Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM) Stock Price Down 4.4% - Should You Sell?

Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) dropped 4.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $39.01 and last traded at $39.33. Approximately 1,073,967 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 11% from the average daily volume of 1,200,802 shares. The stock had previously closed at $41.15.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SQM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $44.00 to $39.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 12th. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Two investment 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $41.14.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Trading Down 0.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.88. The stock has a market cap of $11.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.61 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's fifty day moving average is $34.74 and its 200 day moving average is $37.13.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 earnings per share 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 firm had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($3.04) earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Sociedad Quimica y Minera

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Soros Fund Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the fourth quarter valued at $5,619,000. Earnest Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,071,339 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $38,954,000 after buying an additional 18,748 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC purchased a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the fourth quarter worth $642,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 121.9% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 61,519 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $2,236,000 after purchasing an additional 33,797 shares during the last quarter. Finally, White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 86.5% during the 4th quarter. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 34,244 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,245,000 after acquiring an additional 15,879 shares during the last quarter. 12.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.