CF Industries Holdings, Inc. vs Xylem, Inc. — how do they compare? CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $118.2 (market cap $18.38B), while Xylem, Inc. trades at $123.19 (market cap $28.30B). The key difference: Xylem, 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.
| CF | XYL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.38B | $28.30B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $137.55 | $152.95 |
52-Week Low | $76.08 | $106.34 |
Enterprise Value | $19.52B | $30.08B |
Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 1.42% |
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.
Xylem (XYL) trades at $120.32, down 0.36% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and key support at $120. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $1.46 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year profit guidance. Revenue growth has been steady, reaching $9.04B in 2025, with net income margins improving to 10.59%. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with a consensus price target of $150.43, implying significant upside from current levels.
The outlook for XYL is positive, driven by robust demand in water technology and AI infrastructure, alongside margin expansion. Key risks include project delays in electric metering and competitive pressures. With a P/E of 28.65, the stock trades at a premium, but continued execution on earnings and strategic acquisitions supports a constructive view for long-term investors.
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 →Xylem is a global leader in water technology and offers a wide range of solutions, including the transport, treatment, testing, and efficient use of water for customers in the utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Xylem was spun off from ITT in 2011. Based in Rye Brook, New York, Xylem has a presence in over 150 countries and employs 16,200. The company generated $6.2 billion in revenue and $611 million in adjusted operating income in 2021.
Read more on XYL →