SQM vs LAC vs ALB vs LI

For growth investors, Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is the stronger pick with 16. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). Li Auto Inc. (LI) offers the better valuation at 15. 9x trailing P/E (11. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Li Auto Inc. (LI) a "Buy" — 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.

On forward P/E, Li Auto Inc.

is actually cheaper at 11. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.

A. (SQM) delivered a total return of +94. 2%, compared to -31. 3% for Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SQM returned +464. 6% versus LI's +6. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Albemarle Corporation's 1. 60β — meaning ALB is approximately 69% more volatile than LI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 93% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is pulling ahead at 16. 7% versus -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Albemarle Corporation grew EPS 48. 7% year-over-year, compared to -757. 1% for Lithium Americas Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LI leads at 75. 7% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 6% net margin versus -9. 9% for Albemarle Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SQM leads at 23. 5% versus 0. 0% for LAC. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Li Auto Inc.

(LI) trades at 11. 3x forward P/E versus 22. 4x for Albemarle Corporation — 11. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LAC: 23. 7% to $7. 00.

In this comparison, ALB (0.

8% yield), SQM (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. LAC, LI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Albemarle Corporation (ALB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

8% yield, +217. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALB: +217. 0%, LAC: +234. 9%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SQM (Basic Materials) and LAC (Basic Materials) and ALB (Basic Materials) and LI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SQM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LAC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LI is a mid-cap high-growth stock. ALB pays a dividend while SQM, LAC, LI do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.