Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) vs Vulcan Materials (Holding) (VMC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) has outperformed Vulcan Materials (Holding) (VMC) over the past year, gaining 48.9% versus a loss of 18.9%. Over five years, VMC leads with a +38.0% price change compared with +19.1% for SQM. Vulcan Materials (Holding) is the larger company by market cap ($31.63 billion vs $18.46 billion), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. trades at a lower forward P/E (9.3x vs 23.2x for Vulcan Materials (Holding)). Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. offers the higher dividend yield (2.22% vs 0.83%). Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 15.1% versus 13.6%.
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 | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $64.61 | $244.13 |
| Market cap | $18.46B | $31.63B |
| 1-day change | -2.36% | -1.90% |
| YTD return | -6.09% | -14.41% |
| 1-year return | +48.91% | -18.87% |
| 5-year return | +19.14% | +37.98% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.63 | 28.79 |
| Forward P/E | 9.28 | 23.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.74 | $8.48 |
| Dividend yield | 2.22% | 0.83% |
| Annual dividend | $1.44 | $2.02 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.53B | $7.94B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -39.35% | +7.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $685.12M | $1.08B |
| Gross margin | 29.30% | 27.38% |
| Operating margin | 23.54% | 20.40% |
| Net margin | 15.13% | 13.56% |
| 52-week high | $98.00 | $331.09 |
| 52-week low | $40.58 | $237.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.07% | -26.26% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +30.37% | +29.12% |
| Average volume | 965.25K | 1.08M |
| Shares outstanding | 142.82M | 129.58M |
| Employees | 7,637 | 11,548 |
| 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
- SQM has outperformed VMC by 67.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Vulcan Materials (Holding) trades at a higher earnings multiple (28.8x vs 13.6x trailing P/E).
- Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.22% vs 0.83%).
- Vulcan Materials (Holding) grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.06% 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 Vulcan Materials (Holding)
VMC stock →Vulcan Materials Company produces and supplies construction aggregates in the United States. It operates through three segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, and Concrete.
Industrials · Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) · 11,548 employees
SQM vs VMC FAQ
Which is bigger, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. or Vulcan Materials (Holding)?
Vulcan Materials (Holding) (VMC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $31.63B compared with $18.46B for Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SQM or VMC?
SQM returned +48.91% over the past 12 months, compared with -18.87% for VMC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SQM or VMC?
SQM has the lower trailing P/E at 13.6, versus 28.8 for VMC. 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 Vulcan Materials (Holding)?
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has the higher yield at 2.22%, compared with 0.83% for Vulcan Materials (Holding).
Are Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. and Vulcan Materials (Holding) in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) industry within the Industrials sector.