CF vs. LYB: CF Industries vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though CF is classified under Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals while LYB falls under Commodity Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Profile Item	CF	LYB
Name	CF Industries Holdings, Inc.	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals	Commodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization	17.46 billion USD	19.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 11, 2005	April 28, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LYB

GSPC

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Total Return (1Y)	49.36%	49.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.00%	-7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	16.09%	-1.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LYB

GSPC

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	43.66%	42.84%
Beta (5Y)	0.56	0.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-48.36%	-55.35%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.49M	3.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CF and LYB 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.03	1.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.59	1.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 30.86% sits in the top ROE quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CF.

CF

Materials industry group

30.86%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

12.18%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LYB: 12.18%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CF

Materials industry group

27.48%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

4.05%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
LYB: 4.05%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40%, 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

13.40%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LYB: 13.40%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
ROE (TTM)	30.86%	12.18%
ROA (TTM)	12.61%	5.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.48%	4.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)	34.36%	13.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	42.52%	14.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CF Industries (CF) at 19.34% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	19.34%	-9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-14.12%	-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	33.09%	-156.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-18.19%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 2.98 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.78

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
LYB: 1.78
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.21

Max: 1.98
LYB: 1.21
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.98	1.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.41	1.21
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.21	2.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 1.77% pays an industry-typical yield; LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

CF

Materials industry group

1.77%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

5.58%

LYB: 5.58%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CF

Materials industry group

14.81%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

83.29%

Max: 83.62%
LYB: 83.29%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.77%	5.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	14.81%	83.29%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 8.42 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CF

Materials industry group

8.42

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

LYB

Materials industry group

14.70

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
LYB: 14.70
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CF Industries (CF) at 2.20 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB 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

LYB

Materials industry group

0.61

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
LYB: 0.61
Min: 0.00

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.74

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
LYB: 1.74
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

CF Industries (CF) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CF Industries (CF) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	CF	LYB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	8.42	14.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.20	0.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.10	1.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	9.10%	9.06%