Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B logo

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B(SQM)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$56.7
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for SQM

11/09/2026: SQM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) is a major global producer of lithium, iodine, and specialty fertilizers, holding a significant position in the battery supply chain. Its primary strengths are its low-cost extraction assets in Chile and its ability to scale production to meet rising demand. The investment story centers on the company's role as a key supplier for the electric vehicle industry. However, SQM faces material risks from lithium price volatility, political uncertainties in Chile, and intense competition. This stock may suit investors who understand commodity cycles and are seeking exposure to energy transition trends, though it carries substantial regulatory and execution risk.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers exposure to secular EV trends but remains tied to volatile commodity price cycles.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often reacts aggressively to news regarding lithium prices or Chilean regulatory changes.
Value investorMixed fitValuation fluctuates widely based on cycle timing, making it difficult to assess long-term 'value' compared to traditional stocks.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a history of high payout ratios during profitable cycles, though payments are inconsistent.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh price volatility and commodity exposure make this unsuitable for risk-averse investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighRevenues are directly sensitive to global lithium spot market prices.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe stock can become overvalued during lithium hype cycles.
Competition risk (Lithium supply)MediumNew mining projects globally could increase supply and depress margins.
Business qualityMedium / highSQM has strong low-cost assets but faces complex regulatory environments.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are highly variable and tied to cyclical earnings.
Execution riskMediumLarge scale mining projects in remote locations face operational challenges.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 10.51%
Avg. Invested days 38
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
SQM receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
SQM has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and moderate ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+245.2%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 9.6%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+0.9%), very low insider ownership of 0.00%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
SQM's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (9.6% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is SQM's strongest growth driver at +245.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+44.5%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+0.9%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 32.8% (moderate) and 104.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (strong). Insider ownership is only 0.00%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Baillie Gifford & Co Limited. 1.66%
Van Eck Associates Corporation 0.93%
BlackRock Inc 0.83%
Earnest Partners LLC 0.74%
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co., LLC 0.56%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
SQM generates approximately $293 of gross profit, $248 of operating income, and $96 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and soft cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 33.32%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
SQM has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 16.43B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 11.84
1Y Target Price 81.61
Price to earnings Ratio 11.84
1Y Target Price 81.61
Volume (30-day avg) 964.5K shares
Beta 1.15
52 Weeks Range 49.17 - 95.08
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 49.17 - 95.08
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 4.22%
Basic EPS (TTM) 4.86

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
LithiumLithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide for battery manufacturers.This is the primary growth driver tied to electric vehicle adoption.
Specialty FertilizersPotassium and sodium nitrates for premium crops.This provides a steady, traditional revenue stream with less volatility than lithium.
IodineIodine for medical and industrial use.A niche, highly profitable segment that provides diversification.
Geography (Chile)Extraction operations at the Salar de Atacama.Most revenue originates here, making the company sensitive to Chilean politics.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-17
When After Market
Estimate 2.02
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM) 48.82%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 11.55%
Return on Equity (TTM) 21.82%

Valuation

Trailing PE 11.84
Forward PE 9.12
Enterprise Value 17.29B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.44
Enterprise Value 17.29B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.44
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.57
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 6.52
Shares Outstanding 142.82M
Shares Floating 149.26M
Shares Outstanding 142.82M
Shares Floating 149.26M
Percent Insiders -
Percent Institutions 32.79

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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