A month has gone by since the last earnings report for CF Industries (CF - Free Report) . Shares have added about 18.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is CF due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
CF Industries’ Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates Despite Strong Nitrogen PricingCF Industries reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $4.73 per share, up 99.6% from $2.37 in the year-ago quarter. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65 by 16.3%.
Net sales increased 17.6% year over year to $2.22 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion by 8.7%. Higher average selling prices across all segments supported growth, while total sales volume declined 15.3% to 4.25 million tons.
Segmental Review Ammonia segment net sales rose 19.3% year over year to $586 million. Adjusted gross margin increased to $288 million from $188 million. An increase in the average selling price more than offset a decline in sales volume. Higher prices supported profitability, while lower supply availability and maintenance costs remained headwinds.
Granular Urea segment net sales climbed 38.8% to $759 million. Adjusted gross margin advanced to $551 million from $351 million. Sales volume and the average selling price rose. Greater product availability and a production mix favoring granular urea supported volumes, while stronger pricing lifted margins despite higher natural gas costs.
UAN segment net sales edged up 0.5% to $613 million. Adjusted gross margin rose to $403 million from $342 million. A rise in the average selling price offset a reduction in sales volume. Lower global demand and a production mix favoring granular urea pressured volumes, while higher freight, distribution and natural gas costs partly offset the pricing benefit.
AN segment’s net sales decreased 39.3% to $71 million. The segment recorded an adjusted gross loss of $1 million compared with an adjusted gross margin of $35 million a year earlier. Sales volume plunged because of lost production at the Yazoo City Complex, outweighing an increase in the average selling price. Higher purchased ammonia costs and outage-related expenses also pressured results.
Financials As of June 30, 2026, CF Industries had cash and cash equivalents of $2.48 billion. Long-term debt was $3.22 billion. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $878 million in the second quarter. CF Industries repurchased 2 million shares for $230 million during the quarter. The company bought back 2.2 million shares for $245 million in the first half, leaving roughly $1.48 billion under its current authorization.
Outlook CF Industries expects full-year 2026 gross ammonia production of approximately 9.5 million tons, including the effect of the ongoing Yazoo City outage. Management expects ammonia, AN solution, nitric acid, UAN solution and urea liquor production at the complex to resume during the first half of 2027. The company projects 2026 capital expenditures of about $1.3 billion on a consolidated basis.
Management expects nitrogen supply to remain constrained and demand to remain constructive through the end of 2026 and into 2027. Lower nitrogen prices entering the second half of 2026 are expected to support demand in India, Southeast Asia, Brazil and other import markets. North American nitrogen demand for the 2027 growing season is also expected to remain firm.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted -20% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, CF has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, CF has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerCF belongs to the Zacks Fertilizers industry. Another stock from the same industry, Mosaic (MOS - Free Report) , has gained 8.7% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.
Mosaic reported revenues of $2.82 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -6%. EPS of $0.13 for the same period compares with $0.51 a year ago.
Mosaic is expected to post earnings of $0.09 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -91.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -64.2%.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Mosaic. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of D.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CF either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
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David Lamač
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 5,162 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $559,000.
A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. acquired a new position in shares of CF Industries in the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Virtus Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of CF Industries in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 36.6% during the first quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 418 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in CF Industries by 39.6% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 430 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.06% of the company’s stock.
CF Industries Trading Up 3.4% Shares of CF Industries stock opened at $130.03 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.68 billion, a PE ratio of 9.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.25 and a beta of 0.39. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $75.42 and a 52 week high of $141.96. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $118.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $117.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 4.32 and a current ratio of 4.86.
CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.63 by ($0.90). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%.CF Industries’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.37 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 13.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CF Industries Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th were issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. This is an increase from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 14th. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is currently 17.79%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on CF Industries from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated a “neutral” rating and set a $129.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a research report on Friday, July 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on CF Industries from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Finally, Zacks Research cut CF Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $116.56.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF Industries
About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Key Takeaways CF Industries shares rallied 14.6% in three months, outpacing the Fertilizers industry's 5.3% growth. Strong nitrogen demand, higher prices and tighter global supply support CF Industries' outlook through 2027. CF Industries repurchased 2.2 million shares in the first half and raised its quarterly dividend 20%. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) shares have rallied 14.6% in the past three months. The company has also outperformed the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s 5.3% growth over the same time frame.
CF Industries’ rally is supported by strong nitrogen demand, higher fertilizer prices and a tightening global supply-demand balance, reinforced by geopolitical disruptions that constrain supply. Robust cash flow, aggressive share buybacks and a 20% dividend increase further strengthen investor confidence and shareholder returns.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at the factors that are driving CF stock.
CF Industries Benefits From Durable Nitrogen DemandCF Industries is expected to benefit from durable nitrogen demand through 2026 and into 2027. Management expects global nitrogen demand to remain constructive as lower prices entering the second half of 2026 encourage deferred purchases. India, Southeast Asia and other markets are expected to import urea at or above second-half 2025 levels.
The company projects Indian urea imports of roughly 10-11 million metric tons in 2026 and Brazilian imports of roughly 7-8 million metric tons, with Brazil demand weighted to the second half. In North America, July 2026 ammonia and UAN fill programs saw firm uptake while channel inventories are projected below average. Management expects global nitrogen capacity additions under construction to lag demand growth over the next four years, tightening the supply-demand balance.
Higher selling prices lifted second-quarter 2026 net sales to $2.22 billion from $1.89 billion a year earlier, with prices higher across all segments. CF operated at 98% of available ammonia capacity in the first half, helping it capture favorable market conditions despite the Yazoo outage.
The Iran conflict disrupted Middle East trade, with management estimating losses of 4-4.5 million metric tons of urea and about 1 million tons of ammonia. Prices returned to pre-conflict levels by quarter-end, but management expects supply to remain constrained through 2026 and into 2027 as geopolitical risks and European production economics limit availability.
CF Industries Expands Shareholder Returns Through BuybacksCF Industries continues to deploy cash through buybacks and dividends. It repurchased 2.2 million shares for $245 million in the first half of 2026, including 2 million shares for $230 million in the second quarter. Since the current $2 billion program began in October 2025, the company has repurchased 5.6 million shares for about $523 million, leaving roughly $1.48 billion authorized through 2029 as of June 30, 2026. In July 2026, the board also raised the quarterly dividend by 20% to 60 cents per share.
CF Industries ended the second quarter with $2.48 billion of cash and cash equivalents, including $341 million held by Blue Point One, while long-term debt was essentially unchanged at $3.22 billion. Net cash from operating activities rose to $1.37 billion in the first half of 2026 from $1.15 billion a year earlier. Trailing 12-month free cash flow was $1.82 billion. Management expects CF-funded capital expenditures of about $950 million in 2026, excluding the Yazoo City rebuild. Blue Point’s partners fund the joint venture according to ownership interests. Permits received in July 2026 allow construction to commence in August.
CF’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) . WS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while CRS and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WS’ current-year earnings stands at $3.4 per share, implying a 52.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the negative average surprise being 13.8%. Shares of the company are down around 21.4% in the past three months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ current-year earnings is pegged at $13.09 per share, implying a 21.7% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 8.4%. Shares of CRS have fell around 2.2% in the past three months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pegged at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.4%. Shares of AVNT have surged around 25.1% in the past three months.
Bank of Nova Scotia purchased a new stake in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 43,853 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,748,000.
Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. bought a new position in shares of CF Industries during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Virtus Advisers LLC bought a new stake in CF Industries in the second quarter worth $25,000. Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in CF Industries in the second quarter worth $29,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in CF Industries by 46.3% in the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 493 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in CF Industries during the second quarter worth $44,000. Institutional investors own 93.06% of the company’s stock.
CF Industries Trading Down 1.5% NYSE:CF opened at $127.30 on Wednesday. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $75.42 and a 52 week high of $141.96. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $116.87 and a 200 day moving average of $116.34. The company has a quick ratio of 4.32, a current ratio of 4.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.44, a PEG ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.39.
CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.63 by ($0.90). CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%.The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.45 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 earnings per share. CF Industries’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 13.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CF Industries Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is an increase from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. CF Industries’s payout ratio is 17.79%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently commented on CF. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on CF Industries from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Weiss Ratings lowered CF Industries from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday. Berenberg Bank boosted their price objective on CF Industries from $86.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, May 28th. Freedom Capital raised CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on CF Industries from $115.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, CF Industries presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $116.56.
View Our Latest Research Report on CF Industries
CF Industries Profile (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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MODESTE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Point One, a joint venture between CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), the world's largest producer of ammonia; JERA Co., Inc. (JERA), Japan's largest energy company; and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui), a leading global investment and trading company, today broke ground in Modeste, Louisiana, on a low-carbon ammonia plant that can serve both traditional agricultural customers and emerging energy applications. The plant is expected to be the world's larg.
Key Takeaways CF Industries and partners have begun construction of the $3.7B Blue Point One low-carbon ammonia plant.Blue Point One is set for 1.4M metric tons of annual capacity and is expected to start production in 2029.The plant is designed to capture and permanently sequester about 98% of carbon dioxide from production. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) , JERA Co. and Mitsui & Co. have begun the construction of Blue Point One, a $3.7 billion low-carbon ammonia plant in Louisiana. The project is expected to strengthen CF’s position in the evolving low-carbon ammonia market by serving both traditional agricultural customers and emerging energy applications.
Blue Point One will have an annual production capacity of 1.4 million metric tons, making it the world’s largest low-carbon ammonia plant upon completion. The facility is expected to begin production in 2029. The project brings together the world’s largest producer of ammonia and Japan's largest energy company, JERA Co., with a pioneering investment and trading company, Mitsui & Co.
The project will use autothermal reforming technology and is designed to capture and permanently sequester approximately 98% of the carbon dioxide generated during production. This is expected to give the facility one of the lowest environmental footprints among large-scale ammonia plants.
CF Industries owns a 40% stake in the joint venture, with JERA holding 35% and Mitsui owning 25%. CF Industries will also invest an additional $550 million in shared infrastructure to support future ammonia production and fertilizer upgrades.
The development is further supported by Linde’s investment of more than $400 million in an on-site air-separation unit, while a joint venture between 1PointFive and Enbridge will transport and permanently sequester the captured carbon dioxide.
CF shares have gained 43.9% over the past year against the industry’s 43.5% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) .
