NS Partners Ltd Lowers Stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM)

NS Partners Ltd lowered its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) by 45.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,100 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 5,032 shares during the period. NS Partners Ltd’s holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile were worth $254,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 396.2% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 913 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 204.9% in the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,061 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 1,385 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 47.1% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,133 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $87,000 after acquiring an additional 683 shares during the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its holdings in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 216.4% during the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 4,968 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $207,000 after acquiring an additional 3,398 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Credit Capital Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the 3rd quarter worth about $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.41% of the company’s stock.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of SQM stock opened at $39.14 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $39.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $40.78. The company has a market cap of $11.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 355.82 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.19 and a quick ratio of 1.47. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. has a 1 year low of $32.24 and a 1 year high of $64.62.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 21st. The basic materials company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.24). Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile had a return on equity of 23.15% and a net margin of 0.48%. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.27 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.03 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. will post -0.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on SQM shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $62.80 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 26th. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. They set a “hold” rating and a $35.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $47.00 to $38.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $44.00 in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.69.

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.