SQM
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$13.08B
5Y Perf.+275.9%
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Stock Comparison
SQM vs NTR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NTR
Nutrien Ltd.
Agricultural Inputs
Market Cap$32.89B
5Y Perf.+101.1%
SQM vs NTR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SQM | NTR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Agricultural Inputs |
| Market Cap | $13.08B | $32.89B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.33B | $26.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $524M | $2.27B |
| Gross Margin | 27.7% | 31.1% |
| Operating Margin | 21.1% | 13.4% |
| Forward P/E | 15.0x | 12.0x |
| Total Debt | $4.82B | $12.93B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.38B | $700M |
SQM vs NTR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SQM
NTR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociedad Química y … (SQM) | 100 | 375.9 | +275.9% |
| Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) | 100 | 201.1 | +101.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SQM vs NTR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NTR leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SQM
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
The Long-Run Compounder
SQM is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 464.6% 10Y total return vs NTR's 54.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.24, Low D/E 92.7%, current ratio 2.51x
- Beta 1.24, yield 0.3%, current ratio 2.51x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
NTR
Nutrien Ltd.
The Income Pick
NTR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta -0.07, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth 5.3%, EPS growth 248.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -10.3%
- 5.3% revenue growth vs SQM's -39.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NTR | 5.3% revenue growth vs SQM's -39.4% |
| Value | NTR | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 15.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | SQM | 12.1% margin vs NTR's 8.4% |
| Stability / Safety | NTR | Lower D/E ratio (51.1% vs 92.7%) |
| Dividends | NTR | 3.2% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs SQM's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SQM | +173.2% vs NTR's +24.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SQM | 4.5% ROA vs NTR's 4.3%, ROIC 9.0% vs 8.0% |
SQM vs NTR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
Segment breakdown not available.
SQM vs NTR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSQMLAGGINGNTR
NTRNutrien Ltd.
2leads
SQMSociedad Química y Mi…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NTRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NTR5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SQM6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SQM6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NTR2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — SQM and NTR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $26.9B annually — 6.2x SQM's $4.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.1% (SQM) to 8.4% (NTR).
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $26.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $917M | $6.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $524M | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $66M | $2.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.7% | +31.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.1% | +13.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +8.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +7.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.9% | +6.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +34.8% | +4.2% |
Evenly matched — SQM and NTR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NTR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NTR's 7.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SQM's 15.4x.
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.1B | $32.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $16.5B | $45.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -64.51x | 14.42x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.04x | 12.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.35x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.43x | 7.08x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.89x | 1.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.02x | 1.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 43.19x | 16.15x |
NTR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SQM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SQM delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $9 for NTR. NTR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SQM's 0.93x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NTR scores 8/9 vs SQM's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.5% | +9.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +4.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.0% | +8.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.4% | +9.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.93x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.4B | $12.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.4B | $700M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.8B | $12.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.37x | 5.44x |
SQM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 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 $19,418 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,815 for NTR. Over the past 12 months, SQM leads with a +173.2% total return vs NTR's +24.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SQM at 12.0% vs NTR's 5.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.4% | +9.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +173.2% | +24.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.7% | +16.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +94.2% | +28.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +464.6% | +54.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.0% | +5.1% |
SQM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SQM and NTR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NTR is the less volatile stock with a -0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SQM's 1.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SQM currently trades 93.5% from its 52-week high vs NTR's 80.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.24x | -0.07x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $98.00 | $85.36 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.36 | $53.03 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.5% | +80.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.5 | 48.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 3.8M |
Evenly matched — SQM and NTR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SQM as "Hold" and NTR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.2% upside for NTR (target: $84) vs -17.6% for SQM (target: $76). For income investors, NTR offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs SQM's 0.26%.
| Metric | SQMSociedad Química … | NTRNutrien Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $75.50 | $84.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | $2.22 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
NTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NTR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). SQM leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallSociedad Química y Minera d… (SQM)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
SQM vs NTR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SQM or NTR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the stronger pick with 5. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) offers the better valuation at 14. 4x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 has the better valuation — SQM or NTR?
On forward P/E, Nutrien Ltd.
is actually cheaper at 12. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SQM or NTR?
Over the past 5 years, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.
A. (SQM) delivered a total return of +94. 2%, compared to +28. 1% for Nutrien Ltd. (NTR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SQM returned +464. 6% versus NTR's +54. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SQM or NTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 07β versus Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. 's 1. 24β — meaning SQM is approximately -1806% more volatile than NTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 93% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SQM or NTR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is pulling ahead at 5. 3% versus -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nutrien Ltd. grew EPS 248. 5% year-over-year, compared to -120. 1% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SQM leads at 16. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SQM or NTR?
Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 4% net margin versus -8. 9% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — meaning it keeps 8. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SQM leads at 23. 5% versus 14. 5% for NTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTR leads at 31. 0%, 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.
07Is SQM or NTR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 0x for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTR: 23. 2% to $84. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — SQM or NTR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 0. 3% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM).
09Is SQM or NTR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 07), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTR: +54. 0%, SQM: +464. 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.
10What are the main differences between SQM and NTR?
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.
In terms of investment character: SQM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock. NTR pays a dividend while SQM does 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SQM: 8.9% · NTR: 6.8%)Net Margin>
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