CF Industries faces margin pressure as natural gas costs surge

EarningsCommodity
โดย Zacks Investment Research·Read original
Summary · why it matters

CF Industries Holdings is grappling with rising natural gas costs that threaten its margins despite healthy nitrogen fertilizer demand and higher prices. The company's average natural gas cost climbed to $3.31 per MMBtu in 2025 from $2.40 a year earlier, and further increased to $4.57 per MMBtu in the first quarter of 2026 from $3.68 in the prior-year period, driving up cost of sales. Peers Nutrien and Mosaic are also contending with elevated input costs, including sulfur and ammonia, which have compressed phosphate margins and are expected to exert additional pressure in the second quarter. CF Industries stock has risen 11.7% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Fertilizers industry's 5.2% decline, and trades at a forward earnings multiple of 7.15, a 34.1% discount to the industry average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 83.1% year-over-year jump in 2026 earnings followed by a 34.9% decline in 2027, with estimates for both years trending higher over the past 60 days.

Impact on stocks 3

Climate Adaptation & Water · 3 stocks
The Mosaic Company
MOS
▼ NegativeSupplyrelevance

Elevated input costs including sulfur and ammonia compress phosphate margins.

Nutrien Ltd
NTR
▼ NegativeSupplyrelevance

Contending with elevated input costs, including sulfur and ammonia.

Theme Impact 1

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