While NOPMF currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), CRS and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NOPMF’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $1.4 per share, indicating a 185.71% year-over-year increase. NOPMF’sshares have gained 91.6% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $12.92 per share, indicating a rise of 20.07% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.39%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pinned at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.4%. AVNT’s shares have gained 20.3% over the past year.
Bon Natural Life (NASDAQ:BON – Get Free Report) and CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) are both materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Bon Natural Life and CF Industries, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bon Natural Life 1 0 0 0 1.00 CF Industries 3 10 5 2 2.30 CF Industries has a consensus price target of $116.56, suggesting a potential downside of 7.31%. Given CF Industries’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe CF Industries is more favorable than Bon Natural Life.
Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.6% of Bon Natural Life shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.1% of CF Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. 26.5% of Bon Natural Life shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.5% of CF Industries shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility and Risk Bon Natural Life has a beta of -0.28, suggesting that its share price is 128% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CF Industries has a beta of 0.39, suggesting that its share price is 61% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability This table compares Bon Natural Life and CF Industries’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bon Natural Life N/A N/A N/A CF Industries 27.12% 24.41% 13.74% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Bon Natural Life and CF Industries”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Bon Natural Life $18.67 million 0.50 -$2.00 million N/A N/A CF Industries $7.08 billion 2.69 $1.46 billion $13.49 9.32 CF Industries has higher revenue and earnings than Bon Natural Life.
Summary CF Industries beats Bon Natural Life on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
(Get Free Report)
Bon Natural Life Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of functional active ingredients extracted from natural herb plants in the People’s Republic of China and internationally. The company provides personal care ingredients, such as plant extracted fragrance compounds to perfume and fragrance manufacturers; natural health supplements comprising powder drinks and bioactive food ingredient products primarily used as food additives; and nutritional supplements. Its products are principally used by manufacturer customers in the functional food, personal care, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands.
About CF Industries (Get Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and other industrial activities in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Ammonia, Granular Urea, UAN, AN, and Other segments. The company's principal products include anhydrous ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and ammonium nitrate products. It also offers diesel exhaust fluid, urea liquor, nitric acid, and aqua ammonia products. The company primarily serves cooperatives, independent fertilizer distributors, traders, wholesalers, and industrial users. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.
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Index S&P 500 -0,33 % na 7682,21 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Energie +0,9 % Zbytná spotřeba -1,3 % Reality +0,4 % Nezbytná spotřeba -1,3 % Základní materiály +0,3 % Zdravotní péče -0,8 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Deere (DE) +8,8 % Moderna (MRNA) -26 % Coinbase Global (COIN) +8,8 % Walmart (WMT) -8,8 % Nordson Corp (NDSN) +6,9 % GE Vernova (GEV) -4,5 % CF Industries Holdings (CF) +6,1 % Steel Dynamics (STLD) -4,4 % Lumentum Holdings (LITE) +5,0 % AutoZone (AZO) -4,3 %
Marek Kameništiak
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
Abacus FCF Advisors LLC bought a new position in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 84,484 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,146,000. CF Industries comprises approximately 1.7% of Abacus FCF Advisors LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Abacus FCF Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.05% of CF Industries as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CF. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in CF Industries by 3.1% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 17,500 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,368,000 after buying an additional 518 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in shares of CF Industries by 161.1% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,870 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $928,000 after acquiring an additional 7,324 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 14,703 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,149,000 after acquiring an additional 4,252 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,558 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in CF Industries by 141.6% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 790 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the period. 93.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have commented on CF. Barclays boosted their price objective on CF Industries from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Zacks Research downgraded CF Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 15th. Berenberg Bank boosted their price target on CF Industries from $86.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 28th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on CF Industries from $103.00 to $106.00 in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CF Industries has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $116.56.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on CF Industries CF Industries Trading Down 0.3% CF opened at $119.31 on Thursday. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.42 and a 12-month high of $141.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 4.86 and a quick ratio of 4.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.06 billion, a PE ratio of 8.84, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.39. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $115.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $115.34.
CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.63 by ($0.90). The company had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.45 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%.CF Industries’s revenue was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.37 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 13.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. CF Industries’s payout ratio is 17.79%.
About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Avalon Trust Co purchased a new stake in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 6,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $650,000.
Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of CF Industries by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 17,500 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,368,000 after purchasing an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in shares of CF Industries by 161.1% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,870 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $928,000 after acquiring an additional 7,324 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 14,703 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,149,000 after acquiring an additional 4,252 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,558 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in CF Industries by 141.6% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 790 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the period. 93.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets CF has been the subject of several recent research reports. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price target on CF Industries from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 15th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated a “neutral” rating and set a $129.00 price objective on shares of CF Industries in a research note on Friday, July 24th. HSBC decreased their target price on CF Industries from $130.00 to $121.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on CF Industries from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of CF Industries in a report on Monday, June 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, CF Industries currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $116.56.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CF Industries
CF Industries Stock Performance Shares of CF stock opened at $118.32 on Friday. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.42 and a 12 month high of $141.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 4.86 and a quick ratio of 4.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.77 and a beta of 0.39. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $114.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $114.63.
CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.63 by ($0.90). CF Industries had a net margin of 27.12% and a return on equity of 24.41%. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.37 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 13.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. This is a boost from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. CF Industries’s payout ratio is 14.83%.
About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
See Also Five stocks we like better than CF Industries Is Best Buy the AI Winner Hiding in the Electronics Aisle? Applied Materials Beat Everything but Wall Street’s Expectations for Margins Back From Orbit, Intuitive Machines’ Share Price Enters the Buy Zone Texas Roadhouse and Brinker International Have the Recipe Rivals Are Missing Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report).
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Deane Retirement Strategies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) by 27.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 62,022 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 13,220 shares during the period. CF Industries comprises about 2.8% of Deane Retirement Strategies Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Deane Retirement Strategies Inc.’s holdings in CF Industries were worth $6,708,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in CF Industries by 3.4% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,458,907 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $579,062,000 after buying an additional 146,682 shares during the period. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in CF Industries by 15.3% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,587,999 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $321,852,000 after buying an additional 476,769 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in CF Industries by 12.0% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,570,249 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $276,123,000 after buying an additional 381,716 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in CF Industries by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,287,256 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $302,428,000 after acquiring an additional 11,792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in CF Industries by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,147,611 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $243,436,000 after acquiring an additional 163,320 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.06% of the company’s stock.
CF Industries Trading Up 0.0% Shares of NYSE:CF opened at $114.39 on Monday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $114.22 and its 200 day moving average is $113.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 4.86 and a quick ratio of 4.32. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 1 year low of $75.42 and a 1 year high of $141.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.48 and a beta of 0.39.
CF Industries (NYSE:CF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.63 by ($0.90). CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%.The business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.45 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.37 EPS. CF Industries’s revenue was up 17.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 15.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This is a boost from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.83%.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently commented on CF. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on CF Industries from $125.00 to $115.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $129.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of CF Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, July 18th. Zacks Research lowered shares of CF Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, June 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $116.25.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF Industries
Key CF Industries News Here are the key news stories impacting CF Industries this week:
Positive Sentiment: CF Industries is beginning construction on its approximately $4 billion Blue Point blue ammonia project in Louisiana. The project could expand the company’s lower-carbon ammonia business and support long-term growth. CF Industries to begin construction of $4bn Louisiana blue ammonia project Positive Sentiment: Management is targeting approximately $3.3 billion in mid-cycle EBITDA by 2030 and indicated that higher construction costs are improving the economics of new nitrogen capacity. Tight industry fundamentals are expected to persist into 2027, potentially supporting pricing and margins. CF Industries targets $3.3B mid-cycle EBITDA by 2030 Positive Sentiment: CF Industries reportedly hinted at developing a second blue ammonia plant, potentially strengthening its competitive position as some rivals retreat from similar projects. CF Industries hints at second blue ammonia plant as rivals retreat Neutral Sentiment: The company’s earnings call emphasized greater mid-cycle earnings power and favorable nitrogen-market fundamentals, but the benefits are longer term and depend on successful project execution and sustained pricing. CF Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Mid-Cycle Earnings Power Negative Sentiment: Second-quarter earnings fell short of expectations: EPS was $4.73 versus a $5.63 consensus, while revenue of $2.22 billion also missed estimates. Lower volumes and a Yazoo City outage offset stronger nitrogen pricing, putting near-term pressure on the stock. CF Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates Despite Strong Nitrogen Pricing About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Not Just Oil: 3 Fertilizer Stocks Boosted by Hormuz ClosureCF Industries NYSE: CF reported first-half 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $2.2 billion and second-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion, as tight global nitrogen supply-demand conditions and strong operating performance supported results.
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders totaled $1.3 billion, or $8.71 per diluted share, for the first half, including $727 million, or $4.73 per diluted share, in the second quarter, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Scribner said during the company’s earnings call.
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Top 3 Bank Stocks to Watch as Fed Rate Cuts LoomPresident and CEO Chris Bohn said the company operated its available ammonia capacity at nearly 98% during the first half. He also highlighted a trailing 12-month incident rate of 0.16 incidents per 200,000 hours worked, which he said was below industry averages.
Supply Constraints Support Nitrogen Market Chief Commercial Officer Bert Frost said global nitrogen prices rose during the first half as an already-tight market was further constrained by supply disruptions associated with the conflict with Iran. While some customers in regions with later application seasons deferred purchases amid higher prices, North American agricultural demand remained strong through most of the period, particularly for ammonia and urea.
Regional Bank Buybacks: 5 Institutions Making Big MovesCF Industries shifted production toward urea from UAN during the first half, Frost said, while also delivering its second-highest first-half diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, volumes. DEF was the company’s highest-margin product during the period.
Purchasing slowed in North America during June as the nitrogen distribution channel reduced inventories to low levels. However, Frost said those inventory positions supported strong participation in the company’s UAN and ammonia fill programs in July. CF Industries built a UAN order book extending into November and expects a strong fall ammonia season, he said.
The company expects the global nitrogen market to remain tight into 2027. Frost cited higher capital costs, permanent capacity closures, limited new capacity additions, geopolitical uncertainty, elevated logistics and insurance costs, and high liquefied natural gas prices affecting marginal producers.
China is expected to export urea volumes similar to last year, according to Frost. While those exports are needed to meet global demand, he said they are not expected to materially loosen market conditions. CF Industries also expects purchasing activity to recover in deferred markets, including Brazil and India, while North American demand remains firm through upcoming application seasons.
