ALB vs FMC vs CF vs SQM

For growth investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger pick with 19. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) offers the better valuation at 13. 2x trailing P/E (8. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) a "Buy" — based on 41 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, FMC Corporation is actually cheaper at 7.

7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

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

(CF) delivered a total return of +130. 9%, compared to -80. 2% for FMC Corporation (FMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SQM returned +464. 6% versus FMC's -26. 8%. 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 FMC Corporation's 1. 63β — meaning FMC is approximately -361% more volatile than CF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Albemarle Corporation (ALB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 2% for FMC Corporation — 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 -39. 4% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Albemarle Corporation grew EPS 48. 7% year-over-year, compared to -757. 4% for FMC Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, SQM leads at 16. 5% 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 -64. 6% for FMC Corporation — 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 -54. 4% for FMC. 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.

On forward earnings alone, FMC Corporation (FMC) trades at 7.

7x forward P/E versus 22. 4x for Albemarle Corporation — 14. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FMC: 13. 9% to $15. 58.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

FMC Corporation (FMC) offers the highest yield at 17. 0%, versus 0. 3% for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S. A. (SQM).

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, +338. 1% 10Y return). FMC Corporation (FMC) carries a higher beta of 1. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CF: +338. 1%, FMC: -26. 8%), 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: ALB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FMC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CF is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SQM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. ALB, FMC, CF pay a dividend while SQM 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.