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CF vs. DOW: CF Industries vs. Dow Stock Comparison

How do CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW) 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

CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though CF is classified under Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals while DOW falls under Commodity Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
Profile ItemCFDOW
NameCF Industries Holdings, Inc.Dow Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryFertilizers & Agricultural ChemicalsCommodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization17.46 billion USD22.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 11, 2005March 20, 2019
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CF
DOW
GSPC
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW), 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 CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Total Return (1Y)49.36%46.93%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.00%-8.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.09%-6.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CF
DOW
GSPC
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW), 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 CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.66%41.81%
Beta (5Y)0.560.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.36%-64.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.49M8.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CF and DOW 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 CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.031.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.591.62

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative ROE of -3.24%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile CF Industries (CF) reports 30.86%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CF

Materials industry group

30.86%

Max
52.88%
CF
30.86%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

DOW

Materials industry group

-3.24%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
DOW
-3.24%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile CF Industries (CF) reports 27.48%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CF

Materials industry group

27.48%

Max
38.66%
CF
27.48%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

DOW

Materials industry group

-2.11%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
DOW
-2.11%
Min
-20.40%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): 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 Dow (DOW) at 6.78%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CF

Materials industry group

34.36%

Max
66.70%
CF
34.36%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

DOW

Materials industry group

6.78%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
DOW
6.78%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
ROE (TTM)30.86%-3.24%
ROA (TTM)12.61%1.87%
Net Margin (TTM)27.48%-2.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.36%6.78%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.52%11.01%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CF Industries (CF) at 19.34% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): 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 Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)19.34%-6.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-14.12%-11.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)33.09%-335.67%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-18.19%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 2.98 and Dow (DOW) at 1.76 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CF

Materials industry group

2.98

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
CF
2.98
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

DOW

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
DOW
1.76
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): 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 Dow (DOW) at 1.08 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CF

Materials industry group

0.41

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
CF
0.41
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

DOW

Materials industry group

1.08

Max
1.98
DOW
1.08
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.981.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.411.08
Net Debt / EBITDA0.213.21

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 4.38% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CF Industries (CF) at 1.77% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DOW the richer one.

CF

Materials industry group

1.77%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
CF
1.77%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

DOW

Materials industry group

4.38%

Max
4.52%
DOW
4.38%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile CF Industries (CF) reports 14.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CF

Materials industry group

14.81%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
CF
14.81%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

DOW

Materials industry group

700.00%

DOW
700.00%
Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.77%4.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.81%700.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: CF Industries (CF) trades at 8.42 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.

CF

Materials industry group

8.42

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
CF
8.42
Min
3.93

DOW

Materials industry group

--

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
DOW
--
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): DOW does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; CF is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CF Industries (CF) at 2.20 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CF

Materials industry group

2.20

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
CF
2.20
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

DOW

Materials industry group

0.53

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
DOW
0.53
Min
0.00
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both CF Industries (CF) at 3.10 and Dow (DOW) at 1.41 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CF

Materials industry group

3.10

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
CF
3.10
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

DOW

Materials industry group

1.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
DOW
1.41
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Dow (DOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Dow (DOW)
MetricCFDOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.42--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.200.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.101.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.10%3.95%