Higher Construction Costs Raise Mid-Cycle Outlook Management raised its baseline mid-cycle outlook, projecting approximately $2.9 billion in EBITDA and $1.7 billion in free cash flow. Scribner said the revised outlook reflects higher construction costs for new nitrogen capacity in regions with low-cost natural gas, which have narrowed the historic cost advantage those locations held over North American projects.
During the question-and-answer session, Bohn said the company’s assumed NOLA urea price increased to $385 per short ton from $355 per short ton. Of the $30 increase, he estimated that roughly $10 could be linked to structural changes associated with geopolitical disruptions, including higher freight, insurance and risk-related costs. The remainder principally reflects higher capital costs, he said.
Scribner said the company’s analysis assumes a 1.3 million- to 1.4 million-ton capacity site with capital spending of approximately $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, natural gas costs of $3.50, and a 10% to 12% financial return.
By 2030, CF Industries expects initiatives already underway to lift mid-cycle EBITDA to approximately $3.3 billion. Scribner said that expected $400 million increase includes about $300 million from the Blue Point project and $100 million from additional carbon-capture benefits at Donaldsonville and Yazoo City.
Blue Point and Yazoo City Projects Advance Bohn said Blue Point has received all necessary construction permits, nearly all long-lead equipment has been ordered, and module fabrication is expected to begin later this year. Construction is expected to begin in August, accelerating the company’s capital-expenditure pace.
CF Industries expects 2026 capital expenditures of approximately $1.3 billion, with the company’s share totaling about $950 million. Bohn said roughly 50% of Blue Point capital expenditures are fixed through engineering, module-yard work and certain lump-sum turnkey infrastructure contracts.
At Yazoo City, the company now expects operations to resume during the first half of 2027, rather than late 2026. Bohn said the revised schedule primarily reflects longer procurement timelines for electrical equipment.
The site will no longer produce prilled ammonium nitrate. Instead, it will produce ammonia, ammonium nitrate solution and DEF, changes management said are intended to improve the complex’s operational and logistics flexibility. Scribner said CF Industries has recorded nearly $50 million in equipment impairments connected with Yazoo City and has received about $75 million in insurance recoveries to date, including property damage and business interruption proceeds.
Cash Flow, Dividend and Share Repurchases Trailing 12-month net cash from operations was approximately $3 billion and free cash flow was approximately $1.8 billion, Scribner said. Over that period, CF Industries returned nearly $1.3 billion to shareholders, including $958 million used to repurchase 10.6 million shares and $314 million in dividend payments.
In July, the board increased the quarterly dividend 20% to $0.60 per share. Since the start of 2021, shares outstanding have declined 29%, while the company’s dividend has doubled, Scribner said.
Bohn said CF Industries remains committed to share repurchases and views its shares as undervalued. Management said its capital-allocation priorities remain strategic growth investments, share repurchases and dividends.
The company also said its low-carbon ammonia sales program continued to gain momentum. About 10% of ammonia sales volume in the first half was low carbon and earned an average premium of more than $20 per ton, according to Frost.
About CF Industries (NYSE:CF)CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Key Takeaways CF Industries raised baseline mid-cycle EBITDA to about $2.9B, with $1.7B in free cash flow.CF Industries expects tight nitrogen conditions into 2027 and stronger second-half order visibility.CF Industries advances Blue Point construction as the Yazoo City restart shifts to the first half of 2027. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize a higher structural earnings base as rising construction costs raise the price needed to justify new nitrogen capacity.
Management also highlighted tight nitrogen fundamentals, stronger second-half order visibility and Blue Point progress.
CF Raises Mid-Cycle Earnings BaselineExecutive vice president and CFO Andrew Scribner said baseline mid-cycle EBITDA is now approximately $2.9 billion, with free cash flow of $1.7 billion. By 2030, strategic projects are expected to lift mid-cycle EBITDA to approximately $3.3 billion.
President and CEO Christopher Bohn said CF’s low-cost North American asset base, rather than short-term geopolitical disruption, underpins the higher earnings framework.
A Scotiabank analyst asked how much of the higher urea assumption reflects geopolitics. Bohn said roughly $10 of the $30 increase reflects structural geopolitical costs, with the remainder mainly tied to capital costs.
CF Industries Sees Nitrogen Tightness Into 2027Executive vice president and chief commercial officer Bert Frost said global nitrogen fundamentals remain tight before geopolitical disruptions are considered. Management expects tight conditions into 2027.
Frost expects China to export 4 million to 6 million metric tons of urea in 2026. He also expects deferred purchasing in India, Brazil and other regions to recover as prices support demand.
A BofA Securities analyst asked about India’s import requirements. Frost said India could import 9 million to 10 million tons, reflecting announced tenders and reduced domestic production.
CF Misses Zacks Estimates on Lower VolumesCF reported second-quarter earnings of $4.73 per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65. Revenues of $2.22 billion also missed the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion.
The company said sales volumes were 15% lower year over year, primarily due to lower UAN, ammonium nitrate and ammonia sales. Excluding lost availability at Yazoo City, volumes were approximately 9% lower.
Higher average selling prices across all segments supported results. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $1.19 billion from $761 million a year earlier.
CF Industries Builds Back-Half Order VisibilityChief commercial officer Bert Frost said customers slowed purchases in June, drawing channel inventories to very low levels and supporting strong participation in July UAN and ammonia fill programs.
A BMO Capital Markets analyst asked about the second-half setup. Frost said CF’s UAN fill program carried an average price close to $300 and extended into the fourth quarter, while fall ammonia demand showed strong uptake.
President and CEO Christopher Bohn said available ammonia capacity operated at nearly 98% in the first half. CF expects full-year 2026 gross ammonia production of approximately 9.5 million tons.
CF Advances Blue Point as Yazoo Timing SlipsPresident and CEO Christopher Bohn said Blue Point has the permits needed to begin construction, with nearly all long-lead items ordered. Capital spending is expected to accelerate as construction gets underway.
A BofA Securities analyst asked about project cost exposure. Bohn said roughly 50% of Blue Point capital spending is fixed through engineering, module-yard and infrastructure contracts.
Bohn also said electrical-equipment procurement pushed the Yazoo City restart into the first half of 2027. The site will emphasize ammonia, ammonium nitrate solution, UAN and DEF-related flexibility.
CF Industries Keeps Focus on Durable Cash FlowExecutive vice president and CFO Andrew Scribner said 2026 capital expenditures remain projected at approximately $1.3 billion, with CF’s portion around $950 million. The board also increased the quarterly dividend 20% to 60 cents per share.
President and CEO Christopher Bohn maintained that share repurchases remain the primary shareholder capital-return outlay when management views the stock as undervalued. The call centered on converting CF’s asset position and industry economics into durable free cash flow.
Zacks Rank and Style Score SignalsCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of A, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of A. The A and B grades indicate favorable style characteristics, while the VGM Score combines value, growth and momentum factors. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Rank #3 provides a more neutral signal than a Zacks Rank #1 or Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Zacks research emphasizes top ranks paired with A or B Style Scores, leaving CF with strong style grades but a Hold rank. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results.
Key Takeaways CF Industries posted 99.6% EPS growth, but earnings and sales fell short of estimates.Granular urea sales jumped 38.8% as higher volumes and pricing lifted adjusted gross margin.CF expects constrained nitrogen supply and constructive demand through 2026 and into 2027. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $4.73 per share, up 99.6% from $2.37 in the year-ago quarter. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65 by 16.3%.
Net sales increased 17.6% year over year to $2.22 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion by 8.7%. Higher average selling prices across all segments supported growth, while total sales volume declined 15.3% to 4.25 million tons.
Segmental ReviewAmmonia segment net sales rose 19.3% year over year to $586 million. Adjusted gross margin increased to $288 million from $188 million. An increase in the average selling price more than offset a decline in sales volume. Higher prices supported profitability, while lower supply availability and maintenance costs remained headwinds.
Granular Urea segment net sales climbed 38.8% to $759 million. Adjusted gross margin advanced to $551 million from $351 million. Sales volume and the average selling price rose. Greater product availability and a production mix favoring granular urea supported volumes, while stronger pricing lifted margins despite higher natural gas costs.
UAN segment net sales edged up 0.5% to $613 million. Adjusted gross margin rose to $403 million from $342 million. A rise in the average selling price offset a reduction in sales volume. Lower global demand and a production mix favoring granular urea pressured volumes, while higher freight, distribution and natural gas costs partly offset the pricing benefit.
AN segment’s net sales decreased 39.3% to $71 million. The segment recorded an adjusted gross loss of $1 million compared with an adjusted gross margin of $35 million a year earlier. Sales volume plunged because of lost production at the Yazoo City Complex, outweighing an increase in the average selling price. Higher purchased ammonia costs and outage-related expenses also pressured results.
FinancialsAs of June 30, 2026, CF Industries had cash and cash equivalents of $2.48 billion. Long-term debt was $3.22 billion. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $878 million in the second quarter. CF repurchased 2 million shares for $230 million during the quarter. The company bought back 2.2 million shares for $245 million in the first half, leaving roughly $1.48 billion under its current authorization.
OutlookCF expects full-year 2026 gross ammonia production of approximately 9.5 million tons, including the effect of the ongoing Yazoo City outage. Management expects ammonia, AN solution, nitric acid, UAN solution and urea liquor production at the complex to resume during the first half of 2027. The company projects 2026 capital expenditures of about $1.3 billion on a consolidated basis.
Management expects nitrogen supply to remain constrained and demand to remain constructive through the end of 2026 and into 2027. Lower nitrogen prices entering the second half of 2026 are expected to support demand in India, Southeast Asia, Brazil and other import markets. North American nitrogen demand for the 2027 growing season is also expected to remain firm.
CF’s Price PerformanceCF shares have surged 40.8% in the past year against the 44.8% decline in the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) , Almonty Industries Inc. (ALM - Free Report) and Skeena Resources Limited (SKE - Free Report) .
Neo Performance is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 11. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 50 cents per share. NOPMF sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Almonty is expected to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALM’s second-quarter earnings per share is pegged at 10 cents, indicating a 300% year-over-year growth. ALM holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Skeena is expected to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 13. The consensus estimate for SKE’s loss per share is pegged at 11 cents. SKE presently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.73 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.37 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -16.28%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this fertilizer maker would post earnings of $2.43 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.89, delivering a surprise of +18.93%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
CF, which belongs to the Zacks Fertilizers industry, posted revenues of $2.22 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.74%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.89 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
CF shares have added about 52.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13%.
What's Next for CF?While CF has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for CF was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.71 on $1.98 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $16.69 on $8.7 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Fertilizers is currently in the bottom 28% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 6.
