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NUE vs. SQM: Nucor vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

How do Nucor (NUE) 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

Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but NUE is classified in Metals & Mining while SQM is classified in Chemicals.

Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile ItemNUESQM
NameNucor CorporationSociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesChile
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySteelSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization55.58 billion USD16.43 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980September 21, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Total Return (1Y)74.82%19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.83%7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.79%1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NUE
SQM
GSPC
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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.37%47.10%
Beta (5Y)1.821.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.79%-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.37M953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NUE 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 Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.180.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.280.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

NUE

Materials industry group

17.58%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
NUE
17.58%
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%
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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) at 9.26%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NUE

Materials industry group

9.26%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
NUE
9.26%
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%
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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) at 16.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NUE

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
NUE
16.73%
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%
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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
ROE (TTM)17.58%21.82%
ROA (TTM)8.82%11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)9.26%20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.73%48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)17.39%42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% 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.

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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.73%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.84%-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-11.11%-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-36.08%-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 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.

NUE

Materials industry group

2.46

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
NUE
2.46
Median
2.24
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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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NUE

Materials industry group

0.29

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
NUE
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
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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.462.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.290.61
Net Debt / EBITDA0.520.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM the richer one.

NUE

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
NUE
0.91%
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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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% 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.

NUE

Materials industry group

17.78%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
NUE
17.78%
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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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.91%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)17.78%21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
NUE
15.60
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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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 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.

NUE

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
NUE
1.43
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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Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

NUE

Materials industry group

2.43

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
NUE
2.43
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
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Nucor (NUE) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricNUESQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.6011.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.432.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.432.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.77%15.94%