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CF vs. MLM: CF Industries vs. Martin Marietta Materials Stock Comparison

How do CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but CF is classified in Chemicals while MLM is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
Profile ItemCFMLM
NameCF Industries Holdings, Inc.Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsConstruction Materials
GICS Sub-IndustryFertilizers & Agricultural ChemicalsConstruction Materials
Market Capitalization17.46 billion USD36.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 11, 2005February 17, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CF
MLM
GSPC
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM), 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Total Return (1Y)49.36%-12.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.00%6.32%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.09%5.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CF
MLM
GSPC
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM), 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.66%29.72%
Beta (5Y)0.561.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.36%-33.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.49M805.11K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CF and MLM 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.03-0.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.59-0.75

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 30.86% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% 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%

MLM

Materials industry group

6.02%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
MLM
6.02%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both CF Industries (CF) at 27.48% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CF

Materials industry group

27.48%

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

MLM

Materials industry group

31.88%

Max
38.66%
MLM
31.88%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29%, 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%

MLM

Materials industry group

22.29%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
MLM
22.29%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
ROE (TTM)30.86%6.02%
ROA (TTM)12.61%3.27%
Net Margin (TTM)27.48%31.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.36%22.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.52%26.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CF Industries (CF) at 19.34% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CF Industries (CF) at 33.09% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at -42.09% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Revenue Growth (YoY)19.34%8.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-14.12%-0.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)33.09%-42.09%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-18.19%10.61%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 2.98 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 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

MLM

Materials industry group

1.63

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
MLM
1.63
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 0.41 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CF

Materials industry group

0.41

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

MLM

Materials industry group

0.75

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
MLM
0.75
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.981.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.410.75
Net Debt / EBITDA0.215.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 1.77% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CF

Materials industry group

1.77%

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

MLM

Materials industry group

0.63%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
MLM
0.63%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CF Industries (CF) at 14.81% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CF

Materials industry group

14.81%

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

MLM

Materials industry group

24.85%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
MLM
24.85%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.77%0.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.81%24.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CF Industries (CF) at 8.42 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

CF

Materials industry group

8.42

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

MLM

Materials industry group

38.67

Max
59.00
MLM
38.67
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 sits in the pricier quartile — MLM costs more per dollar of sales.

CF

Materials industry group

2.20

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

MLM

Materials industry group

5.11

Max
9.62
MLM
5.11
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 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

MLM

Materials industry group

2.09

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
MLM
2.09
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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CF Industries (CF) vs. Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CF Industries (CF) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM)
MetricCFMLM
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.4238.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.205.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.102.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.10%4.54%