IPI vs SMG vs MOS vs NTR

For growth investors, Intrepid Potash, Inc.

(IPI) is the stronger pick with 17. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the better valuation at 5. 9x trailing P/E (15. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) 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 trailing P/E, The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the cheapest at 5.

9x versus Intrepid Potash, Inc. at 45. 4x. On forward P/E, Nutrien Ltd. is actually cheaper at 12. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nutrien Ltd. wins at 0. 29x versus The Mosaic Company's 0. 91x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Intrepid Potash, Inc.

(IPI) delivered a total return of +43. 4%, compared to -69. 1% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IPI returned +311. 2% versus MOS's +14. 9%. 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), Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 07β versus The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company's 1. 10β — meaning SMG is approximately -1618% more volatile than NTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 51% for Nutrien Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intrepid Potash, Inc.

(IPI) is pulling ahead at 17. 1% versus -3. 9% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Mosaic Company grew EPS 605. 5% year-over-year, compared to 105. 1% for Intrepid Potash, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IPI leads at -4. 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.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

5% net margin versus 3. 7% for Intrepid Potash, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NTR leads at 14. 5% versus 5. 2% for IPI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTR leads at 31. 0%, 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. 29x versus The Mosaic Company's 0. 91x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 40. 5x for Intrepid Potash, Inc. — 28. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MOS: 36. 4% to $31. 25.

In this comparison, SMG (4.

2% yield), MOS (4. 2% yield), NTR (3. 2% yield) pay a dividend. IPI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 07), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTR: +54. 0%, SMG: +34. 9%), 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: IPI is a small-cap high-growth stock; SMG is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MOS is a small-cap deep-value stock; NTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock. SMG, MOS, NTR pay a dividend while IPI 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.