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IFF vs. SQM: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile ItemIFFSQM
NameInternational Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesChile
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization20.69 billion USD16.43 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 17, 1974September 21, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF
SQM
GSPC
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Total Return (1Y)40.13%19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.28%7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-8.71%1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF
SQM
GSPC
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.26%47.10%
Beta (5Y)0.881.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.66%-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.88M953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IFF 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.710.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative ROE of -7.37%; 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IFF
-7.37%
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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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
IFF
1.68%
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%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IFF
9.53%
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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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
ROE (TTM)-7.37%21.82%
ROA (TTM)2.18%11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)1.68%20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.53%48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.27%42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)-5.17%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.34%-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-248.42%-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
IFF
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
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IFF
0.51
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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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.872.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.510.61
Net Debt / EBITDA3.510.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max
4.52%
IFF
1.85%
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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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max
83.62%
IFF
62.26%
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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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.85%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.26%21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF
236.06
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
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
IFF
1.91
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
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IFF
1.56
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
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricIFFSQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)236.0611.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.912.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.562.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-10.66%15.94%