NTR vs CF

For growth investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger pick with 19. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Nutrien Ltd. (NTR). CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) offers the better valuation at 13. 3x trailing P/E (8. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 trailing P/E, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the cheapest at 13. 3x versus Nutrien Ltd. at 15. 6x. On forward P/E, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nutrien Ltd. wins at 0. 32x versus CF Industries Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 34x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) delivered a total return of +145. 8%, compared to +41. 2% for Nutrien Ltd. (NTR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CF returned +333. 0% versus NTR's +64. 0%. 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), CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 62β versus Nutrien Ltd. 's -0. 07β — meaning NTR is approximately -88% more volatile than CF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 51% for Nutrien Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is pulling ahead at 19. 3% versus 5. 3% for Nutrien Ltd. (NTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nutrien Ltd. grew EPS 248. 5% year-over-year, compared to 33. 1% for CF Industries Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NTR leads at -10. 3% 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.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 5% net margin versus 8. 4% for Nutrien Ltd. — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CF leads at 33. 4% versus 14. 5% for NTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CF leads at 38. 5%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 32x versus CF Industries Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 34x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) trades at 8. 5x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Nutrien Ltd. — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTR: 14. 1% to $84. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 1. 7% for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 62), 1. 7% yield, +333. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CF: +333. 0%, NTR: +64. 0%), 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: NTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.