Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the eight analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $45.0833.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Itau BBA Securities initiated coverage on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Zacks Research upgraded Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $36.50 to $43.50 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 21st.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SQM. Brooklyn Investment Group grew its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 61,700.0% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 618 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 153.0% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 969 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the first quarter worth $46,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 728.0% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,242 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.41% of the company’s stock.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Trading Down 3.5%

SQM stock opened at $43.07 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 2.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Sociedad Quimica y Minera has a twelve month low of $29.36 and a twelve month high of $47.51. The company has a market cap of $12.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.79 and a beta of 1.08. The business has a fifty day moving average of $43.08 and a 200-day moving average of $38.19.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 20th. The basic materials company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.08 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a return on equity of 9.09% and a net margin of 11.29%.Sociedad Quimica y Minera’s quarterly revenue was down 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.75 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Sociedad Quimica y Minera will post -1.31 EPS for the current year.

About Sociedad Quimica y Minera

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA operates as a mining company worldwide. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers under Ultrasol, Qrop, Speedfol, Allganic, Ultrasoline, ProP, and Prohydric brands. It also provides iodine and its derivatives for use in medical, agricultural, industrial, and human and animal nutrition products comprising x-ray contrast media, biocides, antiseptics and disinfectants, pharmaceutical intermediates, polarizing films for LCD and LED screens, chemicals, organic compounds, and pigments, as well as added to edible salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.