Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De ChileSQM -1.20%88 Operating Margin % is 41.46% as of Mar. 2026, which is 58% above its 10-year median of 26.32. GuruFocus rates SQM with a GF Score™ of 88/100 and a GF Value™ of $45.03 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,584 Chemicals companies, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile ranks better than 97.79% on this metric.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (NYSE:SQM) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Operating Margin % Related Terms
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Operating Margin % Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Operating Margin % Chart
SQM vs LIN, SHW, ECL: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Operating Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin % falls into.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Operating Margin % Calculation
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (SQM) has a Operating Margin % of 41.46% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile and its competitors. This is 58% above median its historical median of 26.32. Over the past decade, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin % has ranged from 16.10 to 52.00. According to the industry distribution chart, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile ranks #35 out of 1584 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 2.2%.
Is Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin % too high?
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's current Operating Margin % of 41.46% is 58% above median its 10-year median of 26.32. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 16.10 to a high of 52.00. The Chemicals industry median Operating Margin % is 6.03. Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's value of 41.46% is 588.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile ranks #35 out of 1584 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile has a GF Score™ of 88/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's Operating Margin % compare to LIN and SHW?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile ranks #35 out of 1584 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile in the top 2% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.03. Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's value of 41.46% is 588.1% above this benchmark. Historically, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 16.10 to 52.00 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 26.32 vs. the industry median of 6.03, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Chemicals company?
The median Operating Margin % among Chemicals companies is 6.03, based on 1,584 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's current Operating Margin % of 41.46% is 588.1% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.03 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's current Operating Margin % is 41.46%, which is 58% above median its own 10-year median of 26.32. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (SQM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $45.03, compared to a current price of $75.58 — trading 67.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 41.46%, which is 58% above median its 10-year median of 26.32 and 588.1% above the Chemicals industry median of 6.03. Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile's overall GF Score™ is 88/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (SQM), the current Operating Margin % is 41.46% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (SQM) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $75.58 is trading 67.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $45.03.
GuruFocus considers Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for SQM:
Operating Margin %: 41.46% (58% above median its 10-year median of 26.32)
GF Value™: $45.03 vs. price of $75.58 (67.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 588.1% above the Chemicals median (#35 of 1584)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SQM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Business Description
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile is a Chilean commodities producer with significant operations in lithium (primarily used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems), specialty and standard potassium fertilizers, iodine (primarily used in X-ray contrast media), and solar salts. The company extracts these materials through its high-quality salt brine deposits and caliche ore. SQM also sells lithium concentrate from a joint venture hard rock lithium project in Australia and expanding its lithium refining assets in China.
88GF Score
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