This ethanol production, marketing and commodities company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.65 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +258.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 11.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Green Plains Renewable Energy's revenues are expected to be $528.9 million, down 4.3% from the year-ago quarter.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) reported $2.22 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 17.6%. EPS of $4.73 for the same period compares to $2.37 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -8.74% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $5.65, the EPS surprise was -16.28%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how CF performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Sales volume by product - Ammonia: 865.00 KTon versus the four-analyst average estimate of 1,080.57 KTon.Tons of product sold - Total: 4,252.00 KTon compared to the 4,937.51 KTon average estimate based on four analysts.Sales volume by product - Granular Urea: 1,280.00 KTon compared to the 1,279.76 KTon average estimate based on four analysts.Sales volume by product - UAN (urea ammonium nitrate): 1,391.00 KTon compared to the 1,810.71 KTon average estimate based on four analysts.Average selling price per product ton - Granular Urea: $593.00 compared to the $560.64 average estimate based on three analysts.Average selling price per product ton - Ammonia: $677.00 compared to the $614.28 average estimate based on three analysts.Sales volume by product - Other Sales volume: 587.00 KTon compared to the 510.52 KTon average estimate based on three analysts.Net Sales- Ammonia: $586 million compared to the $671.83 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +19.4% year over year.Net Sales- Granular Urea: $759 million versus $729.7 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +38.8% change.Net Sales- UAN (urea ammonium nitrate): $613 million versus $768.84 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +0.5% change.Net Sales- AN (ammonium nitrate): $71 million versus $104.26 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -39.3% change.Net Sales- Other: $193 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $159.58 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +54.4%.View all Key Company Metrics for CF here>>>
Shares of CF have returned +2.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products, today announced results for the first half and second quarter ended June 30, 2026. Highlights First half 2026 net earnings(1) of $1.34 billion, or $8.71 per diluted share, EBITDA(2) of $2.17 billion, and adjusted EBITDA(2) of $2.18 billion. First half 2026 financial results include a gain of approximately $170 million from a litigation settlement Second qu.
Key Takeaways CF reports Q2 results on Aug. 5 after beating earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters.CF is expected to post higher Q2 sales as strong nitrogen demand and pricing support performance.CF may face pressure from higher natural gas costs despite expected gains in sales volumes and pricing. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results after the closing bell on Aug. 5.
The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the last four quarters at an average of 11.4%. The benefits of healthy nitrogen fertilizer demand in major markets and higher nitrogen prices are expected to reflect on its second quarter performance.
CF’s shares have gained 27.6% in a year, outperforming the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s 47.9% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s see how things are shaping up for this announcement.
What do CF’s Revenue Estimates Indicate?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s second-quarter consolidated sales is currently pegged at $2,434.7 million, calling for an increase of 28.8% from the year-ago quarter’s tally.
Factors at Play for CF StockCF Industries is expected to have benefited from strong global demand for nitrogen fertilizers fueled by robust agricultural needs. Global nitrogen requirements are expected to have remained strong in the June quarter due to healthy industrial demand and farmer economics.
Demand in North America is being fueled by favorable farm economics. CF Industries is also seeing strong demand for urea from Brazil and India. These two countries are expected to remain significant importers of urea globally, driven by higher domestic requirements.
CF, on its first-quarter call, said the global nitrogen market remains tight in 2026 due to strong demand, geopolitical disruptions and constrained natural gas availability. The Middle East conflict has further tightened the global nitrogen supply-demand balance.
Higher demand is expected to have driven the company’s sales volumes in the second quarter. Our estimate for total sales volumes (thousand tons) is 5,740 for the second quarter, indicating a 14.3% year-over-year rise.
Higher nitrogen prices are also likely to have supported the company’s performance in the second quarter. In the first quarter, net sales rose roughly 19% year over year on pricing strength. The average selling prices for the company’s core products increased compared to the prior year, driven by supply disruptions and strong global nitrogen demand. The favorable pricing trends are expected to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter.
CF is expected to have faced headwinds from higher costs stemming from an uptick in natural gas prices. Higher prices of natural gas, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer, have resulted in increased production costs for CF. It saw higher natural gas costs in the first quarter. The average cost of natural gas increased to $4.57 per MMBtu (million metric British thermal unit) from $3.68 per MMBtu a year ago, leading to a higher cost of sales. Natural gas prices have shot up in Europe and Asia due to constrained supply availability.
What Our Model Unveils for CF StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for CF this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here.
Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP for CF is -0.18%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second quarter is currently pegged at $5.65. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: CF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Basic Materials Stocks That Warrant a LookHere are some companies in the basic materials space you may want to consider as our model shows they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:
Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) , scheduled to release earnings on Aug. 6, has an Earnings ESP of +0.87% and carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for AVNT’s earnings for the second quarter is currently pegged at 89 cents.
Materion Corporation (MTRN - Free Report) , slated to release earnings on Aug. 5, has an Earnings ESP of +5.39% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The consensus mark for MTRN’s second-quarter earnings is currently pegged at $1.55.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) , scheduled to release earnings on Aug. 5, has an Earnings ESP of +2.21%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB's earnings for the second quarter is currently pegged at $3.35. ALB currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Americké akciové trhy vstoupily do nového měsíce na pozitivní vlně. Hlavní indexy rostly o více než procento. Největší zásluhu na tom mají obnovené naděje na pozitivní posun v blokádě Hormuzu a růstový protipohyb na AI titulech.
Index Dow Jones +1,32 % na 53178,41 b.
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Index S&P 500 +1,48 % na 7600,52 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Komunikační služby +4,3 % Energie -1,2 % Zbytná spotřeba +2,7 % Nezbytná spotřeba -0,3 % Průmysl +1,9 % Zdravotní péče -0,2 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna First Solar (FSLR) +10 % Marriott International (MAR) -7,0 % Coherent Corp (COHR) +9,6 % Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) -6,9 % Lumentum Holdings (LITE) +9,2 % eBay (EBAY) -6,0 % Oracle Corp (ORCL) +9,2 % Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) -5,7 % Axon Enterprise (AXON) +9,1 % CF Industries Holdings (CF) -5,5 %
Martin Varecha
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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
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Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
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VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CF Industries (CF - Free Report) CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, IL, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally. The company’s principal nitrogenous fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN).
CF is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CF has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 78.1% for the current fiscal year.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.02 to $16.69 per share. CF also boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CF should be on investors' short list.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 5. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis fertilizer maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.65 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +138.4%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.43 billion, up 28.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.09% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for CF?For CF, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.18%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that CF will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that CF would post earnings of $2.43 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.89, delivering a surprise of +18.93%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
CF doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Fertilizers industry, Mosaic (MOS - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.09 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -82.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $3.05 billion, up 1.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Mosaic has been revised 2.8% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +18.92%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Mosaic will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CF Industries (CF - Free Report) CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, IL, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally. The company’s principal nitrogenous fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN).
CF is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. CF has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 13.6% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.02 to $16.69 per share. CF boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CF should be on investors' short list.
Bank of Nova Scotia trimmed its stake in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) by 92.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 41,115 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 473,089 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia’s holdings in CF Industries were worth $5,338,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in CF Industries by 46.3% in the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 493 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CF Industries during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. WPG Advisers LLC increased its holdings in CF Industries by 69.8% during the 4th quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 552 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in CF Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. 93.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on CF Industries from $135.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of CF Industries from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. HSBC lowered their target price on shares of CF Industries from $130.00 to $121.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on shares of CF Industries from $103.00 to $106.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $116.69.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF Industries
CF Industries Stock Down 4.2% CF Industries stock opened at $119.78 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $114.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $111.44. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $75.42 and a 1-year high of $141.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.76 and a beta of 0.40.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. This is an increase from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.97%.
About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than CF Industries AirJoule’s Kubota Deal Is a Major Validation—But the Hard Part Comes Next Dividend Stocks May Be the Quiet Rotation Trade Investors Are Missing Now Refiner Stocks Are Near Record Highs—Can Iran-Driven Margins Keep Them There? Verizon May Be an AI Infrastructure Stock Hiding in Plain Sight Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report).
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Compound Planning Inc. bought a new position in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 6,305 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $819,000.
Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CF. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries during the 4th quarter worth $193,657,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of CF Industries by 37.6% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,312,225 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $333,501,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178,516 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CF Industries during the second quarter worth $96,560,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 203.7% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,088,286 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $141,303,000 after purchasing an additional 729,921 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 52.4% during the third quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 1,775,106 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $159,227,000 after purchasing an additional 610,259 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.06% of the company’s stock.
CF Industries Trading Down 4.2% NYSE CF opened at $119.78 on Tuesday. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $75.42 and a 1-year high of $141.96. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company has a market capitalization of $18.40 billion, a PE ratio of 10.76 and a beta of 0.40. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $114.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $111.44.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is an increase from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. CF Industries’s payout ratio is currently 17.97%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America lifted their price target on CF Industries from $103.00 to $106.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $129.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a report on Friday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of CF Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, July 18th. Zacks Research lowered shares of CF Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 15th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, May 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $116.69.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF
CF Industries Profile (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
See Also Five stocks we like better than CF Industries AirJoule’s Kubota Deal Is a Major Validation—But the Hard Part Comes Next Dividend Stocks May Be the Quiet Rotation Trade Investors Are Missing Now Refiner Stocks Are Near Record Highs—Can Iran-Driven Margins Keep Them There? Verizon May Be an AI Infrastructure Stock Hiding in Plain Sight Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report).
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First Trust Advisors LP cut its holdings in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) by 10.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 584,182 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 70,729 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP owned 0.38% of CF Industries worth $75,850,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. KBC Group NV lifted its stake in CF Industries by 26.9% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,170,171 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $90,501,000 after purchasing an additional 248,020 shares in the last quarter. Polianta Ltd purchased a new position in shares of CF Industries during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,484,000. Cambiar Investors LLC purchased a new position in shares of CF Industries during the fourth quarter valued at about $4,166,000. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries in the fourth quarter worth about $300,000. Finally, Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries in the fourth quarter worth about $11,556,000. 93.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
CF Industries Trading Down 1.2% CF stock opened at $125.20 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.15, a current ratio of 3.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.42 and a twelve month high of $141.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.25 and a beta of 0.40. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $114.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $110.94.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is a boost from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.97%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently commented on CF. Freedom Capital upgraded CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on CF Industries from $135.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on CF Industries from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on CF Industries from $125.00 to $115.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $129.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a research report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $116.69.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF Industries
CF Industries Company Profile (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Beaconlight Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 7,195 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $934,000.
Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in CF Industries during the fourth quarter worth about $193,657,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in CF Industries by 37.6% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,312,225 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $333,501,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178,516 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CF Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $96,560,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of CF Industries by 203.7% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,088,286 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $141,303,000 after buying an additional 729,921 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 52.4% in the 3rd quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 1,775,106 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $159,227,000 after buying an additional 610,259 shares during the period. 93.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
CF Industries Stock Performance CF Industries stock opened at $125.20 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $114.25 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.94. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $75.42 and a 52 week high of $141.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.25 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is an increase from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.97%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets CF has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price target on CF Industries from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of CF Industries in a research report on Monday, June 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of CF Industries from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $140.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $116.69.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CF Industries
About CF Industries (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
See Also Five stocks we like better than CF Industries AMD and Cerbras Create A New Blueprint For Hardware Intel Earnings Reveal Whether the Chip Selloff Created a Buy CrowdStrike’s Cerebras Deal Puts Its AI Security Strategy to the Test Plugging In: How Kinder Morgan Powers Up Profits Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report).
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Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One stock to keep an eye on is CF Industries (CF - Free Report) . CF is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 11.87, which compares to its industry's average of 12.54. CF's Forward P/E has been as high as 16.16 and as low as 11.10, with a median of 14.29, all within the past year.
We also note that CF holds a PEG ratio of 0.39. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. CF's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 0.78. Over the last 12 months, CF's PEG has been as high as 2.67 and as low as 0.30, with a median of 0.67.
Another notable valuation metric for CF is its P/B ratio of 1.84. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 2.40. Within the past 52 weeks, CF's P/B has been as high as 2.38 and as low as 1.59, with a median of 1.93.
Finally, investors should note that CF has a P/CF ratio of 6.29. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. This company's current P/CF looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 9.60. Over the past year, CF's P/CF has been as high as 8.02 and as low as 5.19, with a median of 6.93.
Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that CF Industries is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, CF sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.
AIA Group Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 26,400 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,428,000.
A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of CF. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in CF Industries by 46.3% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 493 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of CF Industries during the 4th quarter worth $43,000. WPG Advisers LLC grew its position in CF Industries by 69.8% in the fourth quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 552 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in CF Industries in the second quarter worth $44,000. Finally, MV Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in CF Industries in the fourth quarter valued at $52,000. 93.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have issued reports on CF shares. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on CF Industries from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on CF Industries from $135.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Wall Street Zen downgraded CF Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday. Berenberg Bank upped their target price on CF Industries from $86.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded shares of CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $116.62.
View Our Latest Stock Report on CF Industries
CF Industries Trading Down 0.2% Shares of CF opened at $121.17 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89 and a beta of 0.40. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.42 and a twelve month high of $141.96. The company has a quick ratio of 3.15, a current ratio of 3.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $114.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $109.51.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a boost from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. CF Industries’s payout ratio is 17.97%.
CF Industries Profile (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Bank of New York Mellon Corp decreased its holdings in shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF – Free Report) by 15.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,731,908 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 323,729 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned 1.13% of CF Industries worth $224,871,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CF. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in shares of CF Industries by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 17,500 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,368,000 after acquiring an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in CF Industries by 161.1% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,870 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $928,000 after buying an additional 7,324 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its position in CF Industries by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 14,703 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,149,000 after buying an additional 4,252 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth raised its stake in CF Industries by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,558 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $278,000 after buying an additional 638 shares during the period. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in CF Industries by 141.6% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 790 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 463 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.06% of the company’s stock.
CF Industries Price Performance CF opened at $121.17 on Friday. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 1 year low of $75.42 and a 1 year high of $141.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 3.54 and a quick ratio of 3.15. The company has a market capitalization of $18.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.89 and a beta of 0.40. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $114.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $109.29.
CF Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from CF Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.56%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CF has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on CF Industries from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on CF Industries from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Freedom Capital upgraded CF Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lifted their price target on shares of CF Industries from $118.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of CF Industries from $135.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, CF Industries currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $116.62.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CF Industries
CF Industries Profile (Free Report)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.
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Key Takeaways CF approved a 20% higher quarterly dividend of 60 cents per share, payable on Aug. 31, 2026. CF benefits from strong nitrogen demand, favorable pricing and a tight 2026 global market. CF returned $1.7 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and buybacks, backed by robust FCF. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) recently announced that its board has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 60 cents per share, representing a 20% increase from its previous quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on Aug. 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 14, 2026.
The higher dividend underscores management's confidence in the company's financial strength, cash flow generation and long-term earnings outlook. It also enhances shareholder returns and could improve the stock's attractiveness to income-oriented investors while signaling disciplined capital allocation.
CF Industries is benefiting from strong global demand for nitrogen fertilizers driven by healthy agricultural activity and improving industrial demand. Favorable farm economics and higher corn plantings in the United States are supporting nitrogen consumption, while demand in Brazil is expected to remain strong on increased corn acreage. In India, low inventories, reduced domestic production and supply disruptions due to the Iran war are expected to lift urea imports to 10-12 million metric tons in 2026, per CF’s estimates.
Per CF, the global nitrogen market is expected to remain tight in 2026 as strong demand is met with constrained supply. Geopolitical disruptions, limited natural gas availability and the Middle East conflict have tightened the global supply-demand balance. These market conditions helped drive a 19% year-over-year increase in first-quarter net sales through higher selling prices, and CF Industries is expected to continue benefiting from favorable nitrogen pricing.
CF Industries continues to enhance shareholder returns through strong cash generation and disciplined capital allocation. The company generated $1.79 billion in free cash flow in 2025, up 24% year over year, while net cash from operating activities increased 21% to $2.75 billion. It ended the first quarter with about $2 billion in cash, and its strong free cash flow conversion highlights the efficiency of its operations.
The company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, including $1.34 billion used to buy back 16.6 million shares. Since launching its current $2 billion buyback program in October 2025, it has repurchased 3.6 million shares for about $293 million.
Shares of CF are up 26.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 51.5% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space include CSW Industrials, Inc. (CSW - Free Report) , Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) and Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO - Free Report) . CSW, IDR and SCCO carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSW’s current-year earnings stands at $12.52 per share, implying a 20.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IDR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.52 per share, implying a 33.3% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 68.7%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SCCO’s current-year earnings is pegged at $7.8 per share, indicating a 48.9% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.1%.
The Zacks Fertilizers industry is challenged by elevated costs of key raw materials, partly due to war-led disruptions, which have put pressure on the margins of industry players. Higher fertilizer prices and input cost inflation are also likely to result in growers reducing application rates, partly due to affordability issues, leading to weaker fertilizer demand.
However, increased fertilizer prices augur well for the companies in this space. Fertilizer players such as Nutrien Ltd., CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and Yara International ASA are worth a look, notwithstanding the near-term headwinds.
About the IndustryThe Zacks Fertilizers industry comprises producers, distributors and marketers of crop nutrients for the global agriculture industry. Companies in this space offer nutrients such as phosphates (including diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate and phosphoric acid), potash and nitrogen (including urea, ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate) fertilizers. They also provide other nitrogen products to help farmers maximize crop yield.
Crop nutrients are essential to drive agricultural productivity and boost the natural fertility of the soil. Demand for these nutrients is being supported by the need to increase the production of grains to address rising food consumption globally. Moreover, the constant need of growers to nourish their crops, replenish nutrients in the soil following a harvest and boost yields to feed a growing global population drives the consumption of fertilizers.
What's Shaping the Future of the Fertilizers Industry?Elevated Input Costs a Concern:Increased prices of major raw materials pose a headwind to fertilizer companies. Prices of both sulfur and ammonia — key inputs for the production of phosphate — remain elevated. Supply disruptions from Russia amid the war with Ukraine, aggravated by the Middle East conflict, contributed to the rise in prices of both sulfur and ammonia. Plant shutdowns and maintenance also led to a tight supply of these raw materials, which, coupled with strong demand, pushed up their prices.
Rising natural gas prices, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer, are also a concern. Natural gas prices have shot up in Europe and Asia due to constrained supply availability. Higher raw material costs have led to an increase in production costs. As such, fertilizer makers are likely to face short-term margin pressure associated with higher input costs.
Reduced Affordability May Dampen Fertilizer Demand: Growers face challenges from still-depressed crop commodity prices and elevated production costs triggered by increased fertilizer prices, higher input and other costs, including fuel. Escalating costs are likely to result in farmers reducing fertilizer applications or switching to less fertilizer-intensive crops, leading to softer demand. Farm income is also projected to decline this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects net farm income to decline 0.7% year over year to $153.4 billion this year. The same is forecast to decline 2.6% after adjusting for inflation. Reduced farm income may lead to a cutback in fertilizer application. Meanwhile, prices of major crops such as corn, soybean and wheat have improved this year from the lows witnessed in recent years, partly due to the Middle East tensions, but they remain well below the multi-year highs reached in 2022.
Higher Fertilizer Prices Augur Well: Prices of phosphate, potash and nitrogen remained depressed in 2023 and 2024 amid oversupply in the market and weak demand, weighing on the profitability of fertilizer companies. On a positive note, strong demand and supply tightness led to an uptick in fertilizer prices in 2025, with phosphate prices seeing a notable increase. Prices were driven by solid agricultural demand in major markets, China’s export restrictions, U.S. tariffs and higher costs of inputs. The upward momentum in fertilizer prices continues this year. Higher prices are expected to drive top-line and margin expansion for companies in this space over the near term.
Zacks Industry Rank Reflects Downbeat ProspectsThe Zacks Fertilizers industry is part of the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #207, which places it in the bottom 16% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates a bleak near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms S&P 500The Zacks Fertilizers industry has underperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector over the past year.
The industry has lost 52.2% over this period against the S&P 500’s rise of 24.2% and the broader sector’s increase of 20.7%.
Industry's Current ValuationOn the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing fertilizer stocks, the industry is currently trading at 8.43X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.75X and the sector’s 12.8X.
In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 15.54X and as low as 4.55X, with a median of 9.4X.
3 Fertilizer Stocks to Keep a Close Eye OnYara International:Norway-based Yara International is a leading global producer and supplier of mineral fertilizers. It has industry-leading experience in ammonia development, production, operations and distribution. A favorable nitrogen demand environment bodes well for YARIY. Cost reductions and actions to strengthen the balance sheet are expected to boost the company’s profitability and cash flows. YARIY also remains focused on rewarding its shareholders by leveraging strong cash flows.
