CF Industries Holdings, Inc. vs Microchip Technology Inc. — how do they compare? CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $118.2 (market cap $18.38B), while Microchip Technology Inc. trades at $81.42 (market cap $44.20B). The key difference: Microchip Technology Inc. is far larger — about 2.4× CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s market cap, and Microchip Technology Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.24%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CF | MCHP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.38B | $44.20B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Technology |
52-Week High | $137.55 | $102.97 |
52-Week Low | $76.08 | $49.02 |
Enterprise Value | $19.52B | $49.32B |
Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 2.24% |
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.
Microchip Technology (MCHP) trades at $84.69, up 13.89% in 24 hours, reflecting strong momentum. The stock is in a bullish technical trend, with recent earnings beats and robust data center revenue growth of 98% last quarter. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $104 price target. However, valuation ratios like a P/E of 124.54 are elevated, and 2025 net income was negative, posing fundamental concerns despite a recovery forecast for 2026.
Outlook is positive driven by AI and data center demand, but high valuation and past profitability volatility are risks. The stock offers growth exposure amid analyst optimism, yet investors should weigh premium pricing against execution risks in a competitive semiconductor market.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Microchip became an independent company in 1989 when it was spun off from General Instrument. More than half of revenue comes from MCUs, which are used in a wide array of electronic devices from remote controls to garage door openers to power windows in autos. The company's strength lies in lower-end 8-bit MCUs that are suitable for a wider range of less technologically advanced devices, but the firm has expanded its presence in higher-end MCUs and analog chips as well.
Read more on MCHP →