Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) Price Target Cut to $42.00 by Analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) had its target price reduced by research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $48.00 to $42.00 in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "hold" rating on the basic materials company's stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft's price target indicates a potential downside of 6.65% from the stock's current price.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on SQM. StockNews.com lowered Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $52.00 to $62.80 in a research report on Monday, April 8th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Scotiabank cut their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a "b-" rating to a "c" rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $65.98.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SQM traded down $0.82 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $44.99. 1,457,351 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,435,701. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile has a 1 year low of $38.50 and a 1 year high of $81.50. The company has a market cap of $12.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.38 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a current ratio of 2.49. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $46.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.92.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.22 by ($0.51). Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a net margin of 26.95% and a return on equity of 37.86%. The business had revenue of $1.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.36 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $4.03 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the first quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.41% of the company's stock.

About Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers.