CMP vs ICL

For growth investors, Compass Minerals International, Inc.

(CMP) is the stronger pick with 11. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 6% for ICL Group Ltd (ICL). ICL Group Ltd (ICL) offers the better valuation at 31. 2x trailing P/E (14. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) a "Buy" — based on 17 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, ICL Group Ltd is actually cheaper at 14.

6x.

Over the past 5 years, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) delivered a total return of +7.

7%, compared to -58. 1% for Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICL returned +86. 6% versus CMP's -42. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ICL Group Ltd (ICL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

65β versus Compass Minerals International, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CMP is approximately 136% more volatile than ICL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 4% for Compass Minerals International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass Minerals International, Inc.

(CMP) is pulling ahead at 11. 3% versus 4. 6% for ICL Group Ltd (ICL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Compass Minerals International, Inc. grew EPS 61. 7% year-over-year, compared to -43. 8% for ICL Group Ltd. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMP leads at -0. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

ICL Group Ltd (ICL) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

2% net margin versus -6. 4% for Compass Minerals International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICL leads at 9. 8% versus 2. 0% for CMP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICL leads at 30. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) trades at 14.

6x forward P/E versus 32. 7x for Compass Minerals International, Inc. — 18. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICL: 9. 4% to $6. 15.

In this comparison, ICL (3.

1% yield) pays a dividend. CMP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

65), 3. 1% yield). Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICL: +86. 6%, CMP: -42. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CMP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ICL is a small-cap income-oriented stock. ICL pays a dividend while CMP does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.