IPI vs SMG vs MOS vs NTR vs CF

For growth investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger pick with 19. 3% 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, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — 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: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 19x 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, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) delivered a total return of +130. 9%, compared to -69. 1% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CF returned +338. 1% 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), CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 62β versus The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company's 1. 10β — meaning SMG is approximately -277% more volatile than CF 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), CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is pulling ahead at 19. 3% 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 33. 1% for CF Industries Holdings, 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.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 5% net margin versus 3. 7% for Intrepid Potash, Inc. — 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 5. 2% for IPI. 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, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 19x 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, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) trades at 8. 4x forward P/E versus 40. 5x for Intrepid Potash, Inc. — 32. 1x 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), CF (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. IPI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CF: +338. 1%, 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; CF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. SMG, MOS, NTR, CF 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.