Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. $SQM Shares Acquired by American Century Companies Inc.

Key Points

• American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) by 24.6%, owning a total of 126,530 shares valued at approximately $5,027,000 as of its latest SEC filing.
• Sociedad Quimica y Minera reported a 19.4% decline in revenue year-over-year, with earnings per share of $0.31, missing the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.52.
• Wall Street analysts have varied opinions on SQM, with BMO Capital Markets raising its price target to $55.00 while others have suggested a more conservative price objective between $41.00 and $45.00.

American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Free Report) by 24.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 126,530 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 24,969 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc.'s holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera were worth $5,027,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SQM. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the 1st quarter valued at about $46,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 728.0% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,242 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional purchased a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the 1st quarter valued at about $74,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the 1st quarter worth about $96,000. 12.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Stock Down 2.6%

Shares of NYSE:SQM opened at $45.72 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 2.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has a 52-week low of $29.36 and a 52-week high of $47.51. The company has a 50 day moving average of $39.68 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.68. The company has a market capitalization of $13.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.38 and a beta of 1.03.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 period last year, the business earned $0.75 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 19.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on SQM. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, August 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 30th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $36.50 to $43.50 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, July 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $43.10.

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.

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