health companies in the world. Formed by a combination of consumer health divisions of GSK, Pfizer, and Novartis, Haleon separated from GSK and went public in July 2022. The firm generates 60% of sales from global power brands including Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum, and Poligrip, that play in many geographies and are often leaders in their respective categories. It also has a number of local brands, including Emergen-C, Eno, Tums, and Caltrate, that are more tailored to regional needs and have strong local brand equity. Overall, Haleon’s brands tackle a variety of silos within consumer health including oral care, digestive health, pain relief, and nutrition.

Since its founding in 1946, Estée Lauder has become a leading global manufacturer and marketer of prestige skincare (nearly half of sales), makeup (28%), fragrance (19%), and haircare products (4%). Beyond its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio of offerings includes Clinique, M.A.C., La Mer, Jo Malone London, and Tom Ford, among others. The US and China each account for about one-quarter of its consolidated sales. The firm sells its products through physical and e-commerce platforms at company-owned outlets alongside department stores, specialty retailers, and salons globally.

Kenvue is the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by sales, generating over $15 billion in annual revenue. Formerly known as Johnson & Johnson’s consumer segment, Kenvue spun off and went public in May 2023. It operates in a variety of categories within consumer health, such as cough, cold and allergy care, pain management, face and body care, and oral care, as well as women’s health. Its portfolio has some of the most well-known brands in the space, including Tylenol, Listerine, Johnson’s, Aveeno, and Neutrogena. Kenvue announced November 2025 that it signed a deal to be fully acquired by Kimberly-Clark with the deal expected to close during the second half of 2026.

SABIC is a global Saudi chemicals and materials producer manufacturing petrochemicals, polymers, fertilizers and specialty products. The organisation serves customers and counterparties in B2B markets through products, infrastructure, services or investment activity suited to its sector. Its operating model generates income through product sales, depending on the business line and transaction period. The company is classified here using the historical entity that existed when the investment occurred, rather than a later owner or successor brand. This description is intended to distinguish the transaction target from similarly named entities and to give enough business context for a standalone database record. SABIC serves B2B customers through activities spanning Chemicals. Its commercial model generates revenue through Product sales, supported by sector expertise, operating execution and customer relationships.

Established in 1910, Sika produces specialty chemicals primarily used by the construction sector (85% of sales). Its products are mainly used for bonding, sealing, reinforcing, and protecting in the construction and automotive industries. Approximately 70% of its products have a positive impact on sustainability for customers. Sika has a global manufacturing footprint of more than 400 factories spread across over 100 countries.

Two distinct customer groups constitute Henkel. The consumer segment (around 47% of consolidated 2025 sales) is laundry and home-care, including the Persil and Purex laundry detergent brands; haircare, including the Schwarzkopf brand; and other brands, including Dial hand soap. The adhesive technologies segment makes up the remaining 53% of sales. Sales in Europe accounted for 38% of the firm's consolidated total in 2025, while Asia-Pacific and North America accounted for 17% and 26%, respectively.

Novonesis was formed in 2024 through the merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen. Following the merger, the company became the world leader in industrial enzymes and microbial solutions, with a nearly 50% market share in both. The firm supplies a wide range of industry groups: household care, food and beverages, bioenergy, agriculture and feed, technical and pharmaceuticals. Its biological solutions create value for its customers by improving yield efficiency and performance, while saving energy and generating less waste. The company is headquartered in Denmark, employs more than 11,000 people, and works across more than 30 research and development and application centers and 23 manufacturing sites.

Wanhua Chemical Group Co Ltd is engaged in the development, production, and sales of polyurethane and additives, isocyanate and derivative products; the sales of liquefied petroleum gas, propylene, acrylic acid, and other petrochemical products.

DSM-Firmenich is a global science-based company formed in 2023 through the merger of DSM, a Dutch nutrition, health, and sustainable living player, and Switzerland-based Firmenich, the third-largest player in the flavor and fragrance market. The company serves a wide range of end-consumer markets providing nutrition solutions ranging from medical and early-life nutrition, fragrances for personal-, home-, and laundry-care brands, prestige perfumes, and other ingredients for food and beverage, home, and personal care. DSM-Firmenich has nearly 30,000 employees, with more than 2,000 scientists and engineers spread across 15 research and development facilities.

