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PKX vs. SQM: POSCO vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

How do POSCO (PKX) 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

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

Both POSCO (PKX) 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.

Company profile comparison for POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile ItemPKXSQM
NamePOSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary ReceiptSociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/RegionSouth KoreaChile
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySteelSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization14.79 billion USD16.43 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 14, 1994September 21, 1993
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Total Return (1Y)-4.84%19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-15.65%7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.81%1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKX
SQM
GSPC
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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.00%47.10%
Beta (5Y)1.711.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-68.71%-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)216.95K953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PKX 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 POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.200.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.300.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 2.21% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

PKX

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
PKX
2.21%
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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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 1.89%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.89%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
PKX
1.89%
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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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 4.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PKX

Materials industry group

4.26%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
PKX
4.26%
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
ROE (TTM)2.21%21.82%
ROA (TTM)1.31%11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)1.89%20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.26%48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)7.87%42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both POSCO (PKX) at -29.00% 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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.09%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.72%-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-29.00%-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-39.42%-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.98

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
PKX
1.98
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
PKX
0.50
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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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.982.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.61
Net Debt / EBITDA2.810.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

PKX

Materials industry group

18,518.52%

PKX
18,518.52%
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%
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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 51.60% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

PKX

Materials industry group

51.60%

Max
83.62%
PKX
51.60%
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)18,518.52%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)51.60%21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PKX

Materials industry group

15.57

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
PKX
15.57
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 prices around its industry’s middle — PKX costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.00

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
PKX
0.00
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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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.36

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
PKX
1.36
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…
POSCO (PKX) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKXSQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.5711.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.002.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.362.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-23,410.34%15.94%