Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. $SQM Shares Sold by Amundi

Amundi lessened its stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Free Report) by 6.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 478,231 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 32,308 shares during the period. Amundi owned approximately 0.17% of Sociedad Quimica y Minera worth $18,847,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,965,641 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $71,470,000 after purchasing an additional 18,255 shares during the last quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC grew its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC now owns 1,523,668 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $60,535,000 after purchasing an additional 61,100 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC grew its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,096,049 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $43,546,000 after purchasing an additional 24,710 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the 1st quarter worth approximately $39,154,000. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,832,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.41% of the company's stock.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Stock Performance

NYSE SQM traded down $0.65 on Friday, hitting $41.96. 842,071 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,261,960. The company has a current ratio of 2.92, a quick ratio of 1.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has a 1-year low of $29.36 and a 1-year high of $47.51. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $41.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.98 billion, a PE ratio of 25.12 and a beta of 1.07.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of 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 lifted their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $36.50 to $43.50 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Itau BBA Securities began coverage on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research note on Thursday, September 4th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $45.08.

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.