Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) vs United States Lime & Minerals (USLM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) has outperformed United States Lime & Minerals (USLM) over the past year, gaining 44.9% versus a loss of 12.1%. Over five years, USLM leads with a +357.9% price change compared with +19.0% for SQM. Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. is the larger company by market cap ($18.19 billion vs $3.13 billion), about 5.8 times the size, while United States Lime & Minerals is growing revenue faster (+17.3% vs -39.4%).
On valuation, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 19.1x for United States Lime & Minerals). Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. offers the higher dividend yield (2.25% vs 0.22%). United States Lime & Minerals converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 36.0% versus 15.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | SQM | USLM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $63.67 | $109.13 |
| Market cap | $18.19B | $3.13B |
| 1-day change | -1.32% | +0.07% |
| YTD return | -6.22% | -8.93% |
| 1-year return | +44.86% | -12.08% |
| 5-year return | +18.97% | +357.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.10 | 23.37 |
| Forward P/E | 9.14 | 19.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.86 | $4.67 |
| Dividend yield | 2.25% | 0.22% |
| Annual dividend | $1.44 | $0.24 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.53B | $372.73M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -39.35% | +17.31% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $685.12M | $134.28M |
| Gross margin | 29.30% | 48.94% |
| Operating margin | 23.54% | 42.35% |
| Net margin | 15.13% | 36.03% |
| 52-week high | $98.00 | $141.44 |
| 52-week low | $40.58 | $96.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.03% | -22.84% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.29% | +20.96% |
| Average volume | 963.82K | 147.62K |
| Shares outstanding | 142.82M | 28.69M |
| Employees | 7,637 | 346 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) | Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. is about 5.8 times larger than United States Lime & Minerals by market value ($18.19B vs $3.13B).
- SQM has outperformed USLM by 56.9 percentage points over the past year.
- United States Lime & Minerals trades at a higher earnings multiple (23.4x vs 13.1x trailing P/E).
- Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.25% vs 0.22%).
- United States Lime & Minerals is more profitable, keeping 36.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 15.1 cents for Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A..
- United States Lime & Minerals grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+17.31% vs -39.35%).
About Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A.
SQM stock →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.
Industrials · Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) · 7,637 employees
About United States Lime & Minerals
USLM stock →United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. manufactures and supplies lime and limestone products in the United States.
Industrials · Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) · 346 employees
SQM vs USLM FAQ
Which is bigger, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. or United States Lime & Minerals?
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $18.19B compared with $3.13B for United States Lime & Minerals (USLM).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SQM or USLM?
SQM returned +44.86% over the past 12 months, compared with -12.08% for USLM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SQM or USLM?
SQM has the lower trailing P/E at 13.1, versus 23.4 for USLM. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. or United States Lime & Minerals?
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has the higher yield at 2.25%, compared with 0.22% for United States Lime & Minerals.
Are Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. and United States Lime & Minerals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) industry within the Industrials sector.