Albemarle Corp. vs CF Industries Holdings, Inc. — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $130.1 (market cap $15.48B), while CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $118.2 (market cap $18.38B). The key difference: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and CF Industries Holdings, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.98%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | CF | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.48B | $18.38B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $137.55 |
52-Week Low | $72.58 | $76.08 |
Enterprise Value | $17.96B | $19.52B |
Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 1.98% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albemarle (ALB) trades at $131.11, up 4.54% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong Q2 2026 earnings beating estimates. The stock shows improved cash flow and lithium demand strength, though valuation metrics like a P/E of 485.59 indicate high expectations. Recent news highlights earnings growth and dividend stability, with support at $127 and resistance at $134.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus target of $184.50, but risks include volatile lithium prices and high valuation. Investment opportunity lies in sustained demand for energy storage, balanced by margin pressures and debt levels.
CF Industries Holdings (CF) trades at $114.35, down 2.04% today, reflecting a bearish technical trend with support at $112 and resistance at $116. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $4.73 versus $5.63 expected, but revenue grew 17.6% year-over-year on strong nitrogen pricing. Fundamentals remain solid with a P/E of 8.48 and net income margin of 27.12%, while cash flow improved to $368 million in 2025. Recent news highlights institutional buying and nitrogen market tightness supporting mid-cycle earnings.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic; CF benefits from robust nitrogen demand and pricing, with analyst consensus target at $119.60 implying upside. Risks include volume volatility from plant outages and debt levels, but high ROE (39.19%) and dividend payments signal financial health. Investors may find value at current levels if operational execution aligns with favorable industry conditions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Albemarle is the world's largest lithium producer. Our outlook for robust lithium demand is predicated upon increased demand for electric vehicle batteries. Albemarle produces lithium from its salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and its hard rock joint venture mines in Australia. Albemarle is also a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. The company is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
Read more on ALB →CF Industries is a leading producer and distributor of nitrogen fertilizers. The company operates seven nitrogen facilities in North America and holds joint venture interests in further production capacity in the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago. CF makes nitrogen primarily using low-cost U.S. natural gas as its feedstock, making CF one of the lowest-cost nitrogen producers globally.
Read more on CF →