OMV AG is an international, integrated oil and gas company that operates in the Energy, Fuels and Feedstock, Chemicals segments and Corporate and others. The company has exploration and production assets in a multitude of countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Energy segment engages in the business of oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Fuels and Feedstock segment which generates key revenue, refines and markets crude oil and other feedstock. The Chemicals segment provides circular polyolefin solutions and base chemicals, fertilizers, and plastics recycling. Geographically, the company generates a majority of its revenue from Austria and the rest from its operations in Germany, Romania, Norway, France, the Netherlands, and Other Countries.

Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the US with about 1,500 freestanding stores. The firm offers cosmetics (39% of 2024 sales), fragrances (13%), skin care (23%), and hair care products (19%). It also has salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow, that account for about 4% of its revenue and drive traffic. Outside of the US, Ulta acquired premium beauty retailer Space NK and its 83 stores in the UK and Ireland in 2025, is opening franchised stores in Mexico, and has formed a joint venture to expand into the Middle East. In addition, Ulta collects royalties through its Target partnership (set to end in 2026) and credit card revenue. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Ems-Chemie Holding AG is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells a variety of chemical-based products. The firm organizes itself into two segments based on product type: High-Performance Polymers and Specialty Chemicals. The High-Performance Polymers segment, which generates the majority of revenue, sells plastic products to the automotive, electrical, and electronics industries. The Specialty Chemicals segment sells fibres, bonding agents for tires, and fusible bonding yarns for textiles and powder coating products. Geographically, the majority of its revenue comes from Europe and the rest from Asia, the Americas, and other regions.

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.

Church & Dwight is the leading global producer of baking soda. Its portfolio extends beyond its legacy category to include laundry products, cat litter, oral care, deodorant, and nasal care, all sold under the Arm & Hammer brand. Its brands also include Batiste, OxiClean, Hero, and TheraBreath, which, together with Arm & Hammer, account for around 70% of its annual sales and profits. The firm also added Touchland and its hand sanitizer business to its fold in fiscal 2025. Even as it expands its product reach, Church & Dwight still derives around 80% of its sales from its home US market.

PPG is a global producer of coatings. The company is the world's largest producer of coatings after the purchase of selected Akzo Nobel assets. PPG's products are sold to a wide variety of end users, including the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. The company has a footprint in many regions around the globe, with less than half of sales coming from North America in recent years. PPG is focused on its coatings and specialty products and expansion into emerging regions, as exemplified by the Comex acquisition.

Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co Ltd is engaged in the production and sales of modern coal chemical products. The company operates through four segments. The Coking Products segment covers coal mining, washing, and coking activities. The Fine Chemical Products segment focuses on coal tar, crude benzene, and C4 deep-processed products. The Olefin Products segment is involved in the production of methanol and olefins. The Headquarters and Other Product segment manages investment, financing, and support services, alongside the activities of its commercial service companies. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Olefin Products segment.

International Flavors & Fragrances is the largest specialty ingredients producer globally. It sells ingredients for the food, beverage, health, household goods, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. The company makes proprietary formulations and partners with customers to deliver custom solutions. Through its taste and scent segments, which each generate around 25% of profits, IFF is a leading flavor and fragrance producer. The health and biosciences business, which generates 30% of profits, is a global leader in probiotics and enzymes. The remaining profits come from the food ingredients business, which sells texturants, plant-based proteins, and other ingredients, though IFF plans to divest it in a deal expected to close in 2027.

Dow Chemical is a diversified global chemicals producer, formed in 2019 as a result of the DowDuPont merger and subsequent separations. The firm is a leading producer of several chemicals, including polyethylene, ethylene oxide, and silicone rubber. Its products have numerous applications in both consumer and industrial end markets.

Kao is the largest household and personal care product manufacturer in Japan, with a footprint across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Japan remains its largest market, contributing about 50% of sales and operating profits with several leading brands, including Attack and Bioré. Initially a soap producer established in the 1890s, Kao has expanded into cosmetics, disposable hygiene products, and chemicals, in addition to its homecare and toiletry products. Asia, the largest overseas market, contributes around 15% of group sales. Kao has also acquired several Western skin- and haircare brands, including Jergens, John Frieda, Curél, Molton Brown, and the latest, Oribe.

