Manning & Napier Advisors LLC Has $96.56 Million Stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM)

Manning & Napier Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Free Report) by 26.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,430,332 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 880,859 shares during the quarter. Sociedad Quimica y Minera comprises 1.2% of Manning & Napier Advisors LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC owned 0.85% of Sociedad Quimica y Minera worth $96,557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 11.2% in the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 4,119 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $150,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 18.1% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,953 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $107,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp raised its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 13,011 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $473,000 after acquiring an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. raised its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 6.7% during the fourth quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 9,612 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $349,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 79,047 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,874,000 after acquiring an additional 821 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.41% of the company's stock.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Trading Up 2.6%

SQM traded up $0.83 during trading on Monday, hitting $32.91. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,168,111 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,076,181. Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has a twelve month low of $29.36 and a twelve month high of $45.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 2.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $33.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.59 and a beta of 1.04.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.63 by ($0.15). Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a net margin of 13.45% and a return on equity of 11.71%. The business had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($3.04) earnings per share. Sociedad Quimica y Minera's quarterly revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. will post -1.31 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SQM has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $44.00 to $39.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sociedad Quimica y Minera currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $41.14.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera 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.