JHX vs. SQM: James Hardie Industries vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison
How do James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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
James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but JHX is classified in Construction Materials while SQM is classified in Chemicals.
James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | James Hardie Industries plc | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | Ireland | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Construction Materials | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction Materials | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 16.20 billion USD | 16.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 22, 2001 | September 21, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 72.20% | 19.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 0.38% | 7.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.23% | 1.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.97% | 47.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.74 | 1.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -60.26% | -69.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 9.36M | 953.31K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.51 | 0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.59 | 0.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.
JHX
Materials industry group
5.46%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- JHX
- 5.46%
- 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)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
JHX
Materials industry group
6.22%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- JHX
- 6.22%
- 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)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
JHX
Materials industry group
19.56%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- JHX
- 19.56%
- 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 | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.46% | 21.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.42% | 11.55% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.22% | 20.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.56% | 48.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.25% | 42.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 24.71% | 1.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.59% | -24.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -80.61% | -14.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -45.13% | -46.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 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.
JHX
Materials industry group
2.12
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- JHX
- 2.12
- 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
JHX
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- JHX
- 0.63
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.12 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.63 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.43 | 0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports a yield of 2.55%, ranking against industry peers normally.
JHX
Materials industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- JHX
- 0.00%
- 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)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports a payout of 21.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.
JHX
Materials industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- JHX
- 0.00%
- 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 | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 21.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
JHX
Materials industry group
48.02
- Max
- 59.00
- JHX
- 48.02
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 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.
JHX
Materials industry group
2.86
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- JHX
- 2.86
- 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
JHX
Materials industry group
2.41
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- JHX
- 2.41
- 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 | JHX | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 48.02 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.86 | 2.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.41 | 2.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.98% | 15.94% |