Goldman Sachs Lifts Price Targets On Chemical Stocks

Goldman Sachs is making positive comments on the specialty and diversified chemical sector today, saying its compelling exposure to cyclical end markets could fuel a powerful earnings rebound in 2010-2011.

The firm updated estimates and price targets for a number of stocks in the sector.

Top stock ideas in the sector for 2010 are Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) and Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), both are Conviction Buy List rated.

Price Target Changes:
EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) (Neutral): Price target from $35 to $41
Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) (CL-Buy): Price target from $37 to $38
Praxair Inc. (NYSE: PX) (Buy): Price target from $97 to $105
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (NYSE: APD) (Buy): Price target from $97 to $107
PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG) (Neutral) Price target from $62 to $71
Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) (Neutral) Price target from $81 to $88
Eastman Chemical Co. (NYSE: EMN) (Buy) Price target from $72 to $77
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) (Neutral) Price target from $51 to $56
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Nasdaq: SIAL) (Neutral) Price target from $59 to $63
Celanese Corp. (NYSE: CE) (Neutral) Price target from $30 to $35
Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE: SHW) (Neutral) Price target from $62 to $70
Nalco Holding Co. (NYSE: NLC) (Neutral) Price target from $28 to $30
Valspar Corp. (NYSE: VAL) (Buy) Price target from $32 to $36
Cytec Industries Inc. (NYSE: CYT) (CL Sell) Price target from $31 to $39
Airgas Inc. (NYSE: ARG) (Neutral) Price target from $55 to $60
Westlake Chemical Corp. (NYSE: WLK) (Sell) Price target from $23 to $26
Albemarle Corp. (NYSE: ALB) (CL Buy) Price target from $42 to $50
Rockwood Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ROC) (Neutral) Price target from $28 to $29
Compass Minerals International Inc. (NYSE: CMP) (Neutral) Price target from $80 to $82