SQM stock falls as JPMorgan cuts price target after strong earnings

Published on 09/19/2026 at 17:53 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

SQM stock closed at USD 67.72 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 18, 2026, after a 5.68 percent drop alongside weaker lithium prices. JPMorgan cut its price target for SQM from USD 94.00 to USD 88.00 on September 18, 2026 while maintaining a neutral rating.

SQM, US8336351056, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM, ISIN US8336351056) stock closed at USD 67.72 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 18, 2026, a decline of 5.68 percent from the prior close as lithium prices in China slipped again and dragged producers lower.

JPMorgan trims SQM price target after earnings beat

On September 18, 2026, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its price target for SQM stock from USD 94.00 to USD 88.00 while keeping a neutral rating on the shares, signaling a more cautious stance despite strong recent earnings.

According to MarketBeat on September 18, 2026, the brokerage cut its target from USD 94 to USD 88, implying about 28.11 percent upside from the prior close while maintaining a neutral recommendation.

The same overview reports that SQM delivered quarterly earnings of USD 2.31 per share and revenue of USD 2.47 billion, beating analyst estimates and lifting revenue by 136.7 percent year over year for the quarter ended August 14, 2026.

Quarterly figures show strong growth but valuation concerns

In its latest reported quarter, which closed around August 14, 2026, SQM generated revenue of USD 2.47 billion, up 136.7 percent compared with the same quarter a year earlier, underlining the impact of high lithium prices and volume growth in its core business.

For the same period, earnings per share came in at USD 2.31, ahead of the consensus forecast of USD 2.03, meaning the company beat expectations by USD 0.28 per share according to MarketBeat.

Despite these strong figures, valuation metrics suggest that the stock is not cheap. A separate analysis from GuruFocus on September 18, 2026 notes that at a price of USD 67.72, SQM trades about 12.2 percent above its estimated GF Value of USD 60.33.

The same GuruFocus report highlights a 52-week trading range between USD 40.58 and USD 98.00, showing how volatile the stock has been in the past year and placing the latest close roughly midway between the low and high of that range.

Stock reaction and lithium market backdrop

The price move on September 18, 2026 came against a weak backdrop for lithium producers. As The Rio Times reported on September 19, 2026, SQM’s New York listing fell 5.68 percent to USD 67.72 as China lithium prices slid again, while peer Albemarle declined 3.60 percent to USD 110.91.

Over the week, SQM’s New York shares retreated 3.09 percent, while its Santiago-listed SQM-B shares still managed a 3.63 percent weekly gain to 68,708 Chilean pesos, about USD 71.65, according to The Rio Times on September 19, 2026.

For investors, the combination of strong recent earnings, a significant year-over-year revenue jump of 136.7 percent and the latest 5.68 percent price drop underscores how sensitive SQM stock remains to shifts in lithium prices and changing analyst views on valuation.

SQM stock at latest New York close

At the close on September 18, 2026, SQM stock traded at USD 67.72 on the New York Stock Exchange, down from levels near USD 68.84 at the beginning of 2026 and leaving the shares about 1.4 percent lower year to date, according to price data summarized by MarketBeat.