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APD vs. CF: Air Products and Chemicals vs. CF Industries Stock Comparison

How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though APD is classified under Industrial Gases while CF falls under Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
Profile ItemAPDCF
NameAir Products and Chemicals Inc.CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial GasesFertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals
Market Capitalization67.88 billion USD17.46 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980August 11, 2005
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APD
CF
GSPC
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Total Return (1Y)23.26%49.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.49%17.00%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.43%16.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APD
CF
GSPC
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.21%43.66%
Beta (5Y)0.670.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.77%-48.36%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.06M2.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APD and CF are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.751.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.141.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 30.86% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CF.

APD

Materials industry group

3.19%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
APD
3.19%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

CF

Materials industry group

30.86%

Max
52.88%
CF
30.86%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 27.48% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

APD

Materials industry group

4.10%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
APD
4.10%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

CF

Materials industry group

27.48%

Max
38.66%
CF
27.48%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 34.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

APD

Materials industry group

17.68%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
APD
17.68%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

CF

Materials industry group

34.36%

Max
66.70%
CF
34.36%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
ROE (TTM)3.19%30.86%
ROA (TTM)4.80%12.61%
Net Margin (TTM)4.10%27.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.68%34.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)31.58%42.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CF Industries (CF) at 19.34% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

CF Industries (CF) at 33.09% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.52%19.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.77%-14.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)-110.30%33.09%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---18.19%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CF Industries (CF) at 2.98 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APD.

APD

Materials industry group

1.07

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
APD
1.07
Min
0.16

CF

Materials industry group

2.98

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
CF
2.98
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CF Industries (CF) at 0.41 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 uses more debt funding than most peers.

APD

Materials industry group

1.06

Max
1.98
APD
1.06
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

CF

Materials industry group

0.41

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
CF
0.41
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.072.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.060.41
Net Debt / EBITDA3.610.21

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CF Industries (CF) at 1.77% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, APD the richer one.

APD

Materials industry group

2.33%

Max
4.52%
APD
2.33%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CF

Materials industry group

1.77%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
CF
1.77%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 14.81% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

APD

Materials industry group

75.66%

Max
83.62%
APD
75.66%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CF

Materials industry group

14.81%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
CF
14.81%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.33%1.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)75.66%14.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 8.42 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

APD

Materials industry group

127.55

APD
127.55
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93

CF

Materials industry group

8.42

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
CF
8.42
Min
3.93
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 2.20 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.

APD

Materials industry group

5.23

Max
9.62
APD
5.23
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

CF

Materials industry group

2.20

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
CF
2.20
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CF Industries (CF) at 3.10 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.

APD

Materials industry group

4.76

Max
6.59
APD
4.76
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

CF

Materials industry group

3.10

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
CF
3.10
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. CF Industries (CF): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and CF Industries (CF)
MetricAPDCF
P/E Ratio (TTM)127.558.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.232.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.763.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-0.28%9.10%