Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) Sets New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $33.48 and last traded at $34.25, with a volume of 1376008 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $34.96.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $9.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.57, a PEG ratio of 5.00 and a beta of 1.11. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $38.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 2.94 and a quick ratio of 2.05.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 4th. The basic materials company reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $1.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.01 billion. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a negative net margin of 6.74% and a positive return on equity of 16.12%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SQM. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the 4th quarter worth about $120,395,000. Nuveen Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,832,000. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 367.9% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 293,799 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $10,683,000 after purchasing an additional 231,010 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,314,000. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 28.4% in the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 804,913 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $29,267,000 after buying an additional 177,898 shares in the last quarter. 12.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

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.