LXU vs UAN

For growth investors, LSB Industries, Inc.

(LXU) is the stronger pick with 17. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 4% for CVR Partners, LP (UAN). CVR Partners, LP (UAN) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LSB Industries, Inc. (LXU) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, CVR Partners, LP (UAN) is the cheapest at 13.

6x versus LSB Industries, Inc. at 39. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, CVR Partners, LP (UAN) delivered a total return of +240.

6%, compared to +189. 7% for LSB Industries, Inc. (LXU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UAN returned +156. 7% versus LXU's +75. 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), CVR Partners, LP (UAN) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

51β versus LSB Industries, Inc. 's 0. 43β — meaning LXU is approximately -184% more volatile than UAN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LSB Industries, Inc. (LXU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 2% for CVR Partners, LP — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(LXU) is pulling ahead at 17. 8% versus 15. 4% for CVR Partners, LP (UAN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LSB Industries, Inc. grew EPS 225. 9% year-over-year, compared to 62. 0% for CVR Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, UAN leads at -10. 2% 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.

CVR Partners, LP (UAN) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

3% net margin versus 4. 0% for LSB Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UAN leads at 21. 4% versus 10. 2% for LXU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UAN leads at 27. 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.

In this comparison, UAN (9.

4% yield) pays a dividend. LXU does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CVR Partners, LP (UAN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

51), 9. 4% yield, +156. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UAN: +156. 7%, LXU: +75. 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.

UAN pays a dividend while LXU 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.