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On Wednesday, Jefferies analyst Alejandro Demichelis adjusted the price target for Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE: SQM), a leading global supplier of lithium, iodine, and other industrial chemicals. The new price target is set at $51.00, reduced from the previous target of $55.00. Despite this change, the analyst has reaffirmed a Buy rating on the company’s shares. With a market capitalization of $9.3 billion and a solid current ratio of 2.51, InvestingPro data shows the company maintains strong financial health with liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations.
Demichelis noted that although SQM reported robust results for the first quarter of 2025, management has signaled a softer near-term outlook for the lithium segment. This anticipated softness is expected to be partially mitigated by the company’s continued strong performance in the iodine division. The adjustment of the price target reflects a roughly 6% decrease in the estimated EBITDA for 2025-26. According to InvestingPro analysis, while the company faced challenges with a 39% revenue decline in the last twelve months, analysts expect a return to profitability this year. Notably, SQM has maintained dividend payments for 31 consecutive years, demonstrating long-term financial stability.
The ongoing process to finalize the Coldelco agreement is reportedly moving forward as planned, despite what the analyst described as "local political noise." This agreement is significant for SQM’s future operations and growth prospects.
In his commentary, Demichelis emphasized that, in his view, SQM still presents an attractive risk/reward proposition for the medium term. This positive stance is underpinned by the maintained Buy rating, even as the price target has been slightly lowered to $51.00 from the previous $55.00.
Investors will be watching the company’s progress closely, especially in terms of how it navigates the changing dynamics within the lithium market and its ability to capitalize on its iodine division’s performance while finalizing strategic agreements such as the one with Coldelco.
In other recent news, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) reported first-quarter 2025 earnings that did not meet analyst expectations, although the company’s revenue slightly exceeded estimates. The Chilean firm posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.48, falling short of the analyst consensus of $0.61. However, revenue reached $1.04 billion, surpassing the forecasted $1.02 billion, despite being a 4.4% decrease compared to the previous year. SQM achieved record first-quarter lithium sales volumes, increasing approximately 27% year-over-year, largely due to strong demand from the electric vehicle sector and energy storage systems. CEO Ricardo Ramos indicated a decline in lithium prices due to oversupply and anticipates lower realized prices in the second quarter of 2025. The company’s iodine business showed strong performance, with steady market growth and high prices driven by limited global supply. SQM is also expanding its production capacity, with its Mount Holland refinery plant set to deliver its first product soon. The company is working towards a total capacity of 240,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate and 100,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide in Chile.
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