SQM vs. WPM: Sociedad Química y Minera vs. Wheaton Precious Metals Stock Comparison
How do Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) 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 Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but SQM is classified in Chemicals while WPM is classified in Metals & Mining.
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) 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 | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. |
| Country/Region | Chile | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Gold |
| Market Capitalization | 16.43 billion USD | 61.91 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 21, 1993 | July 6, 2005 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.41% | 45.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 7.76% | 50.60% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.46% | 29.06% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.10% | 52.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.10 | 0.49 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -69.69% | -43.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 953.31K | 2.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.32 | 0.79 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.49 | 1.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 23.10% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
SQM
Materials industry group
21.82%
- Max
- 52.88%
- SQM
- 21.82%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
WPM
Materials industry group
23.10%
- Max
- 52.88%
- WPM
- 23.10%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 60.39% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% also retains a top-quartile 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%
WPM
Materials industry group
60.39%
- WPM
- 60.39%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 66.70% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
SQM
Materials industry group
48.82%
- Max
- 66.70%
- SQM
- 48.82%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
WPM
Materials industry group
66.70%
- WPM
- 66.70%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.82% | 23.10% |
| ROA (TTM) | 11.55% | 15.22% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.62% | 60.39% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 48.82% | 66.70% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 42.17% | 86.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 80.18% 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 WPM.
EPS Growth
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 177.85% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for WPM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.05% | 80.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -24.68% | 29.53% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -14.16% | 177.85% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -46.80% | 29.83% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 0.57 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WPM.
SQM
Materials industry group
2.61
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- SQM
- 2.61
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
WPM
Materials industry group
0.57
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- WPM
- 0.57
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 0.16 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
WPM
Materials industry group
0.16
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- WPM
- 0.16
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.61 | 0.57 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.61 | 0.16 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.32 | 0.50 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 0.57% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM the richer one.
SQM
Materials industry group
2.55%
- Max
- 4.52%
- SQM
- 2.55%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WPM
Materials industry group
0.57%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- WPM
- 0.57%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 16.29% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
SQM
Materials industry group
21.19%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- SQM
- 21.19%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WPM
Materials industry group
16.29%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- WPM
- 16.29%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.55% | 0.57% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 21.19% | 16.29% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 29.63 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
SQM
Materials industry group
11.84
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- SQM
- 11.84
- Min
- 3.93
WPM
Materials industry group
29.63
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- WPM
- 29.63
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 17.86 clears its benchmark range — WPM looks notably rich on sales.
SQM
Materials industry group
2.44
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SQM
- 2.44
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
WPM
Materials industry group
17.86
- WPM
- 17.86
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 6.17 carries an above-peer premium to book — WPM is pricier on assets.
SQM
Materials industry group
2.60
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- SQM
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
WPM
Materials industry group
6.17
- Max
- 6.59
- WPM
- 6.17
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SQM | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.84 | 29.63 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.44 | 17.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.60 | 6.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 15.94% | -5.11% |