Yara International currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). It has an expected earnings growth rate of 61.1% for 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 6.9% higher over the past 60 days. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed it once. In this timeframe, it delivered an earnings surprise of 63.1%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Nutrien:Canada-based Nutrien is a leading provider of crop inputs and services. The company is benefiting from healthy demand for crop nutrients, backed by supportive global agriculture markets. NTR is seeing strong potash sales volumes and increasing production from its low-cost North American operations to meet rising demand. NTR is also gaining from acquisitions, cost efficiency and increased adoption of its digital platform. The company also continues to expand its footprint in Brazil through acquisitions. Cost and operational efficiency initiatives are also expected to aid its performance. The company has announced several strategic actions to reduce its controllable costs and boost free cash flow.
Nutrien has expected earnings growth of 26.5% for 2026. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has been revised 3.2% upward over the past 60 days. Nutrien currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
CF Industries:Illinois-based CF Industries is a leading global manufacturer of nitrogen and hydrogen products for fertilizer, clean energy, emissions reduction and other industrial applications. It is gaining from higher nitrogen fertilizer demand in the major markets such as North America, Brazil and India. CF is seeing higher nitrogen demand for industrial uses in North America. Higher nitrogen prices are also contributing to a boost in CF Industries’ revenues. CF remains committed to boosting shareholders’ value by leveraging strong cash flows. The company is also taking action to de-leverage its balance sheet.
CF Industries, currently with a Zacks Rank #3, has an expected earnings growth rate of 84% for 2026. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has been revised 23.8% upward over the past 60 days. CF’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters at an average of 11.4%.
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The Zacks Fertilizers industry is challenged by elevated costs of key raw materials, partly due to war-led disruptions, which have put pressure on the margins of industry players. Higher fertilizer prices and input cost inflation are also likely to result in growers reducing application rates, partly due to affordability issues, leading to weaker fertilizer demand.
However, increased fertilizer prices augur well for the companies in this space. Fertilizer players such as Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) , CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) and Yara International ASA (YARIY - Free Report) are worth a look, notwithstanding the near-term headwinds.
About the Industry The Zacks Fertilizers industry comprises producers, distributors and marketers of crop nutrients for the global agriculture industry. Companies in this space offer nutrients such as phosphates (including diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate and phosphoric acid), potash and nitrogen (including urea, ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate) fertilizers. They also provide other nitrogen products to help farmers maximize crop yield. Crop nutrients are essential to drive agricultural productivity and boost the natural fertility of the soil. Demand for these nutrients is being supported by the need to increase the production of grains to address rising food consumption globally. Moreover, the constant need of growers to nourish their crops, replenish nutrients in the soil following a harvest and boost yields to feed a growing global population drives the consumption of fertilizers.
What's Shaping the Future of the Fertilizers Industry? Elevated Input Costs a Concern: Increased prices of major raw materials pose a headwind to fertilizer companies. Prices of both sulfur and ammonia — key inputs for the production of phosphate — remain elevated. Supply disruptions from Russia amid the war with Ukraine, aggravated by the Middle East conflict, contributed to the rise in prices of both sulfur and ammonia. Plant shutdowns and maintenance also led to a tight supply of these raw materials, which, coupled with strong demand, pushed up their prices. Rising natural gas prices, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer, are also a concern. Natural gas prices have shot up in Europe and Asia due to constrained supply availability. Higher raw material costs have led to an increase in production costs. As such, fertilizer makers are likely to face short-term margin pressure associated with higher input costs.
Reduced Affordability May Dampen Fertilizer Demand: Growers face challenges from still-depressed crop commodity prices and elevated production costs triggered by increased fertilizer prices, higher input and other costs, including fuel. Escalating costs are likely to result in farmers reducing fertilizer applications or switching to less fertilizer-intensive crops, leading to softer demand. Farm income is also projected to decline this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects net farm income to decline 0.7% year over year to $153.4 billion this year. The same is forecast to decline 2.6% after adjusting for inflation. Reduced farm income may lead to a cutback in fertilizer application. Meanwhile, prices of major crops such as corn, soybean and wheat have improved this year from the lows witnessed in recent years, partly due to the Middle East tensions, but they remain well below the multi-year highs reached in 2022.
Higher Fertilizer Prices Augur Well: Prices of phosphate, potash and nitrogen remained depressed in 2023 and 2024 amid oversupply in the market and weak demand, weighing on the profitability of fertilizer companies. On a positive note, strong demand and supply tightness led to an uptick in fertilizer prices in 2025, with phosphate prices seeing a notable increase. Prices were driven by solid agricultural demand in major markets, China’s export restrictions, U.S. tariffs and higher costs of inputs. The upward momentum in fertilizer prices continues this year. Higher prices are expected to drive top-line and margin expansion for companies in this space over the near term.
Zacks Industry Rank Reflects Downbeat Prospects The Zacks Fertilizers industry is part of the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #207, which places it in the bottom 16% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates a bleak near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms S&P 500 The Zacks Fertilizers industry has underperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector over the past year.
The industry has lost 52.2% over this period against the S&P 500’s rise of 24.2% and the broader sector’s increase of 20.7%.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing fertilizer stocks, the industry is currently trading at 8.43X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.75X and the sector’s 12.8X.
In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 15.54X and as low as 4.55X, with a median of 9.4X, as the chart below shows.
Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio
Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio
3 Fertilizer Stocks to Keep a Close Eye on Yara International: Norway-based Yara International is a leading global producer and supplier of mineral fertilizers. It has industry-leading experience in ammonia development, production, operations and distribution. A favorable nitrogen demand environment bodes well for YARIY. Cost reductions and actions to strengthen the balance sheet are expected to boost the company’s profitability and cash flows. YARIY also remains focused on rewarding its shareholders by leveraging strong cash flows.
Yara International currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). It has an expected earnings growth rate of 61.1% for 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 6.9% higher over the past 60 days. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed it once. In this timeframe, it delivered an earnings surprise of 63.1%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Price and Consensus: YARIY
Nutrien: Canada-based Nutrien is a leading provider of crop inputs and services. The company is benefiting from healthy demand for crop nutrients, backed by supportive global agriculture markets. NTR is seeing strong potash sales volumes and increasing production from its low-cost North American operations to meet rising demand. NTR is also gaining from acquisitions, cost efficiency and increased adoption of its digital platform. The company also continues to expand its footprint in Brazil through acquisitions. Cost and operational efficiency initiatives are also expected to aid its performance. The company has announced several strategic actions to reduce its controllable costs and boost free cash flow.
Nutrien has expected earnings growth of 26.5% for 2026. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has been revised 3.2% upward over the past 60 days. Nutrien currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Price and Consensus: NTR
CF Industries: Illinois-based CF Industries is a leading global manufacturer of nitrogen and hydrogen products for fertilizer, clean energy, emissions reduction and other industrial applications. It is gaining from higher nitrogen fertilizer demand in the major markets such as North America, Brazil and India. CF is seeing higher nitrogen demand for industrial uses in North America. Higher nitrogen prices are also contributing to a boost in CF Industries’ revenues. CF remains committed to boosting shareholders’ value by leveraging strong cash flows. The company is also taking action to de-leverage its balance sheet.
CF Industries, currently with a Zacks Rank #3, has an expected earnings growth rate of 84% for 2026. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has been revised 23.8% upward over the past 60 days. CF’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters at an average of 11.4%.
Key Takeaways CF announced a quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share, after raising payouts three times in five years.LEVI declared a $0.16 per-share dividend payable Aug. 5 and increased its dividend six times in five years. PNC announced a $2.00 per-share dividend payable Aug. 5 and has raised its dividend six times in five years. Wall Street has remained volatile since mid-June, with tech stocks suffering amid growing concerns about the sustainability of AI-focused stocks. Also, renewed geopolitical tensions have once again started dampening investors' confidence.
Amid the ongoing uncertainty, conservative investors seeking reliable income while preserving their capital may find dividend-paying stocks an attractive option. These stocks generate steady income through regular dividend distributions and can provide a cushion against market volatility.
Three such stocks are: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) , Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI - Free Report) and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC - Free Report) .
Markets Turn VolatileGeopolitical tensions escalated this week after President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is no longer interested in negotiations with Iran. Both the United States and Iran have since launched strikes, with investors now fearing that the Middle East crisis could escalate once again.
Oil prices, which had eased over the past few weeks after the two warring nations announced a ceasefire and reached a temporary memorandum of understanding in mid-June to end all hostilities. However, attacks and counterattacks over the past two days have renewed fears that tensions could escalate in the coming days. Oil prices have also surged substantially over the past two days.
Markets were already volatile over the past two weeks, triggered by a massive sell-off in AI-related tech stocks, as concerns have been growing over their profitability and sustainability. Also, higher inflation has already made the Federal Reserve consider an interest rate hike this year.
The ongoing geopolitical tensions could add more fuel to the fire and keep markets volatile for a longer period.
3 Stocks That Recently Announced Dividend HikesCF Industries HoldingsCF Industries Holdings, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally. CF’s principal nitrogenous fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN). CF Industries Holdings has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
On July 8, CF Industries Holdings announced that its shareholders would receive a dividend of $0.60 a share on Aug. 31. CF has a dividend yield of 1.71%. Over the past five years, CF Industries Holdings has increased its dividend three times, and its payout ratio presently sits at 13% of earnings. Check CF Industries Holdings’ dividend history here.
Levi Strauss & Co. Levi Strauss & Co. designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's, Dockers, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. and Denizen brands. LEVI’s products are sold through chain retailers, department stores, online sites, brand-dedicated retail stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co has a Zacks Rank #3.
On July 8, Levi Strauss & Co declared that its shareholders would receive a dividend of $0.16 a share on Aug. 5. LEVI has a dividend yield of 2.30%. Over the past five years, Levi Strauss & Co has increased its dividend six times, and its payout ratio presently sits at 40% of earnings. Check Levi Strauss & Co’s dividend history here.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. provides consumer and business banking services. The company's principal subsidiary is PNC Bank. PNC has a Zacks Rank #3.
On July 6, The PNC Financial Services Group announced that its shareholders would receive a dividend of $2 a share on Aug. 5. PNC has a dividend yield of 2.76%. Over the past five years, The PNC Financial Services Group has increased its dividend six times, and its payout ratio presently sits at 39% of earnings. Check The PNC Financial Services Group’s dividend history here.
