NTR vs AVD vs MOS vs CF

For growth investors, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

(CF) is the stronger pick with 19. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 9% for American Vanguard Corporation (AVD). The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (16. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 6.

1x versus Nutrien Ltd. at 15. 6x. On forward P/E, American Vanguard Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 7x — 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. 32x versus The Mosaic Company's 0. 93x — 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 -84. 1% for American Vanguard Corporation (AVD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CF returned +333. 0% versus AVD's -73. 1%. 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 American Vanguard Corporation's 1. 17β — meaning AVD is approximately -288% more volatile than CF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Mosaic Company (MOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 99% for American Vanguard 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 -5. 9% for American Vanguard Corporation (AVD). 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, AVD leads at -5. 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 -9. 7% for American Vanguard 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 1. 3% for AVD. 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, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 32x versus The Mosaic Company's 0. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) trades at 7. 7x forward P/E versus 16. 1x for The Mosaic Company — 8. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVD: 484. 2% to $17. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, 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%, AVD: -73. 1%), 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: NTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AVD is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MOS is a small-cap deep-value 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.