Cetera Investment Advisers Takes Position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM)

Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 11,468 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $417,000.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SQM. Bridgefront Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $416,000. Bayesian Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 87.6% in the fourth quarter. Bayesian Capital Management LP now owns 18,200 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 8,500 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 40.9% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 214,169 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $7,787,000 after buying an additional 62,121 shares during the period. Soros Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the fourth quarter valued at $5,619,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 367.9% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 293,799 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $10,683,000 after acquiring an additional 231,010 shares in the last quarter. 12.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Stock Down 3.3%

Shares of SQM traded down $1.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $30.43. 1,405,118 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,070,285. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a current ratio of 2.94. The company has a market cap of $8.69 billion, a PE ratio of -27.41, a PEG ratio of 5.00 and a beta of 1.11. The firm's 50 day moving average is $35.08 and its 200-day moving average is $37.88. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. has a 52 week low of $29.84 and a 52 week high of $48.21.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.15). Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a positive return on equity of 16.12% and a negative net margin of 6.74%. The company had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($3.04) EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. will post -1.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $41.86.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Company Profile

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.