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Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
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Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
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To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CF Industries (CF - Free Report) CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, IL, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally. The company’s principal nitrogenous fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN).
CF is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. CF has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 7.1% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.68 to $17.24 per share. CF boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CF should be on investors' short list.
NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) today reported that its board of directors has declared a $0.60 per share dividend on its common stock, a 20% increase compared to its prior quarterly dividend. The dividend will be payable on August 31, 2026, to stockholders of record as of August 14, 2026. Additionally, the Company confirmed that it will report its second quarter and first half 2026 results after the market close on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The compa.
While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.
Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.
On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.
One company to watch right now is CF Industries (CF - Free Report) . CF is currently holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Value grade of A.
We also note that CF holds a PEG ratio of 0.39. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. CF's industry currently sports an average PEG of 0.71. CF's PEG has been as high as 2.67 and as low as 0.30, with a median of 0.67, all within the past year.
Another valuation metric that we should highlight is CF's P/B ratio of 1.84. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 2.23. Over the past 12 months, CF's P/B has been as high as 2.38 and as low as 1.59, with a median of 1.93.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that CF has a P/CF ratio of 6.29. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. CF's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 8.89. Over the past 52 weeks, CF's P/CF has been as high as 8.02 and as low as 5.19, with a median of 6.93.
These are only a few of the key metrics included in CF Industries's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, CF looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.
The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has CF Industries (CF - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.
CF Industries is one of 275 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #8 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. CF Industries is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF's full-year earnings has moved 59.6% higher within the past quarter. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the latest available data, CF has gained about 48.6% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Basic Materials group have gained about 6.8% on average. This shows that CF Industries is outperforming its peers so far this year.
Another Basic Materials stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Methanex (MEOH - Free Report) . The stock has returned 15.7% year-to-date.
The consensus estimate for Methanex's current year EPS has increased 123.4% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, CF Industries is a member of the Fertilizers industry, which includes 6 individual companies and currently sits at #73 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 9.8% so far this year, so CF is performing better in this area.
Methanex, however, belongs to the Chemical - Diversified industry. Currently, this 31-stock industry is ranked #112. The industry has moved +17.9% so far this year.
Going forward, investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to CF Industries and Methanex as they could maintain their solid performance.
Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, July 8th:
ZTO Express Cayman (ZTO - Free Report) : This company, which is a leading player in the field of express delivery in China, carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 6.8% over the last 60 days.
ZTO Express Cayman has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 11.31 compared with 31.40 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) : This company, which is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally, carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 28.2% over the last 60 days.
CF Industries has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 6.66 compared with 13.40 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
CION Investment Corporation (CION - Free Report) : This externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company, with an objective is to generate current income and modest capital appreciation by primarily investing in senior secured debt, first lien, second lien and unitranche loans of U.S. middle-market companies, carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.9% over the last 60 days.
CION Investment Corporation’s has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 6.07 compared with 8.40 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.
See the full list of top ranked stocks here.
Learn more about the Value score and how it is calculated here.
Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) : This company, which is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 28.2% over the last 60 days.
LATAM Airlines Group (LTM - Free Report) : This company, which provide domestic services in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, as well as regional flights and long-haul operations, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 19.4% over the last 60 day.
Innodata Inc (INOD - Free Report) : This global data engineering company, which helps the world's leading technology companies and enterprises drive Generative AI and broader AI innovation, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7.6% over the last 60 days.
Callaway Golf Company (CALY - Free Report) : This company, which is a premium golf equipment, gear and apparel company with a portfolio of brands, including Callaway Golf, Odyssey, TravisMathew and OGIO, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7.1% over the last 60 days.
Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) : This company, which is an online supplier of high-quality graphic design services and customized printed products to small businesses and consumers, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its currentyear earnings increasing 5.3% over the last 60 days.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
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That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CF Industries (CF - Free Report) CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, IL, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogenous fertilizer and other nitrogen products globally. The company’s principal nitrogenous fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN).
CF is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CF has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 83.1% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.77 to $17.16 per share. CF boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CF should be on investors' short list.
Key Takeaways CF Industries is gaining from strong global nitrogen demand across key markets and higher fertilizer prices.CF expects tight nitrogen markets in 2026 as demand, geopolitics and supply constraints support pricing.CF faces margin pressure as higher natural gas costs raise production expenses and cost of sales. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) gains on strong nitrogen fertilizer demand in major markets, higher nitrogen prices and its operational strength amid headwinds from higher natural gas costs.
The CF stock has gained 15.4% in the past year compared with the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s 54.2% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why CF stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Healthy Nitrogen Demand, Higher Prices Aid CF StockCF Industries is capitalizing on the growing global demand for nitrogen fertilizers, driven by strong agricultural activity. Global nitrogen requirement is expected to remain strong in the near future due to recovering industrial demand and farmer economics.
High levels of corn-planted acres in the United States should drive the demand for nitrogen. Demand in North America is expected to be fueled by favorable farm economics. Demand for urea is likely to remain healthy in Brazil in 2026, driven by higher corn plantings. In India, demand is expected to be driven by low inventory levels, reduced domestic production and undelivered volumes due to the Iran war. The company expects India’s urea imports to rise year over year in 2026, potentially reaching 10-12 million metric tons.
CF, on its first-quarter call, said the global nitrogen market remains tight in 2026 due to strong demand, geopolitical disruptions and constrained natural gas availability. The Middle East conflict has further tightened the global nitrogen supply-demand balance.
Higher nitrogen prices have also contributed to a boost in CF Industries’ revenues. In the first quarter, net sales rose roughly 19% year over year on pricing strength. The average selling prices for the company’s core products increased compared to the prior year, driven by supply disruptions and strong global nitrogen demand. Looking ahead, CF should continue to benefit from favorable pricing trends.
Higher Natural Gas Costs Ail CF IndustriesCF remains hamstrung by headwinds from higher costs stemming from an uptick in natural gas prices. Higher prices of natural gas, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer, have resulted in increased production costs for CF. It saw a notable rise in natural gas costs during 2025. The average cost of natural gas increased to $3.31 per MMBtu (million metric British thermal unit) in 2025 from $2.40 per MMBtu a year ago.
The same for first-quarter 2026 increased to $4.57 per MMBtu from $3.68 per MMBtu a year ago, leading to a higher cost of sales. Natural gas prices have shot up in Europe and Asia due to constrained supply availability. Higher gas costs are expected to weigh on CF’s margins.
CF’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are L.B. Foster Company (FSTR - Free Report) , Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB - Free Report) . FSTR, ALB and LYB carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
The consensus estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.98 per share, indicating a 1,743.2% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 54.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LyondellBasell’s current-year earnings stands at $9.22 per share, implying a 442.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LYB’s current-year earnings has been revised 69.5% higher over the past 60 days.
Key Takeaways CF benefits from healthy nitrogen fertilizer demand in key markets and higher pricing.CF's natural gas cost rose to $4.57/MMBtu in Q1, increasing the cost of sales.EPS estimates for CF's 2026 and 2027 have trended higher over the past 60 days. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) is benefiting from healthy nitrogen fertilizer demand in major markets and higher prices. It, however, remains hamstrung by headwinds from higher costs stemming from an uptick in natural gas prices.
Higher prices of natural gas, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer, have resulted in increased production costs for CF. It saw a notable rise in natural gas costs during 2025. The average cost of natural gas increased to $3.31 per MMBtu (million metric British thermal unit) in 2025 from $2.40 per MMBtu a year ago.
The same for first-quarter 2026 increased to $4.57 per MMBtu from $3.68 per MMBtu a year ago, leading to a higher cost of sales. Natural gas prices have shot up in Europe and Asia due to constrained supply availability. Higher gas costs are expected to weigh on CF’s margins.
Among its peers, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) remains exposed to a volatile input cost environment amid supply tightness. Nutrien uses sulfur, ammonia and natural gas as key inputs. NTR saw higher sulfur input costs in the first quarter, leading to a higher cost of goods sold per ton in the phosphate businesses, hurting margins. It expects further pressure on phosphate margins in the second quarter, resulting from higher sulfur and ammonia costs.
The Mosaic Company (MOS - Free Report) is also buffeted by higher costs of inputs. Mosaic uses sulfur and ammonia as key inputs for the production of phosphate. It witnessed a sharp increase in sulfur price since late 2025, which weighed on phosphate margins in the first quarter. MOS expects an additional impact of the sulfur price inflation on the cost of goods sold in the second quarter.
CF’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesCF Industries has gained 11.7% in the past year compared with the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s decline of 5.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CF is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 7.15, a 34.1% discount relative to the industry average of 10.85X. It carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 83.1% and a decline of 34.9%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
First-in-human Phase 1 study in 56 healthy participants demonstrated KIT2014’s safety and tolerabilityKIT2014 is being developed as an inhalation therapy for respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB) and cystic fibrosis (CF)KIT2014’s unique mode of action improves respiratory symptoms by promoting bronchodilation and reducing lung inflammation
TURIN, Italy, June 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kither Biotech Pty Ltd and Kither Biotech srl, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical group of companies developing innovative therapies for respiratory diseases, today announced the successful completion of their Phase 1 clinical study of KIT2014 in healthy participants.
“We are pleased to report the successful completion of this first-in-human Phase 1 study with KIT2014, a significant milestone for Kither Biotech,” said Dr. Dimitrios Goundis, CEO of Kither Biotech. “The study results demonstrate KIT2014’s favourable safety and tolerability profile. The unique ability of KIT2014 to increase cAMP in different airway cell types offers the potential for multiple therapeutic benefits, including bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects. We look forward to advancing the clinical development of KIT2014, to assess its therapeutic potential in patients with respiratory diseases including COPD, NCFB and CF.”
“We are delighted that this first-in-human study has successfully demonstrated that inhaled KIT2014 was safe and well tolerated across all dose levels evaluated, with no measurable systemic exposure,” said Anita van der Meer, Director of Kither Biotech Pty Ltd. “These findings support the continued clinical development of KIT2014 and provide a strong foundation for advancing into patient studies in COPD, where we aim to further explore its unique multimodal mechanism of action and potential to address important unmet medical needs.”
KIT2014 is a novel cell-permeable peptide delivered via inhalation, which is designed to address multiple pathological pathways common to a number of major respiratory diseases. The drug, which consists of 42 amino acids, acts to promote bronchodilation and reduce lung inflammation. It does this through balanced dual inhibition of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 (PDE3/4), which increases local concentrations of the key signalling molecule cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). KIT2014 is being developed for a number of respiratory diseases including COPD, NCFB and CF.
