Creative Planning Raises Stock Holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM)

Creative Planning lifted its stake in shares of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) by 60.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,307 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,256 shares during the quarter. Creative Planning’s holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile were worth $461,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Confluence Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile during the first quarter worth $260,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 40.1% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 790 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the period. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc grew its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 16.2% during the first quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc now owns 27,469 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,350,000 after acquiring an additional 3,822 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC grew its holdings in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile by 8.0% in the first quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 7,417 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $365,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BCS Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in the first quarter valued at $202,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.41% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SQM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $62.80 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $47.00 to $38.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. They set a “hold” rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile from $45.00 to $36.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $48.69.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Stock Down 3.4 %

NYSE:SQM opened at $38.89 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.98 and a beta of 1.02. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. has a 1-year low of $32.24 and a 1-year high of $64.62. The company has a current ratio of 2.19, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $38.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.19.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The basic materials company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 company had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.03 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. will post -0.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile Profile

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.