Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) PT Lowered to $75.00

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) had its target price trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from $80.00 to $75.00 in a report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $84.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $93.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. They issued a buy rating and a $85.00 target price for the company. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and issued a $59.00 target price (down previously from $69.00) on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $76.61.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Trading Up 3.7 %

SQM opened at $52.54 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.01 billion, a PE ratio of 5.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.06. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $53.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $64.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 1.67. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile has a 12-month low of $44.86 and a 12-month high of $101.73.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 15th. The basic materials company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.52 by ($0.84). The firm had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a return on equity of 57.87% and a net margin of 31.87%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.85 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile will post 8.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 1st were given a $0.6094 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.64%. This is a positive change from Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 2nd. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile’s dividend payout ratio is 15.24%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Boston Partners acquired a new position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 153.8% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 825 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.94% of the company’s stock.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Company Profile

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.