FUL

Basic Materials

H.B. Fuller Company · Chemicals - Specialty · $3B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
45.6
Below Average

H.B. Fuller Company scores 45.6/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Basic Materials Sector
FUL
45.6
Sector avg
38.2
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is H.B. Fuller Company?

H.B. Fuller Company is a global specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the company serves industrial, consumer, and construction markets across the world.

H.B. Fuller formulates and manufactures specialty adhesives, sealants, coatings, tapes, and encapsulants sold to customers in packaging, hygiene, construction, electronics, transportation, and aerospace industries. The company operates three segments: Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives; Engineering Adhesives; and Construction Adhesives. Revenue is generated through direct sales of specialty chemical products to manufacturers and contractors worldwide, with a broad geographic footprint spanning multiple continents.

H.B. Fuller was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, US.

  • Thermoplastic and reactive adhesives for packaging and consumer goods
  • High-performance engineering adhesives for electronics and aerospace
  • Construction adhesives for tile setting and commercial roofing
  • Sealants, coatings, and encapsulants for industrial applications
  • Specialty tapes and additives for hygiene and medical markets

Is FUL a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates FUL as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.

Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot in FUL's profile, rated Good — suggesting the market may already be pricing in many of the company's challenges. Quality and Growth both land at Neutral, indicating neither a clear drag nor a standout advantage in those dimensions.

The Moat and Risk pillars are both rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and above-average financial or operational risk relative to sector peers.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does FUL pay dividends?

Yes — H.B. Fuller Company pays a dividend.

H.B. Fuller pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-oriented investors seeking exposure to the specialty chemicals sector. The dividend reflects the company's established operating history and cash generation capacity. Investors should review the current yield and payout sustainability in the context of FUL's Weak Risk pillar rating before relying on the dividend as a primary return driver.

When does FUL report earnings?

H.B. Fuller reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

FUL's recent results reflect the mixed signals visible in its UQS profile — neutral quality and growth trends alongside elevated risk. Volume trends across its three segments are influenced by end-market demand in packaging, construction, and industrial manufacturing.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit H.B. Fuller's investor relations page directly.

FUL Price History

-3.0% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in H.B. Fuller Company?

$
Today it would be worth
$10,177
That's a +1.8% total return, or +0.4% annualized.

Based on H.B. Fuller Company's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

FUL Long-term Outlook

FUL's fundamental outlook is shaped by Neutral Growth and Weak Risk ratings — a combination that suggests modest near-term expansion potential paired with meaningful downside sensitivity. The specialty adhesives market is tied to broader industrial and construction cycles, which introduces variability. The Good Valuation rating indicates that current pricing may already reflect subdued expectations, leaving limited room for multiple expansion without a meaningful improvement in underlying business performance.

Growth drivers

  • Expanding demand for engineered adhesives in electronics and clean energy applications
  • Construction market recovery supporting the Construction Adhesives segment
  • Ongoing product innovation in hygiene and medical adhesive formulations

Key risks

  • Weak Moat rating signals vulnerability to pricing pressure from specialty chemical competitors
  • Weak Risk pillar reflects sensitivity to raw material cost inflation and leverage
  • Cyclical end markets in construction and industrial manufacturing can compress volumes quickly

FUL vs Peers

H.B. Fuller operates in a competitive specialty chemicals landscape alongside several diversified peers.

AVNTFUL scores higher
Avient Corporation

Avient focuses on polymer and color solutions, giving it a different end-market mix compared to FUL's adhesive-centric portfolio.

CCFUL scores higher
The Chemours Company

Chemours is concentrated in fluoroproducts and titanium technologies, serving more commodity-oriented chemical markets than FUL.

CBTFUL scores lower
Cabot Corporation

Cabot specializes in carbon black and specialty fluids, targeting performance materials markets with limited overlap to FUL's adhesive segments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does H.B. Fuller do?