LyondellBasell was formed through a merger between Basell (a joint venture between BASF and Shell) and Lyondell, which was a major chemical producer dating back to the 1950s. Notably, the firm filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after the merger, following a heavy debt burden taken on for the 2007 merger. It was reorganized as LyondellBasell NV and relisted in 2010. LyondellBasell has five reportable segments, after exiting refining in 2025: olefins and polyolefins Americas (O&P A), olefins and polyolefins Europe-Asia-International (O&P EAI), intermediates and derivatives (I&D), advanced polymer solutions (APS), and technology.

Beiersdorf is a Germany-based company that produces personal-care products, with a focus on manufacturing cosmetic products. The company operates through two business segments. The consumer segment provides skincare and beauty care products and operates portfolio brands such as Nivea, Eucerin, La Prairie, Labello, Hansaplast, Elastoplast, and Florena. The other business segment markets self-adhesive system and product solutions, primarily for industrial customers, under the Tesa brand. Beiersdorf is majority-owned by Maxingvest.

Essity is a health and hygiene company spun out of Svenska Cellulosa in June 2017. Essity's products span the feminine care, baby care, toilet paper, facial tissue, and wet wipes categories, as well as hand soap, hand sanitizers, and tissue dispensers for institutional customers. Essity also offers medical solutions in the form of wound care, orthopedics, and compression therapy, accounting for around 8% of net sales. Essity operates in 150 markets and generates 61% of its revenue in Europe.

Borouge PLC is a petrochemical company that provides solutions of polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene for a wide range of industries such as packaging, infrastructure, energy, mobility, agriculture, and healthcare. Geographically, the company derives maximum revenue from PRC and has a presence in India, UAE, Austria, Egypt, Pakistan, and other countries.

Makes industrial explosives, detonators and initiating systems for coal and metal mining and infrastructure customers, and supplies defence products such as rocket motors, warheads, bombs and ammunition. One of the largest explosives makers in the world by capacity, with plants in India and abroad. Headquartered in Nagpur.

Nippon Paint is a global paint company with operations in over 50 countries. About two-thirds of sales are in decorative paint, serving mostly residential and some commercial customers. It has the dominant share of the paint markets in China and some smaller Asian countries, as well as Australia. In other regions, it's often one of the three largest players. Its products are distributed via paint and home improvement retailers, some 300,000 distributors globally. Household brands include Nipsea, Nippon Paint, Dulux (in Asia, the Pacific, and Europe), British Paints, Betek Boya, and Alina, among others. About one-fourth of sales are in industrial coatings and paints. Here, customer groups include manufacturers of automotive and industrial products.

DuPont is a diversified global specialty chemicals company created in 2019 as a result of the DowDuPont merger and subsequent separations. Its portfolio includes specialty chemicals and downstream products that serve the healthcare, water, construction, automotive, aerospace, and printing and packaging industries. Healthcare and water will generate the majority of profits.

Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co Ltd operates in the dry inland Qarhan Salt Lake in Qinghai province. It is engaged in salt lake resource extraction and potash production. The company is engaged in the manufacture of chemical raw materials and chemical products. The company's main products include potassium chloride and lithium carbonate.

CF Industries is a leading producer and distributor of nitrogen, which is primarily used in fertilizers. The company operates nitrogen manufacturing plants primarily in North America. CF also produces nitrogen in the United Kingdom and holds a joint venture interest in a nitrogen production facility in Trinidad and Tobago. CF makes nitrogen primarily using low-cost US natural gas as its feedstock, making the company one of the lowest-cost nitrogen producers globally. It is also investing in carbon-free blue and green ammonia, which can be used as an alternative fuel to hydrogen or as a means to transport hydrogen.

Rongsheng Petro Chemical Co Ltd operates in the petrochemical industry. The company specializes in the production and marketing of petrochemicals and chemical fibers. Its product portfolio comprises synthetic fibers and films, synthetic raw material, synthetic resins, olefins, aromatics and phenols, and oil products.