Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA (SQM) experienced a notable price increase of 7.60%, reaching a 52-week high. This movement occurred in the context of a slightly declining broader market, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.22% and the S&P 500 down 0.05%.
The stock's rise is attributed to sector rotation, as investors are shifting their focus towards companies in the chemical sector, despite the overall market weakness. This trend indicates a growing interest in SQM's strong fundamentals and potential for growth in the lithium market, which is critical for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.
As SQM continues to capitalize on the increasing demand for lithium, this upward movement may signal further investor confidence in the company's future performance. The stock's ability to reach a new high suggests that it is well-positioned to benefit from ongoing trends in the energy sector.
Wall Street analysts forecast SQM stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SQM is 64.28 USD with a low forecast of 43.50 USD and a high forecast of 80.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
9 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast SQM stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SQM is 64.28 USD with a low forecast of 43.50 USD and a high forecast of 80.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
3 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 84.010
Low
43.50
Averages
64.28
High
80.00
Current: 84.010
Low
43.50
Averages
64.28
High
80.00
Clarksons
Hans Lund
Buy
to
Neutral
downgrade
$90
2026-01-22
Reason
Clarksons
Hans Lund
Price Target
$90
AI Analysis
2026-01-22
downgrade
Buy
to
Neutral
Reason
Clarksons analyst Hans Lund downgraded SQM to Neutral from Buy with a $90 price target.
Deutsche Bank
Buy
maintain
$88 -> $91
2026-01-21
Reason
Deutsche Bank
Price Target
$88 -> $91
2026-01-21
maintain
Buy
Reason
Deutsche Bank raised the firm's price target on SQM to $91 from $88 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares ahead of the Q4 report. The firm sees the company benefitting from lithium strength while noting the Codelco overhang is now removed.
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JPMorgan
Overweight
maintain
$79 -> $93
2026-01-20
Reason
JPMorgan
Price Target
$79 -> $93
2026-01-20
maintain
Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan raised the firm's price target on SQM to $93 from $79 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm sees a buying opportunity following the recent profit taking among the lithium names. China's lithium futures prices are down 13% from their peak, which is mostly a technical selloff rather than based on fundamentals, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
JPMorgan
Neutral -> Overweight
upgrade
$41 -> $79
2025-12-16
Reason
JPMorgan
Price Target
$41 -> $79
2025-12-16
upgrade
Neutral -> Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan upgraded SQM to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $79, up from $41. The firm is citing a positive lithium price perspective for the next two years while estimating the industry returning to a structural deficit of about 130KT/year over the next five years, driven mainly by a sharp 17% upward revision in ESS demand, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Despite seeing supply reacting to the better demand, the industry supply hiatus is not fully priced in by lithium stocks, the firm added.
About SQM
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA (SQM), is a producer of potassium nitrate and iodine. The Company produces specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium and its derivatives, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and certain industrial chemicals. Its segments include specialty plant nutrients, industrial chemicals, iodine and derivatives, lithium and derivatives, potassium, and other products and services. Specialty plant nutrients are fertilizers that enable farmers to improve yields. Industrial chemicals have a range of applications in chemical processes, such as the manufacturing of glass and industrial nitrates. Iodine and its derivatives are used in the X-ray contrast media and biocides industries, among others. Lithium and its derivatives are used in batteries, greases and frits for production of ceramics. Potassium chloride is a commodity fertilizer that is produced and sold by the Company across the world.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
