IONR
ioneer Ltd
Industrial Materials
Market Cap$10M
5Y Perf.-76.6%
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Stock Comparison
IONR vs SQM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SQM
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$13.05B
5Y Perf.+9.4%
IONR vs SQM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IONR | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Materials | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $10M | $13.05B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $4.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-12M | $524M |
| Gross Margin | — | 27.7% |
| Operating Margin | — | 21.1% |
| Forward P/E | — | 15.6x |
| Total Debt | $373K | $4.82B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25M | $1.38B |
IONR vs SQM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IONR
SQM
| Stock | Jun 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ioneer Ltd (IONR) | 100 | 23.4 | -76.6% |
| Sociedad Química y … (SQM) | 100 | 109.4 | +9.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IONR vs SQM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SQM leads in 5 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. ioneer Ltd is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IONR
ioneer Ltd
The Growth Play
IONR is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- EPS growth 97.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.33, Low D/E 0.2%, current ratio 8.49x
- -10.3% revenue growth vs SQM's -39.4%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
SQM
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
The Income Pick
SQM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.26, yield 0.3%
- 468.7% 10Y total return vs IONR's -76.6%
- Beta 1.26, yield 0.3%, current ratio 2.51x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IONR | -10.3% revenue growth vs SQM's -39.4% |
| Quality / Margins | SQM | 12.1% margin vs IONR's 0.3% |
| Stability / Safety | SQM | Beta 1.26 vs IONR's 1.33 |
| Dividends | SQM | 0.3% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SQM | +170.0% vs IONR's +15.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SQM | 4.5% ROA vs IONR's -5.2%, ROIC 9.0% vs -0.0% |
IONR vs SQM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
IONR vs SQM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSQMLAGGINGIONR
IONRioneer Ltd
1leads
SQMSociedad Química y Mi…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs IONRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SQM1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IONR2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SQM5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SQM6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SQM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SQM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SQM and IONR operate at a comparable scale, with $4.3B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $4.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | $917M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$12M | $524M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$12M | $66M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +27.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +21.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +12.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +1.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.0% | +34.8% |
SQM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
IONR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10M | $13.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$15M | $16.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1032.50x | -64.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 15.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 15.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 2.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.04x | 5.01x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 43.09x |
IONR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SQM leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SQM delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-5 for IONR. IONR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SQM's 0.93x.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -5.3% | +9.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.2% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.0% | +9.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.0% | +11.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$25M | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $25M | $1.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $373,000 | $4.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -192.86x | 5.37x |
SQM leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SQM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SQM five years ago would be worth $19,446 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,343 for IONR. Over the past 12 months, SQM leads with a +170.0% total return vs IONR's +15.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SQM at 12.4% vs IONR's -26.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -20.9% | +32.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.4% | +170.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.8% | +41.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.6% | +94.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.6% | +468.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.2% | +12.4% |
SQM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SQM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SQM is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IONR's 1.33 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SQM currently trades 93.3% from its 52-week high vs IONR's 50.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.33x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.20 | $98.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.30 | $29.36 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +50.4% | +93.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.7 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 170K | 1.3M |
SQM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
SQM is the only dividend payer here at 0.26% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | SQMSociedad Química … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $78.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
SQM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). IONR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallSociedad Química y Minera d… (SQM)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
IONR vs SQM: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IONR or SQM a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.
A. (SQM) a "Hold" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — IONR or SQM?
Over the past 5 years, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.
A. (SQM) delivered a total return of +94. 5%, compared to -76. 6% for ioneer Ltd (IONR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SQM returned +468. 7% versus IONR's -76. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — IONR or SQM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.
A. (SQM) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 26β versus ioneer Ltd's 1. 33β — meaning IONR is approximately 5% more volatile than SQM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ioneer Ltd (IONR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 93% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — IONR or SQM?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ioneer Ltd grew EPS 97.
3% year-over-year, compared to -120. 1% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — IONR or SQM?
ioneer Ltd (IONR) is the more profitable company, earning 0.
0% net margin versus -8. 9% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SQM leads at 23. 5% versus 0. 0% for IONR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SQM leads at 29. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Which pays a better dividend — IONR or SQM?
In this comparison, SQM (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. IONR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is IONR or SQM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.
A. (SQM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 26), +468. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SQM: +468. 7%, IONR: -76. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between IONR and SQM?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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