Compare CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $118.2 (market cap $18.38B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $293.28 (market cap $83.88B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 4.6× CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.34%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CF | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.38B | $83.88B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $137.55 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $76.08 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $19.52B | $92.73B |
Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 2.34% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
ITW trades at $296.66, up 0.67% with a bullish technical outlook and strong support at $292. The company maintains robust profitability with 19.39% net margins and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent positive developments include a 7% dividend increase and $6 billion share repurchase authorization announced August 7, 2026.
While valuation metrics appear elevated (P/E 26.87, P/B 29.19), ITW's consistent earnings performance and shareholder-friendly actions support upside to the $316 consensus target. Key risks include construction sector exposure and currency headwinds, but operational strength and margin discipline provide stability.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
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 →About Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Illinois Tool Works is a diversified global manufacturer that produces specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related services. The firm operates 87 global divisions through seven distinct operating segments: automotive OEM, construction products, food equipment, specialty products, test/measurement and electronics, polymers and fluids, and welding. About half of its revenue comes from its operations in North America, with the remainder originating from international markets. ITW takes a bottom-up and decentralized approach to portfolio management, with the exception that each segment must apply its 80/20 operating process modeled on the Pareto principle.
Read more on ITW →
