Q3 EPS Estimates for CF Industries Boosted by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised CF Industries’ Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $4.08 from $3.69, while maintaining a “Hold” rating. Its FY2026 forecast is $14.94 per share, above the broader consensus of $13.85.
• CF Industries shares opened at $125.68, up 5.6%, but the company’s latest quarter missed expectations: EPS was $4.73 versus $5.63 expected, and revenue was $2.22 billion versus $2.45 billion expected.
• The company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.60 from $0.50, equivalent to $2.40 annually and a 1.9% yield. Institutional investors own 93.06% of CF Industries’ outstanding shares.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for shares of CF Industries in a research report issued on Wednesday, August 19th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the basic materials company will earn $4.08 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $3.69. Zacks Research currently has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for CF Industries' current full-year earnings is $13.85 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for CF Industries' Q4 2026 earnings at $3.24 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $14.94 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.63 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.82 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $10.73 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $1.95 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $7.06 EPS.

CF has been the subject of several other reports. UBS Group upped their price objective on CF Industries from $115.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. BNP Paribas Exane reduced their price target on CF Industries from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 15th. Bank of America raised their price objective on CF Industries from $103.00 to $106.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Freedom Capital raised CF Industries from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price objective on CF Industries from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $116.56.

CF Industries Stock Up 5.6%

Shares of CF stock opened at $125.68 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 4.86, a quick ratio of 4.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. CF Industries has a 12 month low of $75.42 and a 12 month high of $141.96. The stock has a market cap of $19.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.32, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $115.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $115.57.

CF Industries (NYSE:CF - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The basic materials company reported $4.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.63 by ($0.90). The business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 27.12%.CF Industries's revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.37 EPS.

Institutional Trading of CF Industries

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CF. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in CF Industries in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,410,607,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of CF Industries by 3.4% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,458,907 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $579,062,000 after buying an additional 146,682 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners raised its position in shares of CF Industries by 15.3% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,587,999 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $321,852,000 after buying an additional 476,769 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 12.0% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,570,249 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $276,123,000 after buying an additional 381,716 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 0.4% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,287,256 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $302,428,000 after buying an additional 11,792 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.06% of the company's stock.

CF Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is a positive change from CF Industries's previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. CF Industries's dividend payout ratio is currently 17.79%.

Trending Headlines about CF Industries

Here are the key news stories impacting CF Industries this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its Q3 2026 EPS forecast to $4.08 from $3.69, suggesting stronger expected near-term results.
• Positive Sentiment: The FY2027 EPS estimate increased to $10.73 from $8.73, while the Q1 2027 forecast rose sharply to $2.63 from $1.49.
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also lifted its Q4 2027 estimate to $2.82 from $2.20, Q1 2028 to $1.95 from $1.83, Q2 2027 to $2.73 from $2.64, and Q3 2027 to $2.54 from $2.40.
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks’ FY2026 EPS forecast is now $14.94, still above the broader consensus estimate of $13.85, but the firm’s “Hold” rating indicates limited conviction that the revisions warrant a stronger recommendation.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks lowered its FY2026 EPS estimate to $14.94 from $15.56 and cut Q4 2026 EPS to $3.24 from $3.40.
• Negative Sentiment: The FY2028 forecast declined to $7.06 from $7.69, while Q2 2028 EPS was reduced to $1.83 from $2.02, pointing to expected earnings moderation over the longer term.

About CF Industries

CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.

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