Zacks Investment Research·6 days ago
Here's Why You Should Retain CF Industries Stock in Your PortfolioCF benefits from strong global nitrogen demand and higher fertilizer prices, but rising natural gas costs challenge its margin outlook.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.(CF)Earnings, Financials & Key Ratios
CF•NYSE
$113.20
12.6× P/E·Price updated Jul 6, 2026
AboutCF Industries Holdings, Inc. manufactures and sells hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and other industrial activities worldwide. Its principal products include anhydrous ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and ammonium nitrate products. The company also offers diesel exhaust fluid, urea liquor, nitric acid, and aqua ammonia products; and compound fertilizer products with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It primarily serves cooperatives, independent fertilizer distributors, traders, wholesalers, and industrial users. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.Show more
- Revenue$7.08B+19.3%
- EBITDA$3.26B+22.2%
- Net Income$1.46B+19.5%
- EPS (Diluted)8.97+33.1%
- Gross Margin38.45%+11.0%
- EBITDA Margin46.06%+2.4%
- Operating Margin33.39%+13.5%
- Net Margin20.54%
- ROE18.94%+24.1%
CF Price & Volume
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) stock price & volume — 10-year historical chart
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Structural Cost Advantages Drive Nitrogen Market Leadership
Investment Thesis • Updated 2026Q1
VerdictPositive
Growth:Accelerating
Profitability:Strong
Financial:Fortress
Cash Flow:Robust
Primary Risk:Natural gas price volatility
Key Thesis Takeaways
- CF Industries leverages a structural cost advantage in domestic natural gas to maintain robust profitability, as evidenced by a 32.2% operating margin in 2026Q1.
- While the company demonstrates disciplined capital allocation through significant share repurchases, including a $1 billion buyback in 2025Q4, investors should monitor the inherent volatility of nitrogen pricing and the potential for goodwill impairment given the $2.5 billion balance sheet carrying value.
- The firm's ability to sustain free cash flow generation remains tied to managing cyclical capital expenditure requirements, which reached 89.9% of revenue in 2023Q4.
Verdict Logic
the company trades at a compelling forward P/E of 6.16, suggesting that the market may be underestimating the durability of its structural cost advantages.
CF Growth Metrics
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) revenue, earnings & EPS growth — 3, 5 & 10-year CAGR
Revenue CAGR
10 Years5.1%
5 Years11.43%
3 Years-14.12%
TTM20.85%
Profit CAGR
10 Years7.59%
5 Years35.63%
3 Years-24.24%
TTM31.59%
EPS CAGR
10 Years11.72%
5 Years43.52%
3 Years-18.2%
TTM46.64%
Return on Capital
10 Years14.31%
5 Years23.47%
3 Years16.6%
Last Year18.3%
CF Recent Earnings
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) EPS & revenue vs analyst estimates — last 4 quarters
●Beat EPS 9/12 qtrs (75%)●Beat Revenue 9/12 qtrs (75%)
Q2 2026Latest
May 6, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.89+9.9%
$2.63
Rev
$2.0B+8.0%
$1.8B
Q1 2026
Feb 18, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.99+23.0%
$2.43
Rev
$1.9B+5.0%
$1.8B
Q4 2025
Nov 5, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.19+1.4%
$2.16
Rev
$1.7B-0.5%
$1.7B
Q3 2025
Aug 6, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.37-5.2%
$2.50
Rev
$1.9B+4.8%
$1.8B
| Quarter | Date | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026Latest | May 6, 2026 | $2.89vs $2.63+9.9% | $2.0Bvs $1.8B+8.0% |
| Q1 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | $2.99vs $2.43+23.0% | $1.9Bvs $1.8B+5.0% |
| Q4 2025 | Nov 5, 2025 | $2.19vs $2.16+1.4% | $1.7Bvs $1.7B-0.5% |
| Q3 2025 | Aug 6, 2025 | $2.37vs $2.50-5.2% | $1.9Bvs $1.8B+4.8% |
Based on last 12 quarters of dataView full earnings history →
Latest CF News
Recent stock market news and headlines for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF)
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 24, 2026
Can CF Industries Protect Margins Amid Input Cost Pressure?CF Industries is riding strong nitrogen fertilizer demand and higher prices, but rising natural gas costs are lifting production expenses.
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 19, 2026
CF vs. NTR: Which Fertilizer Giant Is the Better Pick Now?CF Industries and Nutrien ride firm fertilizer demand and higher prices as global farm economics stay supportive.
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 19, 2026
Should Value Investors Buy CF Industries (CF) Stock?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.
GlobeNewsWire·Jun 19, 2026
Kither Biotech successfully completes Phase 1 clinical trial of KIT2014, a novel inhaled peptide therapy for respiratory diseasesFirst-in-human Phase 1 study in 56 healthy participants demonstrated KIT2014's safety and tolerability KIT2014 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.
Peers Comparison
Key metrics vs top competitors for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $113.20 | $17.39B | 12.62 | 19.34% | 20.54% | 18.94% | 1.78% | |
| $21.18 | $6.73B | 12.46 | 8.36% | 6.03% | 5.85% | — | |
| $64.54 | $31.05B | 13.62 | 5.33% | 8.6% | 9.47% | — | |
| $114.26 | $1.21B | 12.25 | 15.36% | 18.89% | 40.08% | — | |
| $67.51 | $2.3B | 24.11 | -2.21% | 1.17% | 9.47% | — | |
| $5.05 | $6.52B | 28.06 | 4.56% | 3.52% | 4.14% | — |
Compare CF vs Peers
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
CF SEC Filings & Documents
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
8-K Announcements
6Material company update
May 6, 2026·SEC
Material company update
May 6, 2026·SEC
Material company update
May 5, 2026·SEC
10-K Annual Reports
310-Q Quarterly Reports
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CF Frequently Asked Questions
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Growth & Financials
What is CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s revenue?
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) reported $7.41B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 433% increase from $1.39B in 2003.
How fast is CF Industries Holdings, Inc. growing?
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) grew revenue by 19.3% over the past year. This is strong growth.
Is CF profitable?
Yes, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) is profitable, generating $1.76B in net income for fiscal year 2025 (20.5% net margin).
Dividend & Returns
Does CF pay dividends?
Yes, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) pays a dividend with a yield of 1.78%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
What is CF's return on equity?
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) has a return on equity (ROE) of 18.9%. This is reasonable for most industries.
What is CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s free cash flow?
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) generated $1.62B in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.