APD vs. SQM: Air Products and Chemicals vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) 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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though APD is classified under Industrial Gases while SQM falls under Specialty Chemicals.

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) 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.

Company profile comparison for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile Item	APD	SQM
Name	Air Products and Chemicals Inc.	Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/Region	United States	Chile
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Gases	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	67.88 billion USD	16.43 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	September 21, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APD

SQM

GSPC

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Total Return (1Y)	23.26%	19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.49%	7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	2.43%	1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APD

SQM

GSPC

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.21%	47.10%
Beta (5Y)	0.67	1.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.77%	-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.06M	953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

APD and SQM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.75	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.14	0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

APD

Materials industry group

3.19%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
APD: 3.19%
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%

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

APD

Materials industry group

4.10%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
APD: 4.10%
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%

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

APD

Materials industry group

17.68%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
APD: 17.68%
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%

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
ROE (TTM)	3.19%	21.82%
ROA (TTM)	4.80%	11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)	4.10%	20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	17.68%	48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	31.58%	42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-0.52%	1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.77%	-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-110.30%	-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APD.

APD

Materials industry group

1.07

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
APD: 1.07
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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 uses more debt funding than most peers.

APD

Materials industry group

1.06

Max: 1.98
APD: 1.06
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.07	2.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.06	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.61	0.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

APD

Materials industry group

2.33%

Max: 4.52%
APD: 2.33%
Q3: 1.85%
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%

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

APD

Materials industry group

75.66%

Max: 83.62%
APD: 75.66%
Q3: 41.37%
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%

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.33%	2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	75.66%	21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

APD

Materials industry group

127.55

APD: 127.55
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

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 Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.

APD

Materials industry group

5.23

Max: 9.62
APD: 5.23
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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.

APD

Materials industry group

4.76

Max: 6.59
APD: 4.76
Q3: 3.55
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

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	APD	SQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	127.55	11.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.23	2.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.76	2.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.28%	15.94%