Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) Up 4.6% — Is This My Chance to Get In Early?
Key Points
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) showed strong performance in the latest session, advancing 4.62% to close at $81.35. The stock gained $3.59 from the prior close of $77.76, marking a notable bullish move on the NYSE. This latest climb pushed shares firmly above recent trading levels and underscored renewed upside momentum, with price action tilting decisively in favor of buyers throughout the session.
Trading activity came in slightly below its recent 90-day average, with volume of 1,279,456 shares compared with the typical 1,427,735. Even with volume running under trend, the size of the price move highlights strong demand at higher levels, reinforcing the stock’s upward trajectory. Technically, SQM is now trading above its previous 52-week high of $78.28 set on 01/12/2026, extending that high by just over $3. This move into fresh 52-week high territory is often viewed as a sign of strong bullish activity, as the stock is now exploring price levels not seen over the past year.
Within the broader materials and mining space, SQM’s recent surge stands out. While peers such as Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO), Newmont Corporation (NEM), and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) have all seen periods of strength, SQM’s break to new highs and solid single-day percentage gain highlight a stock that is currently gaining ground at a faster pace. Overall, the latest session underscores a market tone that remains constructive for SQM, with price action signaling firm upward momentum.
Why Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. Price is Moving Higher
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. is seeing building bullish momentum as investors respond to a combination of improving price action, solid fundamentals and supportive analyst expectations. The climb from the low-$70s earlier in January to around $80, including a firm pre-market tone and stronger trading activity, reflects growing confidence that the stock’s recent consolidation phase may be giving way to a new uptrend. Trading near the upper end of its 52-week range suggests buyers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for exposure to SQM’s position in key battery and agricultural inputs, especially lithium, iodine and potash.
Underpinning this optimism are both growth and valuation drivers. Revenue growth near 9% and a profit margin above 12% indicate that operations remain resilient, even amid volatile commodity cycles. At roughly 14.4x earnings and with projected 2025 free cash flow of about $700 million and EPS of $3.17, many investors view the current pricing as offering attractive exposure to long-term electrification and fertilizer demand trends. That view is reinforced by analysts projecting roughly 50% upside from current levels, which has helped spark positive sentiment and renewed interest from momentum-focused traders. In the broader Materials space, peers such as Southern Copper, Newmont and Agnico Eagle have also benefited from improving commodity sentiment, and SQM’s diversified portfolio across lithium and specialty chemicals positions it as a direct beneficiary of any sustained upturn in resource-related equities.
What is the Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. Rating - Should I Buy?
Weiss Ratings assigns SQM a C rating. Current recommendation is Hold. For investors, that places Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. in the middle of the pack — neither a clear standout nor a high-risk laggard — but with several notable strengths that can appeal to more selective, fundamentals-driven portfolios.
On the positive side, SQM’s balance sheet quality stands out, supported by the Excellent Solvency Index. That strength is important in the cyclical Materials sector, where financial resilience can help a company navigate commodity price swings and capital-intensive projects. The Good Efficiency Index, alongside a return on equity of 9.95%, indicates management is generating reasonable returns on shareholder capital, which supports the case for patient investors willing to hold through cycles.
Operationally, the Fair Growth Index, paired with revenue growth of 8.93% and a 12.12% profit margin, shows SQM is still expanding and maintaining profitability, even if growth is not in the top tier of its sector. However, the Weak Volatility Index and only Fair Total Return Index mean recent stock performance and price stability have not been on par with the most attractive opportunities, which helps explain why the overall rating remains at C (Hold) rather than rising to a Buy-level grade.
Within Materials, SQM’s C rating trails peers such as Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO, B), Newmont Corporation (NEM, B-), and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM, B), which all carry Buy-level ratings. For investors, SQM may fit as a diversified, fundamentally supported Hold position rather than a core growth or momentum play at this time.
About Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) is a global materials company with a leading position in specialty fertilizers, lithium compounds and iodine derivatives. Based in Chile, the company leverages some of the world’s most extensive natural brine and mineral resources, particularly in the Salar de Atacama, to produce high-value materials used across agriculture, energy storage and industrial applications. SQM is widely recognized as one of the key integrated players in the lithium supply chain, producing lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide that are essential inputs for electric vehicle batteries and advanced energy-storage systems.
Beyond lithium, SQM has a long-established presence in the specialty plant nutrition market, supplying nitrate- and potassium-based fertilizers that support high-value crops and intensive agriculture around the world. The company also ranks among the world’s leading producers of iodine and its derivatives, which are used in pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, medical imaging and various industrial processes. In addition, SQM manufactures industrial chemicals such as solar salts and other nitrate-based products used in glass, explosives and thermal energy storage. Its competitive advantages center on high-quality mineral deposits, vertically integrated operations and decades of technical expertise in extracting and processing brine-based resources, positioning SQM as a strategic supplier to both the global agriculture industry and the rapidly expanding battery materials market.
Investor Outlook
With Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) carrying a C (Hold) Weiss Rating, investors may see potential for continued gains if broader Materials trends and lithium-related demand remain constructive. The key will be how the stock behaves around recent trading ranges and whether fundamental drivers can eventually support an upgrade from Hold territory. See full rankings of all C-rated Materials stocks inside the Weiss Stock Screener.
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