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DOW vs. SQM: Dow vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

How do Dow (DOW) 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

Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though DOW is classified under Commodity Chemicals while SQM falls under Specialty Chemicals.

Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile ItemDOWSQM
NameDow Inc.Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesChile
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryCommodity ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization22.73 billion USD16.43 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 20, 2019September 21, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOW
SQM
GSPC
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Total Return (1Y)46.93%19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-8.46%7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-6.94%1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DOW
SQM
GSPC
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.81%47.10%
Beta (5Y)0.441.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.37%-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.52M953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DOW 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.020.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.620.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative ROE of -3.24%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports 21.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-3.24%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
DOW
-3.24%
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%
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports 20.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-2.11%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
DOW
-2.11%
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%
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) at 6.78%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DOW

Materials industry group

6.78%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
DOW
6.78%
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%
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
ROE (TTM)-3.24%21.82%
ROA (TTM)1.87%11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)-2.11%20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.78%48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)11.01%42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.97%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.11%-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-335.67%-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Dow (DOW) at 1.76 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.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
DOW
1.76
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
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) at 1.08 uses more debt funding than most peers.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.08

Max
1.98
DOW
1.08
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
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.762.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.080.61
Net Debt / EBITDA3.210.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Dow (DOW) at 4.38% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

DOW

Materials industry group

4.38%

Max
4.52%
DOW
4.38%
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%
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports 21.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

700.00%

DOW
700.00%
Max
83.62%
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%
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.38%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)700.00%21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trades at 11.84 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.

DOW

Materials industry group

--

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
DOW
--

SQM

Materials industry group

11.84

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
SQM
11.84
Min
3.93
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): DOW does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; SQM is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

DOW

Materials industry group

0.53

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
DOW
0.53
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
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Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Dow (DOW) at 1.41 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
DOW
1.41
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
Loading chart…
Dow (DOW) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricDOWSQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)--11.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.532.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.412.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.95%15.94%