Is CF Industries a Better Long-Term Bet Than Corteva?
Even as Corteva fell -16% during the past Month, its peer CF Industries may be a better choice. Consistently evaluating alternatives is core to sound investment approach. CF Industries (CF) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Corteva (CTVA) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in CF
- CF’s quarterly revenue growth was 20.2%, vs. CTVA’s 5.6%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 9.5%, ahead of CTVA’s 1.6%.
- CF leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 29.2% and 3-year average of 32.8%.
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CTVA operates in agriculture, developing advanced seeds for optimal yields and providing herbicides, insecticides, nitrogen stabilizers, and pasture management solutions. CF manufactures and sells hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and industrial uses, including ammonia, urea, and related products worldwide.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| CTVA | CF | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 16.9 | 7.6 | CF |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 5.6% | 20.2% | CF |
| Last 12 Months | 1.6% | 9.5% | CF |
| Last 3 Year Average | 1.0% | -12.4% | CTVA |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 14.7% | 29.2% | CF |
| Last 3 Year Average | 13.1% | 32.8% | CF |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 3.1% | -11.8% | CTVA |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: CTVA Revenue Comparison | CF Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: CTVA Operating Income Comparison | CF Operating Income Comparison
But do these numbers tell the full story? Read Buy or Sell CF Stock to see if CF Industries’s edge holds up under the hood or if Corteva still has cards to play (see Buy or Sell CTVA Stock).
Historical Market Performance
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| CTVA Return | 33% | 24% | 26% | -18% | 20% | 11% | 125% | <=== | |
| CF Return | -16% | 87% | 22% | -5% | 10% | 5% | 111% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 13% | 103% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| CTVA Win Rate | 67% | 67% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 56% | 62% | ||
| CF Win Rate | 50% | 75% | 58% | 42% | 58% | 67% | 58% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 64% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| CTVA Max Drawdown | -30% | -1% | -4% | -25% | -7% | -2% | -12% | <=== | |
| CF Max Drawdown | -55% | -0% | -9% | -29% | -12% | -19% | -21% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -12% | ||
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] 2025 data is for the year up to 10/13/2025 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read CF Dip Buyer Analyses to see how the stock has fallen and recovered in the past.