Key findings of the Phase 1 study were that:
Treatment with KIT2014 at doses ranging from 0.1 mg to 2 mg daily for up to 7 days was safe and well tolerated.Blood plasma levels of KIT2014 were below the limit of detection at all dose levels, both in the single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) parts of the study, indicating direct administration to the lungs results in very low systemic exposure. This Phase 1 clinical trial was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, two-part dose escalation study (single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose), conducted in 56 healthy participants. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of KIT2014. The secondary objective was to evaluate blood plasma pharmacokinetics.
For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov NCT06659757.
Kither Biotech’s leadership team will be attending the BIO International Convention in San Diego, US, from 22–25 June 2026. The team will be available to meet investors, pharmaceutical and biotech partners, research analysts, and potential collaborators. To schedule a meeting, please contact: [email protected].
Optimum Strategic Communications
Stephen Adams / Aoife Minihan / Ben Cowe
Tel: +44 203 821 6420
Email: [email protected]
Notes for editors
About Kither Biotech
Kither Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for respiratory diseases. The company’s lead program, KIT2014, represents a novel approach to treating respiratory conditions by targeting multiple respiratory disease pathways, simultaneously. Kither Biotech has successfully raised $26 million to date from leading life sciences investors including Claris Ventures, 2Invest, 3B Future Health, CDP Venture Capital, Italian Angels for Growth, Club degli Investitori, Ersel and ACE Venture. For more information, please visit www.kitherbiotech.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About KIT2014
KIT2014 is a first-in-class inhaled peptide therapy that targets multiple pathways critical to respiratory disease pathophysiology. By equally inhibiting both phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 (PDE3/4) and enhancing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in airway cells, KIT2014 improves airway flow via relaxation of airway smooth muscle and bronchodilation, reduces epithelial and neutrophil-driven inflammation, and increases CFTR gating to improve chloride ion transport and airway mucus hydration and clearance. Inhaled delivery allows direct targeting of the lungs while minimising systemic exposure, potentially offering an improved safety profile compared to similar therapies with greater systemic exposure and side effects.
About KIT2014’s target indications
KIT2014 has the potential to address significant unmet needs across respiratory diseases including COPD, NCFB and CF.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects more than 400 million people globally, and continues to be the third largest cause of death worldwide. It is an irreversible airflow-limiting disease primarily caused by smoking and environmental exposures, characterised by chronic respiratory symptoms, and progressive decline in lung function. The underlying pathology is driven by inflammation leading to small airway remodelling, and parenchymal destruction.
Non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB) impacts approximately 500,000 people in the US and a similar number in Europe, with limited treatment options available. It is a chronic airway disease characterised by permanent dilation of the bronchi, leading to cough, sputum production, and recurrent infective exacerbations. The disease creates a vicious cycle of mucus accumulation, infection and neutrophilic inflammation.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects approximately 130,000 people worldwide and, despite advances in CFTR modulators, many patients continue to experience persistent inflammation and recurrent infections. It is a life-limiting genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to defective chloride ion transport in multiple organ systems. In the lungs, this results in thick, sticky mucus buildup promoting chronic bacterial infections, persistent inflammation and decline in lung function.
While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.
Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.
On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) is a stock many investors are watching right now. CF is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A.
CF is also sporting a PEG ratio of 0.39. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. CF's industry has an average PEG of 0.69 right now. CF's PEG has been as high as 2.67 and as low as 0.30, with a median of 0.67, all within the past year.
Another valuation metric that we should highlight is CF's P/B ratio of 1.84. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 2.21. Within the past 52 weeks, CF's P/B has been as high as 2.38 and as low as 1.59, with a median of 1.93.
Finally, our model also underscores that CF has a P/CF ratio of 6.29. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. CF's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 8.81. Over the past 52 weeks, CF's P/CF has been as high as 8.02 and as low as 5.19, with a median of 6.93.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that CF Industries is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, CF feels like a great value stock at the moment.
Key Takeaways CF and NTR benefit from strong agricultural markets, tight supplies and higher fertilizer pricing.CF benefits from tight global nitrogen markets, strong pricing and strong cash flows.Nutrien is boosting potash output, expanding through acquisitions and advancing cost reductions. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) and Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) are two of the biggest players in the fertilizer space. The underlying strength of the agricultural market and attractive farm economics are spurring demand for fertilizers globally. Farmer economics remain favorable in most global growing regions due to strong crop demand and affordable inputs.
Supportive farmer economics, improved affordability and low inventory levels are driving potash demand globally. The phosphate market is also benefiting from low producer and channel inventories. Demand for nitrogen fertilizer remains strong in major markets such as North America, India and Brazil. Strong demand and supply tightness have also led to an uptick in fertilizer prices.
Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of these two major fertilizer producers to determine which one is a better investment option in the current environment.
The Case for CF IndustriesCF Industries is capitalizing on the growing global demand for nitrogen fertilizers, driven by strong agricultural activity. Global nitrogen requirement is expected to remain strong in the near future due to recovering industrial demand and farmer economics.
High levels of corn-planted acres in the United States should drive demand for nitrogen. Demand in North America is expected to be fueled by favorable farm economics. In Brazil, demand for urea is likely to remain healthy in 2026, driven by higher corn plantings. In India, low inventory levels, reduced domestic production and undelivered volumes due to the Iran war are likely to lead to a greater requirement. The company expects India’s urea imports to rise year over year in 2026, potentially reaching 10-12 million metric tons.
CF, on its first-quarter call, said that the global nitrogen market will remain tight in 2026 due to strong demand, geopolitical disruptions and constrained natural gas availability. The Middle East conflict has further tightened the global nitrogen supply-demand balance.
Higher nitrogen prices have also contributed to a boost in CF Industries’ revenues. In the first quarter, net sales rose roughly 19% year over year on pricing strength. The average selling prices for the company’s core products increased from the prior year, driven by supply disruptions and strong global nitrogen demand. Looking ahead, CF should continue to benefit from favorable pricing trends.
CF Industries continues to focus on enhancing shareholder value by utilizing its strong cash flow, thanks to strong operational performance, strategic execution and supportive nitrogen industry fundamentals. For full-year 2025, net cash from operating activities was $2.75 billion, while free cash flow was $1.79 billion, up roughly 21% and 24% year over year, respectively. The company’s cash and cash equivalents were roughly $2 billion at the end of the first quarter. Net cash provided by operating activities was $496 million for the quarter.
The company is efficiently converting adjusted EBITDA to free cash flow. Its full-year 2025 free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA conversion rate was 62%, outpacing sector averages. The same for the first quarter was 51%.
CF returned $1.7 billion to its shareholders in 2025. It repurchased 16.6 million shares for $1.34 billion during 2025. Since the commencement of its current $2 billion buyback program in October 2025, CF Industries has bought back 3.6 million shares for around $293 million. CF offers a dividend yield of roughly 1.9% at the current stock price. It has a payout ratio of 19%. CF has a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 12.9%.
The Case for Nutrien Nutrien is well-placed to benefit from higher demand for fertilizers, backed by the strength in global agriculture markets. It is seeing healthy fertilizer demand in its major markets. Tight inventories are expected to support crop commodity prices.
NTR saw record potash sales volumes in the first quarter of 2026, driven by low inventory levels and favorable potash affordability, especially in key offshore markets. The company maintained its global potash shipment forecast of 74-77 million tons for 2026 and sees relatively tight potash fundamentals through the year. It is also increasing production from its low-cost North American operations to meet rising demand.
Nutrien should also gain from acquisitions and increased adoption of its digital platform. It continues to expand its footprint in Brazil through acquisitions. It is expected to continue pursuing targeted opportunities in its core markets. The company expects to utilize part of its free cash flow for incremental growth investments, including tuck-in acquisitions in the retail business.
Cost and operational efficiency initiatives are also expected to aid the company’s performance. NTR remains focused on lowering the cost of production in the potash business. It has announced several strategic actions to reduce its controllable costs and boost free cash flow. It surpassed the $200 million annual cost savings target for 2025, achieving it a year earlier than its initial target. It expects sustained cost-reduction efforts across all geographies to aid margin improvement in 2026.
NTR has a strong balance sheet, enabling it to finance its strategic growth investment, pay down debt and drive shareholder value. It returned $409 million to its shareholders in the first quarter through dividends and share repurchases. Nutrien offers a dividend yield of roughly 3.4% at the current stock price. It has a payout ratio of 48% and a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.1%.
NTR, however, remains exposed to a volatile input cost environment amid supply tightness. Nutrien uses sulfur, ammonia and natural gas as key inputs. Supply disruptions from Russia amid the war with Ukraine, exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, contributed to the rise in input prices. Plant shutdowns and maintenance also resulted in a tight supply of these inputs, which, coupled with strong demand, pushed up their prices. Tight global sulfur supply, higher benchmark sulfur prices and ongoing supply-chain constraints continued to increase phosphate production costs.
The company saw higher sulfur input costs in the first quarter, leading to a higher cost of goods sold per ton in the phosphate businesses, hurting margins. It expects further pressure on phosphate margins in the second quarter, resulting from higher sulfur and ammonia costs.
Price Performance and Valuation of CF & NTRThe CF stock is up 33.1% year to date, while NTR has gained 1.9% compared with the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s rise of 8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 7.26. This represents a roughly 34.8% discount when stacked up with the industry average of 11.14X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NTR is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 11.17, above CF and the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compares for CF & NTRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s 2026 sales implies a year-over-year rise of 22.8%. The same for EPS suggests a 83.1% year-over-year increase. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimate for NTR’s 2026 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year rise of 8% and 31.4%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending northward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF or NTR: Which Stock Holds the Edge?Both CF and Nutrien are benefiting from strong global demand, thanks to the favorable agricultural conditions and supportive farm economics. Higher fertilizer prices are also expected to aid their performance. Both remain committed to boosting shareholder returns. CF appears to have an edge over NTR due to its more attractive valuation and higher dividend growth rate. In addition, CF’s higher earnings growth projections suggest that it may offer better investment prospects in the current market environment.
CF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while NTR has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CF Industries is rated Buy, reflecting ongoing undervaluation despite recent gains driven by Middle East conflict disruptions. CF's Q1 outperformance stemmed from higher fertilizer prices due to curtailed Middle East supply, but this boost is likely temporary. Strong balance sheet, $2.04 billion in cash and equivalents, and substantial buyback authorization position CF for resilience and capital returns.
