CF Industries Holdings, Inc. vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $117.69 (market cap $18.38B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $53.03 (market cap $14.27B). The key difference: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and McCormick & Company, Incorporated pays the higher dividend (3.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CF | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.38B | $14.27B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $137.55 | $72.26 |
52-Week Low | $76.08 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $19.52B | $18.87B |
Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 3.61% |
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.
MKC trades at $52.96, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $59.67 suggesting 13% upside. The company reported Q2 2026 results that beat expectations, driven by the McCormick de Mexico acquisition and margin expansion, with revenue growth of 16.7% year-over-year. The pending $65 billion merger with Unilever's food business represents a transformative opportunity, though integration risks remain.
The outlook is positive, supported by strong profitability metrics, including a 21.91% net income margin and 25.7% ROE, alongside a reasonable valuation with a P/E of 8.81. Key risks include execution of the Unilever deal, competitive pressures in the consumer segment, and potential macroeconomic headwinds affecting consumer spending.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →In its 130-year history, McCormick has grown to become the leading global manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and other flavorings. Beyond end consumers, McCormick's customer base also includes top quick-service restaurants, retail grocery chains, and other packaged food and beverage manufacturers, with about 30% of sales generated beyond its home turf to include 150 other countries and territories. In addition to its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Old Bay, Zatarain's, Thai Kitchen, Frank's RedHot, French's, and the recently acquired Cholula brand.
Read more on MKC →