H.B. Fuller formulates and manufactures specialty adhesives, sealants, coatings, and related chemical products. The company serves customers in packaging, hygiene, construction, electronics, aerospace, and transportation industries through three operating segments worldwide.

Does FUL pay dividends?

Yes, H.B. Fuller pays a regular dividend. The company has an established history of returning cash to shareholders through dividends. Investors should review the current yield and payout ratio in light of the company's Weak Risk pillar profile before making income-focused decisions.

When does FUL report earnings?

H.B. Fuller reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed public companies. For the most current earnings dates and recent results, check the investor relations section of H.B. Fuller's official website.

Is FUL a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates FUL as Below Average, driven by Weak Moat and Risk pillar ratings. The Valuation pillar is rated Good, which may interest contrarian investors. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members and provides a more complete picture for decision-making.

Is FUL overvalued?

FUL's Valuation pillar is rated Good within the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, valuation alone does not determine investment merit — the Weak Moat and Risk ratings are important context.

How does FUL compare to its competitors?

FUL competes with specialty and diversified chemical companies including Avient, Chemours, and Cabot. Each peer operates in distinct sub-segments of the chemicals market. UQS Score provides side-by-side pillar comparisons for Pro members to evaluate relative quality and risk profiles.

What is FUL's market cap bracket?

H.B. Fuller is classified as a mid-cap company. Mid-cap stocks like FUL typically offer more growth optionality than large-caps but carry more volatility risk than mega-cap peers in the same sector.

Who founded H.B. Fuller?

H.B. Fuller's origins trace back to the late nineteenth century, with the modern corporate entity established in 1968. Detailed founding history is widely available through the company's official corporate history resources and public filings.

Is FUL a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, FUL's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Moat and Risk ratings — suggests caution. Long-term quality investing typically favors companies with durable competitive advantages, which FUL's current Moat rating does not strongly support.

What is the main competitive advantage of H.B. Fuller?

H.B. Fuller's breadth across adhesive chemistries and end markets provides some diversification benefit. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating that durable pricing power or structural competitive advantages are not strongly evident relative to sector peers at this time.

What sector does FUL belong to?

H.B. Fuller operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically within specialty chemicals. The sector is sensitive to raw material costs, industrial demand cycles, and global trade conditions — all factors reflected in FUL's UQS Risk pillar assessment.

Is FUL a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, FUL shows Neutral Growth and Good Valuation — a profile that leans more toward value than growth. It does not exhibit the high-growth characteristics typically associated with growth stocks, but its valuation appears relatively measured within the sector.

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Pro Analysis

FUL — Score History

40455055Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 19 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 22, 202645.845.926.051.435.381.4+0.7
May 12, 202645.145.226.051.435.378.0-0.2
May 7, 202645.344.926.051.435.379.8-0.1
May 3, 202645.444.926.051.435.380.4+0.3
Apr 26, 202645.144.926.051.435.378.6+0.1
Apr 25, 202645.044.926.051.435.378.3-0.2
Apr 23, 202645.244.926.051.435.379.1+0.2
Apr 18, 202645.044.726.051.435.378.5-0.4
Apr 16, 202645.445.126.051.435.380.3+0.1
Apr 15, 202645.344.926.051.435.380.30.0

FUL — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

45.7/100 (25%)

H.B. Fuller Company has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationModerate

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

51.4/100 (20%)

H.B. Fuller Company shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookModerate

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

35.3/100 (15%)

H.B. Fuller Company has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityModerate

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioModerate

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

81.1/100 (15%)

H.B. Fuller Company appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowModerate

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

26/100 (25%)

H.B. Fuller Company operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for FUL.

Score Composition

Quality
45.7×25%11.4
Growth
51.4×20%10.3
Risk
35.3×15%5.3
Valuation
81.1×15%12.2
Moat
26.0×25%6.5
Total
45.6Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the FUL UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for H.B. Fuller Company is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses H.B. Fuller Company's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether H.B. Fuller Company is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.