APD vs. CF: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at APD and CF, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
APD’s market capitalization of 64.95 billion USD is substantially larger than CF’s 15.33 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
With betas of 0.87 for APD and 0.95 for CF, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | APD | CF |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | CF Industries Holdings, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Agricultural Inputs |
| CEO | Eduardo F. Menezes | W. Anthony Will |
| Price | 291.84 USD | 94.65 USD |
| Market Cap | 64.95 billion USD | 15.33 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.95 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | August 11, 2005 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of APD and CF by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
APD
9.65%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 34.45%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 7.65%
- Q1
- 2.96%
- Min
- -12.04%
APD’s Return on Equity of 9.65% is on par with the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
CF
26.17%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 7.27%
- Q3
- 7.27%
- Median
- 4.65%
- Q1
- 2.14%
- Min
- 2.14%
CF’s Return on Equity of 26.17% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Return on Invested Capital
APD
3.50%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 20.22%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 5.25%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- -8.62%
APD’s Return on Invested Capital of 3.50% is in line with the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
CF
9.49%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 11.45%
- Q3
- 9.49%
- Median
- 5.13%
- Q1
- 2.30%
- Min
- 1.24%
CF’s Return on Invested Capital of 9.49% is in line with the norm for the Agricultural Inputs industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
APD
12.76%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 23.23%
- Q3
- 10.64%
- Median
- 5.14%
- Q1
- 0.64%
- Min
- -8.93%
A Net Profit Margin of 12.76% places APD in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
CF
21.80%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 13.95%
- Q3
- 7.95%
- Median
- 5.66%
- Q1
- 2.06%
- Min
- 1.04%
CF’s Net Profit Margin of 21.80% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin
APD
12.29%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 26.42%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -7.44%
APD’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.29% is around the midpoint for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
CF
23.04%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 23.04%
- Q3
- 14.70%
- Median
- 11.01%
- Q1
- 7.11%
- Min
- 3.65%
An Operating Profit Margin of 23.04% places CF in the upper quartile for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | CF |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 9.65% | 26.17% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.94% | 10.04% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 3.50% | 9.49% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.76% | 21.80% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.29% | 23.04% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.94% | 36.20% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
APD
1.00
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.95
- Q3
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.77
APD’s Current Ratio of 1.00 falls into the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
CF
2.59
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 2.59
- Q3
- 2.50
- Median
- 1.54
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 1.12
CF’s Current Ratio of 2.59 is in the upper quartile for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
APD
1.12
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.01
APD’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Chemicals - Specialty industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.12. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
CF
0.69
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 0.91
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.01
CF’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Agricultural Inputs industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.69. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
APD
7.77
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 13.69
- Q3
- 9.06
- Median
- 5.24
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -3.09
APD’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.77 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
CF
11.87
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 4.73
- Q3
- 4.73
- Median
- 3.51
- Q1
- 1.95
- Min
- 1.30
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.87, CF demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | CF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.00 | 2.59 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.85 | 2.22 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 1.12 | 0.69 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.42 | 0.25 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 4.19 | 0.86 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.77 | 11.87 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for APD and CF. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
APD
2.44%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 9.19%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.46%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.44%, APD offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
CF
2.11%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 8.05%
- Q3
- 5.41%
- Median
- 3.73%
- Q1
- 2.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
CF’s Dividend Yield of 2.11% is in the lower quartile for the Agricultural Inputs industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio
APD
102.68%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 163.70%
- Q3
- 57.04%
- Median
- 30.02%
- Q1
- 12.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
APD’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 102.68% is above 100%. This means the company is paying out more in dividends than it earned, a practice that is often unsustainable and could indicate a risk to future dividend stability.
CF
26.42%
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 424.10%
- Q3
- 73.93%
- Median
- 66.58%
- Q1
- 26.42%
- Min
- 0.00%
CF’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 26.42% is within the typical range for the Agricultural Inputs industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | CF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.44% | 2.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 102.68% | 26.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
APD
42.39
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 56.68
- Q3
- 33.75
- Median
- 23.45
- Q1
- 16.09
- Min
- 7.50
A P/E Ratio of 42.39 places APD in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
CF
11.94
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 53.97
- Q3
- 47.01
- Median
- 26.38
- Q1
- 15.38
- Min
- 11.48
In the lower quartile for the Agricultural Inputs industry, CF’s P/E Ratio of 11.94 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
APD
6.80
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.58
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.16
APD’s Forward PEG Ratio of 6.80 is exceptionally high for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
CF
6.70
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 6.44
- Q3
- 5.70
- Median
- 2.87
- Q1
- 1.84
- Min
- 0.52
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Agricultural Inputs industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
APD
5.40
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.76
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.16
With a P/S Ratio of 5.40, APD trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
CF
2.50
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 2.41
- Q3
- 1.73
- Median
- 1.30
- Q1
- 1.11
- Min
- 1.01
With a P/S Ratio of 2.50, CF trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Agricultural Inputs industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
APD
4.42
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.73
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.35
APD’s P/B Ratio of 4.42 is in the upper tier for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
CF
3.34
Agricultural Inputs Industry
- Max
- 3.21
- Q3
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.36
- Q1
- 1.13
- Min
- 0.95
At 3.34, CF’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Agricultural Inputs industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | CF |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 42.39 | 11.94 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 6.80 | 6.70 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.40 | 2.50 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 4.42 | 3.34 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -14.99 | 8.24 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 22.33 | 7.84 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.65 | 2.81 |