On trailing earnings, CF is cheaper: AA trades at a 13.80 P/E and CF at 9.18.

Which has grown faster, AA or CF?

Over the past five years, CF grew revenue faster — AA at a 5.08% CAGR versus CF at 12.01%.

Does AA or CF pay a bigger dividend?

AA yields 0.73% and CF yields 1.96% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is AA or CF more profitable?

CF runs the higher net margin — AA at 8.17% versus CF at 23.73%.

Which has been the better investment, AA or CF?

Over the past 10-year, CF delivered the higher annualized total return — AA at 9.82% versus CF at 17.11%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Alcoa Corporation (AA) vs CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF)

CF leads on 12 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Alcoa Corporation and CF Industries Holdings, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 24, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Alcoa Corporation

$14.54B

$55.08Basic Materials

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

$15.70B

$102.17Basic Materials

Total return — AA vs CF

growth of $100 · last 21y

AA -15.2%CF +3053.4%CF compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

AA CF

AA vs CF: by the numbers

•CF is the larger company ($15.70B vs $14.54B market cap).
•CF trades at the lower earnings multiple (9.18 vs 13.80 P/E).
•CF converts more revenue to profit (23.73% vs 8.17% net margin).
•CF grew revenue faster over the past five years (12.01% vs 5.08% CAGR).
•CF pays the higher dividend yield (1.96% vs 0.73%).

Which is better, AA or CF?

Metric tally: AA 5 · CF 12

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueCF(lower P/E)

GrowthCF(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCF(higher dividend yield)

QualityCF(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	AA	CF
P/E ratio	13.80	9.18●
Forward P/E	7.25●	8.90
P/S ratio	1.16●	2.13
P/B ratio	2.14●	2.95
PEG ratio	0.01●	0.26
EV / EBITDA	9.39	4.68●
FCF yield	1.96%	10.27%●

Profitability

Metric	AA	CF
Gross margin	15.20%	40.41%●
Operating margin	3.82%	35.68%●
Net margin	8.17%	23.73%●
ROE	15.15%	32.91%●
ROIC	6.12%	14.27%●

Dividends

Metric	AA	CF
Dividend yield	0.73%	1.96%●
Payout ratio	8.95%	22.27%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	AA	CF
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	5.08%	12.01%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	20.38%	43.52%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	13.41%●	6.13%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	10.54%	17.31%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, AA or CF?: It depends on your goal. value: CF (lower P/E); growth: CF (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CF (higher dividend yield); quality: CF (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, CF leads 12 to 5.
Is AA or CF cheaper?: On trailing earnings, CF is cheaper: AA trades at a 13.80 P/E and CF at 9.18.
Which has grown faster, AA or CF?: Over the past five years, CF grew revenue faster — AA at a 5.08% CAGR versus CF at 12.01%.
Does AA or CF pay a bigger dividend?: AA yields 0.73% and CF yields 1.96% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is AA or CF more profitable?: CF runs the higher net margin — AA at 8.17% versus CF at 23.73%.
Which has been the better investment, AA or CF?: Over the past 10-year, CF delivered the higher annualized total return — AA at 9.82% versus CF at 17.11%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full AA analysis Full CF analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Alcoa P/E ratio CF Industries P/E ratio Alcoa dividend yield CF Industries dividend yield Alcoa ROE CF Industries ROE Alcoa operating margin CF Industries operating margin Alcoa revenue growth CF Industries revenue growth Alcoa free cash flow CF Industries free cash flow

Alcoa & CF Industries appear in these rankings

Highest ROE Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 24, 2026.