CF Industries is a leading producer and distributor of nitrogen, which is primarily used in fertilizers. The company operates nitrogen manufacturing plants primarily in North America.
It is a $16.9B materials company. Revenue grew 20.0% over the last year, it keeps 27¢ of every dollar of sales as profit, and its net debt equals ~0.6 years of free cash flow. It trades at 8.0× earnings — in the cheapest third of its own history.
- Website
- cfindustries.com
- Location
- Northbrook, IL
- Employees
- 2 900
- Sector
- Basic Materials
Skills
Six independent scores, 0–100, built from reported numbers and valuation history. Click a row to see how it was scored.
Strong valuation, profitability and quality; Moat lags behind.
Valuation90
- P/E vs own history32th pct · 20/25
- FCF yield11.3% · 25/25
- P/S2.2x · 20/25
- EV/EBITDA4.7x · 25/25
Growth51
- Revenue CAGR2.0% · 6/25
- Net income CAGR12.2% · 20/25
- EPS CAGR ~5Y43.5% · 25/25
- Fwd implied growth-22.7% · 0/25
Profitability100
- ROIC26.0% · 25/25
- ROE40.4% · 25/25
- Net margin27.1% · 25/25
- Operating margin41.0% · 25/25
Health70
- Altman Zn/a · 0/25
- Current ratio4.86 · 25/25
- Interest coverage41.7x · 25/25
- Net cash / debtD/A 9% · 20/25
Quality84
- Piotroski F8/9 · 25/25
- Beneish M-2.84 · 25/25
- FCF conversion91% · 22/25
- Margin stabilityσ 13.9% · 12/25
Moat44
- ROIC >12% years6/10 yrs · 13/25
- Median gross margin30.1% · 13/25
- FCF-positive years9/10 yrs · 18/25
- Worst-year net marginworst -7.5% · 0/25
Experience
The company's career so far — founding, the IPO, landmark products and acquisitions, plus revenue milestones and insider buying.
- FY2022FinancialRevenue crossed $10B$11.2B for the year
- FY2022FinancialBest year on record$3.35B net income
- FY2017FinancialTurned profitable$358M net income after a loss year
- FY2017FinancialPositive free cash flow every year since9-year streak
- FY2016FinancialRevenue already above $1B$3.69B in first reported year
Achievements
Verifiable track record, straight from the reported numbers.
Strengths & watch-outs
What a bull and a bear would each point to. Both lists come from the reported numbers, not opinions.
Strengths
- High gross margin (42.5%)
- Strongly profitable — 27.1% net margin
- Revenue growing 20.0% year over year
- Strong cash conversion — FCF is 24.7% of revenue
- Interest covered 41.7× by operating earnings
Watch-outs
- Loss-making in 1 of the recent years
Qualifications
The basics a company should meet before you research it further. Each check uses the reported numbers.
- Revenue growing — the company sells more than a year ago+20.0% YoY
- Profitable — makes more than it spends$2.10B TTM
- Profit growing — earnings are higher than last year-18.2% YoY
- Generates cash — cash left after running and investing$1.91B TTM
- Debt under control — could handle its obligations~0.6y of cash flow to repay
- Established company — not a micro-cap — lower blow-up risk$16.9B market cap
- Not printing shares — share count not ballooning — you keep your slice-24.6% shares over ~5y
- Proven track record — years of profitability behind it9/10 profitable years
- Financially stable — balance sheet not near distresshealth score 50/100
- Pays a dividend — returns cash to shareholdersyield 1.86%
- Valuation not extreme — price not wildly above earningsP/E 8.0
Peer comparisonCF Industries Holding, Inc. vs 6 largest basic materials peers — cap, P/E, growth and margin side by sideOpen ▾Close ▴
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF this company | $16.9B | 8.0 | +20.0% | 27.1% | Mixed |
| LIN Linde plc Ordinary Share | $223.2B | 30.8 | +6.6% | 20.4% | Solid |
| SCCO Southern Copper Corporation | $176.8B | 31.2 | +32.8% | 35.9% | Strong |
| NEM Newmont Corporation | $124.2B | 14.4 | +25.2% | 33.4% | Strong |
| FCX Freeport-McMoran Inc. | $105.8B | 35.9 | +0.2% | 11.4% | Strong |
| AEM Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. | $95.8B | 15.9 | +43.7% | 37.5% | Strong |
| B Barrick Mining Corporation | $67.5B | 10.1 | +9.2% | 31.6% | Strong |
Head-to-head: CF vs LIN · CF vs SCCO · CF vs NEM
References
What covering analysts publish about the company — information only, not a recommendation.
Appendix · Financial records
The full statements behind this CV, FY2016–FY2025. For readers who want to check the numbers.
Live data and quarterly detail: stockcv.com/CF
Want the live picture — intraday moves, valuation history and full analysis?
Deeper analysis of CF on PreMarketPriceFigures are derived from company filings (quarterly values normalised from as-filed year-to-date data where applicable) and may be delayed, restated or incomplete. This page is information, not investment advice. Latest price $111.56 · market cap $16.9B.