RS vs. SQM: Reliance vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Reliance (RS) 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

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

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile Item	RS	SQM
Name	Reliance, Inc.	Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/Region	United States	Chile
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	21.24 billion USD	16.43 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 16, 1994	September 21, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SQM

GSPC

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Total Return (1Y)	54.53%	19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.36%	7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	22.28%	1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SQM

GSPC

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.64%	47.10%
Beta (5Y)	0.97	1.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.32%	-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)	311.43K	953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

RS 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.96	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.92	0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Reliance (RS) at 14.75% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

RS

Materials industry group

14.75%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
RS: 14.75%
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%

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) at 6.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

RS

Materials industry group

6.38%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
RS: 6.38%
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%

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) at 10.63%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

RS

Materials industry group

10.63%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
RS: 10.63%
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%

Reliance (RS) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
ROE (TTM)	14.75%	21.82%
ROA (TTM)	8.83%	11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.38%	20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.63%	48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	28.17%	42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Reliance (RS) at 3.32% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Reliance (RS) at -10.15% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.32%	1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-5.66%	-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-10.15%	-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-22.40%	-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Reliance (RS) at 4.12 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

RS

Materials industry group

4.12

Max: 5.96
RS: 4.12
Q3: 3.30
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

Reliance (RS) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Reliance (RS) at 0.25 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

RS

Materials industry group

0.25

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
RS: 0.25
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

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	4.12	2.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.25	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.93	0.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Reliance (RS) at 1.20% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM the richer one.

RS

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
RS: 1.20%
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%

Reliance (RS) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Reliance (RS) at 23.08% 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.

RS

Materials industry group

23.08%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
RS: 23.08%
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%

Reliance (RS) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.20%	2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	23.08%	21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Reliance (RS) at 19.44 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

RS

Materials industry group

19.44

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
RS: 19.44
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

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) at 1.22 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.

RS

Materials industry group

1.22

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
RS: 1.22
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

Reliance (RS) 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 Reliance (RS) at 2.75 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

RS

Materials industry group

2.75

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
RS: 2.75
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

Reliance (RS) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Reliance (RS) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Metric	RS	SQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.44	11.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.22	2.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.75	2.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.19%	15.94%