CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
SQMAbout the company
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. produces and sells specialty plant nutrients, and iodine and its derivatives in Chile, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Asia, and internationally. It offers potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers under the Ultrasol, Qrop, Speedfol, Allganic, Ultrasoline, Prop, and Prohydric brands.
Investment snapshot
Positive
4
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
1 / 11
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$75.94
+41.7% vs price
Models with upside
5 / 17
Positive margin of safety
Strongest signal
6 of 10 pass — Dreman, Pabrai, Ackman +1 more object
Key risk
No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Greenblatt Magic Formula | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | PASS | PASS | FAIL | FAIL · Rank #1256 (Top 40.6%) | NEUTRAL | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL |
| Score | |||||||||||||||||
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| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Margin of Safety | N/A | -2220.8% | N/A | +38.4% | N/A | +73.9% | -308.0% | -167.1% | +29.4% | +34.6% | -511.3% | +34.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-24 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
- Cash Flow60% pass✓ 7✗ 5▾
6 of 10 pass — Dreman, Pabrai, Ackman +1 more object
Free Cash Flow Proxy$55.7M✓BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$302.9M✓LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$1.3B✓PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=11.09%, ROA=5.96%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)12.0x✗Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=2.0%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive8/10 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap2.0%✗Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per Share50.6x✗Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency9/10 years positive✓SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$302.9M✓Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+1.98%; #2256/4519 (top 49.9%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Valuation models56% pass✓ 5✗ 4▾
Models split on SQM at $53.61 — fair values range $2.31–$205.14
Buffett fair value$2.31✗Buffett-2220.8% margin vs $53.61Greenblatt fair value$87.04✓Greenblatt+38.4% margin vs $53.61Dreman fair value$205.14✓Dreman+73.9% margin vs $53.61Munger fair value$13.14✗Munger-308.0% margin vs $53.61Pabrai fair value$20.07✗Pabrai-167.1% margin vs $53.61Akre fair value$75.94✓Akre+29.4% margin vs $53.61Marks fair value$82.03✓Marks+34.6% margin vs $53.61Ackman fair value$8.77✗Ackman-511.3% margin vs $53.61Templeton fair value$82.03✓Templeton+34.6% margin vs $53.61
Where It Falls Short
- Valuation0% pass✓ 5✗ 23▾
No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion
Net income / market capitalization+4.47%; #1849/6340 (top 29.2%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / 3-yr avg EPS3.9x✓Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio3.0x✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B11.60✓Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)EBIT / Enterprise Value5.2%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=5.2%, ROC=15.5%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Price / EPS✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)12.0x✗Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per Share3.0x✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessOE Yield=0.4%✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=2.0%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=3.0x✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic Value73.9% (IV=$205.14 vs Price=$53.61)✓Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per Share50.6x✗Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low176% of trailing low ($30.43)✗Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Positive book equity / market capitalization+0.3370; #3519/6449 (top 54.6%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per Share3.07x✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change+127.9%✓SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+0.2957; #3348/5247 (top 63.8%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+1.98%; #2256/4519 (top 49.9%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-34.72%; #4613/6202 (top 74.4%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Debt & Leverage8% pass✓ 3✗ 12▾
11 of 12 flag SQM's debt & leverage — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more
LT Debt vs Net Current Assets✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current AssetsDebt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 1.18, IC: 5.4x✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / Equity1.18✗Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt✗LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change0.00% -> 0.00%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities2.51✓Dreman> 1.5✓SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity1.18✗Dreman< 0.8✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt Levels1.18✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=5.4x, D/EBITDA=4.3x✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity1.18✗Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-1.1827; #3397/4210 (top 80.7%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section - Profitability19% pass✓ 14✗ 21▾
13 of 16 flag SQM's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +10 more
Net income / market capitalization+4.47%; #1849/6340 (top 29.2%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive EPS (10 years)3/11 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)10/11 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)28.0%✓Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)23.5% (latest)✓BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy$55.7M✓BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR367.7%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE13.3%✗Lynch> 15%EBIT / Enterprise Value5.2%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=5.2%, ROC=15.5%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Net Income / Total Assets5.96%✓PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY8.56% -> 5.96% (delta: -2.61%)✗PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=11.09%, ROA=5.96%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAGross Margin Change YoY41.2% -> 29.3%✗PiotroskiImproved YoYPre-Tax Income / Revenue21.5%✓Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity13.3%✓Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/B=3.0x✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity37.9% (3-yr avg)✓AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic Value73.9% (IV=$205.14 vs Price=$53.61)✓Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency10/10 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue23.5%✓Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity13.3%✗Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend51.6% (2022) -> 23.5% (2024)✗TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 53.6% -> 29.3%, operating margin 51.6% -> 23.5%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingGross profit / total assets+11.54%; #2700/3702 (top 72.9%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity+13.28%; #1339/5226 (top 25.6%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.1197; #3698/5884 (top 62.8%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Growth25% pass✓ 5✗ 8▾
6 of 8 flag SQM's growth — Graham, Lynch, Ackman +3 more
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR367.7%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passInventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthInv: -4.1% vs Rev: -39.4%✗LynchInventory growth < Revenue growthEPS Growth Direction$0.63 (2020) -> $13.68 (2022)✓DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR367.7% CAGR over 2 years✓Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency10/10 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth-30.3%✗Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency2/2 years with positive EPS growth✗AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 53.6% -> 29.3%, operating margin 51.6% -> 23.5%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR18.4%✓SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Verdicts25% pass✓ 4✗ 12▾
Split decision: 11 FAIL · 4 PASS · 1 NEUTRAL
Overall verdict✓GrahamPASS (4/9)✓BuffettPASS (5/9)✗LynchFAIL (2/7)✗GreenblattRank #1256•PiotroskiNEUTRAL (F-Score 6)✓DremanPASS (6/11)✗MungerFAIL (1/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (3/5)✗AckmanFAIL (3/9)✗TempletonFAIL (2/8)✓SleepPASS (3/6)✗AsnessFAIL (Rank #1638/2370 (Top 69.1%))✗NeffFAIL (3/6)✗SchlossFAIL (3/7)✗OshaughnessyFAIL (Rank #911/963 (Top 94.6%)) - Efficiency38% pass✓ 5✗ 6▾
5 of 8 flag SQM's efficiency — Greenblatt, Piotroski, Munger +2 more
Current Ratio2.51✓Graham>= 2.0ROIC (3-5 yr avg)20.0%✓Buffett> 10%ROIC - WACC+10.0%✓BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)15.5%✗Greenblatt> 25%Current Ratio Change YoY2.33 -> 2.51✓PiotroskiIncreased YoYRevenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.69x -> 0.39x✗PiotroskiImproved YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities2.51✓Dreman> 1.5Return on Invested Capital7.5%✗Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2022: ROIC=47.4%; FY2023: ROIC=23.8%; FY2024: ROIC=7.5%✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROIC6.7% (RR=90% x ROIC=7.5%)✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)2/5 years above 12% (latest 7.5%)✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2024. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2024
Retired 0.0% of shares last year, 0.0% over two.
