CF Industries (NYSE:CF) Given Underperform Rating at Mizuho

Mizuho restated their underperform rating on shares of CF Industries (NYSE:CF) in a report released on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $100.00 price target on the basic materials company’s stock, up from their prior price target of $95.00.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Zacks Research cut CF Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $86.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. HSBC reduced their target price on shares of CF Industries from $95.00 to $91.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of CF Industries from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of CF Industries from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CF Industries currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $101.73.

CF Industries Price Performance

Shares of CF Industries stock opened at $126.88 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.10 and a beta of 0.68. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $98.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.39. CF Industries has a 12 month low of $67.34 and a 12 month high of $137.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 3.37 and a quick ratio of 2.93.

CF Industries (NYSE:CF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The basic materials company reported $2.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.78 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 19.84% and a net margin of 20.54%.The business’s revenue was up 22.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.89 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that CF Industries will post 5.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CF Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. CF Industries’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.22%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Richard A. Hoker sold 6,184 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.33, for a total value of $676,096.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 34,535 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,775,711.55. This represents a 15.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael Patrick Mcgrane sold 3,666 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.50, for a total transaction of $427,089.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,161 shares in the company, valued at $2,232,256.50. This trade represents a 16.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 71,409 shares of company stock worth $8,589,559. 0.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CF Industries

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of CF Industries by 24.4% in the second quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 95,289 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $8,767,000 after buying an additional 18,666 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in CF Industries by 11.5% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,647 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $20,868,000 after acquiring an additional 23,942 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in CF Industries by 878.2% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 17,941 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,609,000 after acquiring an additional 16,107 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in CF Industries by 19.8% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 369,321 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $33,128,000 after acquiring an additional 61,140 shares during the period. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in CF Industries in the third quarter valued at $677,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.06% of the company’s stock.

Key CF Industries News

Here are the key news stories impacting CF Industries this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Supply shock lifts fertilizer price expectations — market commentary points to Strait of Hormuz disruptions that have constrained urea/ammonia exports, boosting global fertilizer prices and favouring CF as a low‑cost U.S. nitrogen producer. CF Industries climbs 3.7% as markets price in tighter global nitrogen supply
• Positive Sentiment: Broader industry note: analysis flags the Hormuz closure as stripping ~30–35% of traded fertilizer flows, creating a structural margin opportunity for North American producers like CF. Not Just Oil: 3 Fertilizer Stocks Boosted by Hormuz Closure
• Positive Sentiment: BMO raised its price target to $140 and kept an “outperform” view — a bullish analyst action that supports upside expectations versus peers. BMO price target raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Several banks adjusted targets/rating mix today — CIBC raised its PT to $118 (neutral rating) and BofA raised its PT to $103 but kept an “underperform” stance; these mixed signals create analyst dispersion around fair value. Analyst price target changes
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho downgraded/reaffirmed an “underperform” view and raised its PT only modestly — it warns the fertilizer rally may have peaked, creating downside risk if prices retreat. Mizuho downgrades CF Industries
• Negative Sentiment: Heavy insider selling has been reported (multiple officers selling significant blocks), which investors interpret as potential profit‑taking at highs and a governance/optics concern. Insider selling report

CF Industries Company Profile

CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.