Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Analysts

Shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Hold" from the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $41.86.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Scotiabank reduced their price target on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Stock Down 3.3%

NYSE:SQM traded down $1.03 on Thursday, hitting $30.43. The stock had a trading volume of 1,405,118 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,070,289. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile has a 52 week low of $30.18 and a 52 week high of $48.21. The company has a quick ratio of 2.05, a current ratio of 2.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The business's fifty day moving average is $35.08 and its 200 day moving average is $37.88. The company has a market cap of $8.69 billion, a PE ratio of -27.41, a P/E/G ratio of 5.00 and a beta of 1.11.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.15). The business had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.05 billion. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a negative net margin of 6.74% and a positive return on equity of 16.12%. The business's revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($3.04) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile will post -1.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SQM. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 104.0% during the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,128 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $77,000 after purchasing an additional 1,085 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,566 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $130,000 after buying an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 76.9% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 114,992 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $4,181,000 after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the 4th quarter valued at $58,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the 4th quarter worth $120,395,000. Institutional investors own 12.41% of the company's stock.

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.