GFI vs. SQM: Gold Fields vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison
How do Gold Fields (GFI) 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
Gold Fields (GFI) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but GFI is classified in Metals & Mining while SQM is classified in Chemicals.
Both Gold Fields (GFI) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Gold Fields Ltd. Sponsored ADR | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | South Africa | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gold | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 34.65 billion USD | 16.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | September 21, 1993 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 9.54% | 19.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 51.07% | 7.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 38.08% | 1.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.41% | 47.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.64 | 1.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.22% | -69.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.78M | 953.31K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.12 | 0.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Gold Fields (GFI) at 58.68% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% also sits in the top quartile.
GFI
Materials industry group
58.68%
- GFI
- 58.68%
- Max
- 52.88%
- 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)
For every dollar of sales, both Gold Fields (GFI) at 38.66% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
GFI
Materials industry group
38.66%
- GFI
- 38.66%
- 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 Gold Fields (GFI) at 55.00% 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.
GFI
Materials industry group
55.00%
- Max
- 66.70%
- GFI
- 55.00%
- 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 | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.68% | 21.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 28.52% | 11.55% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 38.66% | 20.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 55.00% | 48.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.77% | 42.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Gold Fields (GFI) at 68.24% 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 GFI.
EPS Growth
Gold Fields (GFI) at 185.51% 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 GFI.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 68.24% | 1.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.86% | -24.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 185.51% | -14.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 71.58% | -46.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 1.87 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.
GFI
Materials industry group
1.87
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- GFI
- 1.87
- 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)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 0.29 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
GFI
Materials industry group
0.29
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- GFI
- 0.29
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.29 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | 0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Gold Fields (GFI) at 5.65% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
GFI
Materials industry group
5.65%
- GFI
- 5.65%
- Max
- 4.52%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 31.81% 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.
GFI
Materials industry group
31.81%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- GFI
- 31.81%
- 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 | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.65% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.81% | 21.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 8.03 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
GFI
Materials industry group
8.03
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- GFI
- 8.03
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Gold Fields (GFI) at 3.05 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
GFI
Materials industry group
3.05
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- GFI
- 3.05
- 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)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Gold Fields (GFI) at 7.78 prices above its benchmark range — GFI looks rich relative to book.
GFI
Materials industry group
7.78
- GFI
- 7.78
- Max
- 6.59
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GFI | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.03 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.05 | 2.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.78 | 2.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 12.05% | 15.94% |