Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) AI Stock Analysis
SQM AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) is a major producer of lithium, specialty plant nutrients, iodine, and industrial chemicals. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue jumped 136.7% year-over-year, while TTM operating margin reached 48.8%. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 11.0x with a forward dividend yield of 4.03%.
- Market cap
- $17.20B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $6.73B
- P/E
- 12.4x fwd 11.0x
- 1Y return
- 38.1% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $82.89 37.7% vs last close
Bull case
- Quarterly revenue surged 136.7% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, accompanied by a 646.4% jump in quarterly earnings.
- Valuation multiples remain discounted relative to peers, with a forward P/E of 11.0x versus the US-listed Basic Materials median of 13.4x.
- Consensus estimates project FY2026 earnings to surge 266.0% to $7.54 per share on $8.25B in annual revenue.
Bear case
- Historical financial performance shows high volatility, including an FY2024 net loss of $404.4M following a 39.4% revenue drop.
- Analyst consensus expects next fiscal year EPS to fall 7.6% to $6.96 alongside a 3.6% contraction in annual revenue to $7.95B.
- SQM beat analyst earnings estimates in only 1 of the last 4 quarters, and the stock trades 20.2% below its 200-day moving average.
What Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile does
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine and its derivatives, lithium and its derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, and industrial chemicals. Its specialty plant nutrients include potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate for global agricultural applications. SQM is a major supplier of iodine derivatives for medical contrast media and electronics. It produces lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide used in batteries, ceramics, glass, pharmaceuticals, and greases. Headquartered in Santiago, Chile, the company operates across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and Asia.
Growth and profitability
Revenue rose from $2.86B in FY2021 to $10.71B in FY2022 before dropping to $7.47B in FY2023 and $4.53B in FY2024. FY2025 revenue stabilized with 0.9% growth to $4.57B, delivering net income of $587.2M and gross margin of 29.3%, compared to a net loss of $404.4M in FY2024. From FY2020 to FY2025, revenue grew at a 20.2% CAGR. For the trailing twelve months, revenue was $6.73B with net income yielding EPS of $4.86. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 136.7% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 646.4%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, SQM held $4.33B in cash and short-term investments against $5.29B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $957.7M. Shareholders' equity was $6.29B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 2.61. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $1.31B and free cash flow was $437.7M after capital expenditures of $876.7M. Dividends paid totaled $4.3M in FY2025, while share count change over 5 years stood at 0.0%.
Valuation and performance
SQM carries a market capitalization of $17.20B and an enterprise value of $20.60B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 12.4x and a forward P/E of 11.0x, below the median of its US-listed Basic Materials peers at 19.7x and 13.4x, respectively. Its EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 7.8x also sits below the peer median of 10.5x, though its price-to-sales ratio of 2.6x exceeds the peer median of 1.8x. Over the past year, SQM returned 38.1%, outperforming the S&P 500's 16.8% gain, but its 5-year return of 28.0% trails the index's 83.0%.
SQM dividend
SQM pays an annual forward dividend of $2.43 per share, representing a forward dividend yield of 4.03%. The company's payout ratio stands at 32.4%, and its last ex-dividend date was September 8, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 6 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, 7 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings. The mean price target is $82.89, representing 37.7% upside compared to the last close of $60.20. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates anticipate revenue of $8.25B and EPS of $7.54, reflecting 266.0% earnings growth. Over the last four quarters, SQM beat EPS estimates once. The next earnings date is November 17, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Total debt of $5.29B exceeds cash reserves of $4.33B, leaving net debt at $957.7M as capital expenditures totaled $876.7M in FY2025.
- The company posted negative operating cash flow of -$196.6M and negative free cash flow of -$1.30B during FY2023.
- The stock remains volatile with a beta of 1.07 and is down 10.8% year-to-date while trading well below its 52-week high of $98.00.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SQM AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SQM income statement, SQM balance sheet, SQM key metrics, SQM analyst forecast, SQM chart. See the SQM stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SQM AI stock analysis FAQ
Does SQM pay a dividend?
Yes, SQM provides an annual forward dividend of $2.43 per share, which corresponds to a 4.03% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 32.4%.
When is SQM's next earnings report?
SQM is scheduled to report its next financial results on November 17, 2026.
What is SQM's balance sheet position?
As of June 30, 2026, SQM had $4.33B in cash and short-term investments, $5.29B in total debt, and a current ratio of 2.61.
What are analysts forecasting for SQM?
Analysts have an average price target of $82.89, representing a 37.7% upside to the October 16, 2026 closing price of $60.20, with FY2026 EPS estimated at $7.54.