AEM vs. SQM: Agnico Eagle Mines vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison
How do Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AEM is classified in Metals & Mining while SQM is classified in Chemicals.
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | Canada | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gold | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 96.85 billion USD | 16.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | September 21, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 24.35% | 19.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.16% | 7.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 32.08% | 1.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 49.17% | 47.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.62 | 1.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.80% | -69.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.33M | 953.31K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.41 | 0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | 0.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 23.24% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
AEM
Materials industry group
23.24%
- Max
- 52.88%
- AEM
- 23.24%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.82%
- Max
- 52.88%
- SQM
- 21.82%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 41.01% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% also retains a top-quartile share.
AEM
Materials industry group
41.01%
- AEM
- 41.01%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
SQM
Materials industry group
20.62%
- Max
- 38.66%
- SQM
- 20.62%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 55.49% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
AEM
Materials industry group
55.49%
- Max
- 66.70%
- AEM
- 55.49%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
SQM
Materials industry group
48.82%
- Max
- 66.70%
- SQM
- 48.82%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.24% | 21.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 15.80% | 11.55% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 41.01% | 20.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 55.49% | 48.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 74.52% | 42.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 43.71% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for AEM.
EPS Growth
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 134.39% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AEM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 43.71% | 1.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 27.53% | -24.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 134.39% | -14.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 79.58% | -46.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 2.75 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
AEM
Materials industry group
2.75
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- AEM
- 2.75
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
SQM
Materials industry group
2.61
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- SQM
- 2.61
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
AEM
Materials industry group
0.01
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- AEM
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
SQM
Materials industry group
0.61
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- SQM
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.75 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.31 | 0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 0.93% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM the richer one.
AEM
Materials industry group
0.93%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- AEM
- 0.93%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SQM
Materials industry group
2.55%
- Max
- 4.52%
- SQM
- 2.55%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 14.26% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AEM
Materials industry group
14.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- AEM
- 14.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.19%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- SQM
- 21.19%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.93% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 14.26% | 21.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 15.61 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
AEM
Materials industry group
15.61
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- AEM
- 15.61
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
SQM
Materials industry group
11.84
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- SQM
- 11.84
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 6.44 sits in the pricier quartile — AEM costs more per dollar of sales.
AEM
Materials industry group
6.44
- Max
- 9.62
- AEM
- 6.44
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
SQM
Materials industry group
2.44
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SQM
- 2.44
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) at 3.27 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
AEM
Materials industry group
3.27
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- AEM
- 3.27
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
SQM
Materials industry group
2.60
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- SQM
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AEM | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.61 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.44 | 2.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.27 | 2.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.87% | 15.94% |