Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) have received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the eight analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $48.69.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on SQM shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $45.00 to $36.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $47.00 to $38.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Friday, October 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $62.80 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 26th.

Institutional Trading of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SQM. Clarity Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the fourth quarter worth approximately $944,000. Accent Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the fourth quarter worth approximately $47,000. Confluence Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the first quarter worth approximately $260,000. CWM LLC grew its position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 40.1% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 790 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the period. Finally, Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc increased its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 16.2% during the first quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc now owns 27,469 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,350,000 after buying an additional 3,822 shares during the last quarter. 12.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Trading Down 3.4 %

Shares of NYSE SQM opened at $38.89 on Friday. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile has a 1 year low of $32.24 and a 1 year high of $64.62. The stock has a market cap of $11.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.98 and a beta of 1.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $38.46 and a 200 day moving average of $42.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.19 and a quick ratio of 1.47.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The basic materials company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.24). Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a net margin of 0.48% and a return on equity of 23.15%. The business had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.27 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.03 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile will post -0.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

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.