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SQM vs. SW: Sociedad Química y Minera vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

How do Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) 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

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but SQM is classified in Chemicals while SW is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Smurfit Westrock (SW) 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile ItemSQMSW
NameSociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADRSmurfit WestRock Plc
Country/RegionChileIreland
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization16.43 billion USD23.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 21, 1993June 17, 2008
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SQM
SW
GSPC
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW), 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Total Return (1Y)19.41%29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.76%14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.46%-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SQM
SW
GSPC
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW), 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.10%42.69%
Beta (5Y)1.100.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)-69.69%-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)953.31K4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SQM and SW 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.320.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.490.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

SQM

Materials industry group

21.82%

Max
52.88%
SQM
21.82%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

SW

Materials industry group

2.57%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
SW
2.57%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): 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 Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.50%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

SQM

Materials industry group

20.62%

Max
38.66%
SQM
20.62%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

SW

Materials industry group

1.50%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
SW
1.50%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): 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 Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

SQM

Materials industry group

48.82%

Max
66.70%
SQM
48.82%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

SW

Materials industry group

6.38%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
SW
6.38%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
ROE (TTM)21.82%2.57%
ROA (TTM)11.55%2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)20.62%1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)48.82%6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.17%17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.

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

EPS Growth

Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20% 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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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.05%47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-24.68%32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.16%62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-46.80%-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

SQM

Materials industry group

2.61

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
SQM
2.61
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

SW

Materials industry group

1.48

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
SW
1.48
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SQM

Materials industry group

0.61

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
SQM
0.61
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

SW

Materials industry group

0.78

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
SW
0.78
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.610.78
Net Debt / EBITDA0.322.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

SQM

Materials industry group

2.55%

Max
4.52%
SQM
2.55%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SW

Materials industry group

4.02%

Max
4.52%
SW
4.02%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 198.63%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) reports 21.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.

SQM

Materials industry group

21.19%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
SQM
21.19%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SW

Materials industry group

198.63%

SW
198.63%
Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.55%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)21.19%198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 48.99 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

SQM

Materials industry group

11.84

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
SQM
11.84
Min
3.93

SW

Materials industry group

48.99

Max
59.00
SW
48.99
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

SQM

Materials industry group

2.44

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
SQM
2.44
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

SW

Materials industry group

0.73

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
SW
0.73
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SQM

Materials industry group

2.60

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
SQM
2.60
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

SW

Materials industry group

1.28

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
SW
1.28
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSQMSW
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.8448.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.440.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.601.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)15.94%4.26%