CF vs. HWM
CF (CF Industries Holdings, Inc.) and HWM (Howmet Aerospace Inc.) are both stocks. CF operates in Agricultural Inputs (Basic Materials), while HWM operates in Aerospace & Defense (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, CF returned 17.90%/yr vs 33.28%/yr for HWM. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CF vs. HWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CF achieves a 42.89% return, which is significantly higher than HWM's 29.23% return. Over the past 10 years, CF has underperformed HWM with an annualized return of 17.90%, while HWM has yielded a comparatively higher 33.28% annualized return.
CF
- 1D
- 2.74%
- 1M
- -12.58%
- YTD
- 42.89%
- 6M
- 39.56%
- 1Y
- 11.91%
- 3Y*
- 19.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.73%
- 10Y*
- 17.90%
HWM
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- -2.83%
- YTD
- 29.23%
- 6M
- 33.60%
- 1Y
- 54.95%
- 3Y*
- 79.69%
- 5Y*
- 50.00%
- 10Y*
- 33.28%
CF vs. HWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | 42.89% | -7.17% | 10.08% | -4.75% | 22.29% | 87.18% | -15.76% | 12.73% | 5.13% | 40.24% |
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc. | 29.23% | 87.95% | 102.71% | 37.84% | 24.16% | 11.67% | 21.03% | 83.54% | -37.43% | 48.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between CF and HWM is -0.14, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.14 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 11, 2005 | 0.39 |
The correlation between CF and HWM shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (1 year) to 0.39 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CF:
$16.91B
HWM:
$106.66B
CF:
$11.08
HWM:
$4.31
CF:
9.88
HWM:
61.42
CF:
0.16
HWM:
1.04
CF:
2.35
HWM:
12.42
CF:
2.05
HWM:
19.32
CF:
$7.41B
HWM:
$8.62B
CF:
$2.99B
HWM:
$2.81B
CF:
$2.60B
HWM:
$2.66B
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Return for Risk
CF vs. HWM — Risk / Return Rank
CF
HWM
CF vs. HWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) and Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CF | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.30 | -0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.77 | 3.46 | -2.68 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.35 | 9.77 | -8.43 |
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Drawdowns
CF vs. HWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CF drawdown since its inception was -76.73%, smaller than the maximum HWM drawdown of -88.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CF and HWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CF | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -76.73% | -88.30% | +11.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.87% | -15.89% | -8.98% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.16% | -19.41% | -9.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.36% | -21.61% | -26.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -60.74% | -64.81% | +4.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.11% | -3.26% | -16.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.92% | -31.00% | +6.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 14.29% | 5.61% | +8.68% |
Volatility
CF vs. HWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) is 9.83%, while Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) has a volatility of 11.03%. This indicates that CF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than HWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CF | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.83% | 11.03% | -1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 35.49% | 25.03% | +10.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 42.20% | 31.46% | +10.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 38.23% | 32.20% | +6.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 40.30% | 39.82% | +0.48% |
Dividends
CF vs. HWM - Dividend Comparison
CF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.83%, more than HWM's 0.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | 1.83% | 2.59% | 2.34% | 2.01% | 1.76% | 1.70% | 3.10% | 2.51% | 2.76% | 2.82% | 3.81% | 2.94% |
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc. | 0.18% | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.13% | 0.05% | 0.39% | 1.42% | 0.88% | 40.49% | 1.22% |
Financials
CF vs. HWM - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and Howmet Aerospace Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
CF vs. HWM - Profitability Comparison
CF - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. reported a gross profit of 746.00M and revenue of 1.99B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 37.6%.
HWM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported a gross profit of 854.00M and revenue of 2.31B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 36.9%.
CF - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. reported an operating income of 6.00M and revenue of 1.99B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.3%.
HWM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported an operating income of 734.00M and revenue of 2.31B, resulting in an operating margin of 31.7%.
CF - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. reported a net income of 615.00M and revenue of 1.99B, resulting in a net margin of 31.0%.
HWM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported a net income of 580.00M and revenue of 2.31B, resulting in a net margin of 25.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CF and HWM have a correlation of -0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HWM has higher volatility (11.03%) compared to CF (9.83%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CF dropped -76.73% vs HWM's -88.30%.
HWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.75 vs 0.46), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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