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- $67.2M
What drove EPS
A buyback raises earnings per share without the company earning more. This splits each year's change into the two.
The two parts do not sum exactly to the total — the difference is the cross-term, plus preferred capital where the company has any. It is left visible rather than distributed into the other two.
Share count is the denominator the filer used for diluted EPS, recovered as net income ÷ EPS — not the balance-sheet count, which is a point-in-time figure and would put the timing difference into this split. Years with a loss are omitted: a smaller share count makes a loss per share larger, so the decomposition inverts.
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
| Metric | FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
| FY 2020Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $15.3Bcurrent | $12.0Best. | $25.6Best. | $12.8Best. | $10.9Best. |
| Revenue | $4.5B↓39% | $7.5B↓30% | $10.7B↑274% | $2.9B↑58% | $1.8B |
| Operating Income | $1.1B↓63% | $2.8B↓49% | $5.5B↑497% | $927.3M↑207% | $302.5M |
| Net Income | $685.1M↓26% | $923.2M↓76% | $3.9B↑567% | $585.5M↑256% | $164.5M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | -- | $13.68↑550% | $2.10↑237% | $0.63 |
| Gross Margin | 29.3%↓29% | 41.2%↓23% | 53.6%↑41% | 38.1%↑43% | 26.6% |
| Operating Margin | 23.5%↓38% | 38.1%↓26% | 51.6%↑59% | 32.4%↑95% | 16.6% |
| ROE | 13.3%↓36% | 20.8%↓74% | 79.8%↑334% | 18.4%↑137% | 7.7% |
| Total Debt | $6.1B↑22% | $5.0B↑16% | $4.3B↑6% | $4.1B↑45% | $2.8B |
| Shareholders' Equity | $5.2B↑16% | $4.4B↓9% | $4.9B↑54% | $3.2B↑50% | $2.1B |
| Current Ratio | 2.51↑8% | 2.33↑2% | 2.29↓50% | 4.62↓14% | 5.40 |
| Debt / Equity | 1.18↑5% | 1.13↑28% | 0.88↓31% | 1.28↓3% | 1.33 |
| Operating Cash Flow | $1.3B↑748% | -$196.6M↓105% | $4.1B↑396% | $822.5M↑351% | $182.2M |
| Free Cash Flow | $302.9M↑123% | -$1.3B↓141% | $3.2B↑787% | $357.8M↑356% | -$140.0M |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Non-Metallic Mining
SQM vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Greenblatt | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHP Group LtdBHP | $202.0B | $79.49 | $51.3B | $9.0B | 18.9% | 0.45 | 38.0% | 1.46 | 1/9 | 6/9 | 2/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 5 | 7/11 |
| SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/SCCO | $140.0B | $164.08 | $13.4B | $4.3B | 39.4% | 0.61 | 52.2% | 3.89 | 4/9 | 5/9 | 4/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 7 | 5/11 |
| FREEPORT-MCMORAN INCFCX | $85.0B | $59.24 | $25.9B | $4.2B | 22.0% | 0.50 | 25.2% | 2.29 | 2/9 | 5/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 7/11 |
| Vale S.A.VALE | $47.7B | $11.22 | $38.4B | $2.4B | 7.0% | 0.02 | 15.4% | 1.15 | 1/9 | 4/9 | 2/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 3 | 4/11 |
| MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS INCMLM | $36.5B | $513.61 | $6.2B | $1.1B | 11.3% | 0.53 | 23.4% | 3.57 | 4/9 | 3/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 8 | 7/11 |
| Vulcan Materials COVMC | $35.8B | $278.63 | $7.9B | $1.1B | 12.6% | 0.51 | 20.4% | 2.69 | 2/9 | 2/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 9 | 5/11 |
| CAMECO CORPCCJ | $30.8B | $70.73 | $2.5B | $430.5M | 8.5% | 0.14 | 17.8% | 2.47 | 3/9 | 3/9 | 5/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 8 | 6/11 |
| TECK RESOURCES LTDTECK | $29.6B | $60.19 | $7.9B | $1.0B | 5.6% | 0.16 | 20.9% | 2.54 | 3/9 | 2/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 8 | 4/11 |