Why This Niche Chemical Market Was Red-Hot in July

It's in paint. It's in sunscreen. It may even be in some of the food you eat. And you've probably never heard of the companies that manufacture it, but they're red-hot right now. The top performer has gone up more than 750% since the beginning of 2016.

The chemical is called titanium dioxide (TiO2), and 2016 was a fantastic year for the companies that manufacture it. The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC), Kronos Worldwide (NYSE: KRO), Tronox (NYSE: TROX), Huntsman (NYSE: HUN), and Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI) all handily beat the S&P 500 last year.

2017 is shaping up well for most of these companies, too. In July alone, four of the five saw double-digit growth. But before you jump into this scorching-hot market with both feet, there are some things you need to know.

Source: Fool.com