The Goldman Sachs Group Raises CF Industries (NYSE:CF) Price Target to $132.00

Key Points

• Goldman Sachs raised CF Industries' price target to $132 (from $103) while keeping a "neutral" rating, implying roughly an 11.23% upside from the current share price.
• Several other brokers (Barclays, BMO, RBC, JPMorgan) have also raised targets, but the stock still carries a consensus "Hold" rating with a consensus price target of $114.20.
• CF beat the quarter's estimates with $2.59 EPS and revenue up 22.8% year-over-year, supported by a strong net margin (20.54%), which likely contributed to the analyst target increases.

CF Industries (NYSE:CF - Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from $103.00 to $132.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has a "neutral" rating on the basic materials company's stock. The Goldman Sachs Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 11.23% from the stock's current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on CF. Wall Street Zen raised CF Industries from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday. Barclays increased their target price on CF Industries from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on CF Industries from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of CF Industries from $80.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of CF Industries from $100.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $114.20.

CF Industries Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CF opened at $118.68 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $18.23 billion, a PE ratio of 13.09 and a beta of 0.52. CF Industries has a 1 year low of $72.09 and a 1 year high of $141.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $112.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $93.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 3.37 and a quick ratio of 2.93.

CF Industries (NYSE:CF - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The basic materials company reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $1.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.78 billion. CF Industries had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 19.84%. CF Industries's revenue for the quarter was up 22.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.89 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that CF Industries will post 5.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at CF Industries

In other news, EVP Susan L. Menzel sold 18,041 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.06, for a total transaction of $2,454,658.46. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 55,762 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,586,977.72. The trade was a 24.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Bert A. Frost sold 6,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.00, for a total value of $756,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 69,472 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,753,472. This represents a 7.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 82,408 shares of company stock valued at $9,971,298 over the last ninety days. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CF Industries

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in CF Industries by 78.0% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 292 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in shares of CF Industries by 396.2% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 387 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 309 shares during the period. Eastern Bank bought a new position in shares of CF Industries during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of CF Industries by 46.3% during the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 493 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Peterson Wealth Services raised its holdings in shares of CF Industries by 451.3% in the third quarter. Peterson Wealth Services now owns 441 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 361 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.06% of the company's stock.

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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