ICL vs CF

For growth investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger pick with 19. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 6% for ICL Group Ltd (ICL). 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 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 trailing P/E, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the cheapest at 13. 3x versus ICL Group Ltd at 31. 2x. 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: ICL Group Ltd wins at 0. 26x 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 +7. 7% for ICL Group Ltd (ICL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CF returned +333. 0% versus ICL's +86. 6%. 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 ICL Group Ltd's 0. 65β — meaning ICL is approximately -205% more volatile than CF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 51% for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. — 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 4. 6% for ICL Group Ltd (ICL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 33. 1% year-over-year, compared to -43. 8% for ICL Group Ltd. Over a 3-year CAGR, ICL leads at -10. 6% 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 3. 2% for ICL Group 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 9. 8% for ICL. 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, ICL Group Ltd (ICL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 26x 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 14. 6x for ICL Group Ltd — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICL: 9. 4% to $6. 15.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ICL Group Ltd (ICL) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, 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%, ICL: +86. 6%), 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: ICL is a small-cap income-oriented 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.