Top YTD performers among fertilizers as the sector slides on Hormuz opening

[fertilizer in farmer hand. NPK fertilizers are three-component fertilizers providing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium]
iamporpla/iStock via Getty Images

Fertilizer stocks took a sharp hit on Friday after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a third of the world's crop nutrient supplies flow, "completely open" to commercial vessels, beginning to unwind the supply-risk premium that had built up throughout the Middle East conflict.

CF Industries (CF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CF]) and Nutrien (NTR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NTR]) bore the brunt of the selloff, closing down 9.6% and 5.2%, respectively, at their lowest levels since early March, while Mosaic (MOS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MOS]) fell a more modest 0.6%.

Below is a list of fertilizer and agricultural chemicals stocks ranked by their year-to-date performance. The list includes primary stocks in the sector with varying market capitalizations and price movements.

The list is topped by CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CF]), with a YTD performance of 61.25%. Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IPI]) and FMC Corporation (FMC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FMC]) are next, rounding out the top three performers in the sector.

CVR Partners, LP Common Units (UAN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UAN]), Itafos Inc. (IFOS:CA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IFOS:CA]), and Corteva, Inc. (CTVA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CTVA]) follow with solid YTD gains ranging from 21% to 23%. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SMG]) and The Mosaic Company (MOS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MOS]) round out the list with more modest performances of 7.01% and 2.66%, respectively.

Here is the list:

*
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CF]), YTD perf: 61.25%, Quant rating: 3.41

*
Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IPI]), YTD perf: 41.65%, Quant rating: 3.38

*
FMC Corporation (FMC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FMC]), YTD perf: 26.75%, Quant rating: 1.67

*
CVR Partners, LP Common Units (UAN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UAN]), YTD perf: 23.45%, Quant rating: Not Covered

*
Itafos Inc. (IFOS:CA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IFOS:CA]), YTD perf: 22.87%, Quant rating: Not Covered

*
Corteva, Inc. (CTVA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CTVA]), YTD perf: 21.08%, Quant rating: 3.15

*
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SMG]), YTD perf: 7.01%, Quant rating: 2.94

*
The Mosaic Company (MOS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MOS]), YTD perf: 2.66%, Quant rating: 2.85

MORE ON CF INDUSTRIES, MOSAIC, ETC.

* CF Industries: Shares Are Higher For Longer [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4891491-cf-industries-shares-are-higher-for-longer]
* Mosaic: The Market Is Too Pessimistic Despite Iran-Driven Fertilizer Supply Disruptions [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4891417-mosaic-the-market-is-too-pessimistic-despite-iran-driven-fertilizer-supply-disruptions]
* Mosaic: This Sell-Off Is A Classic Contrarian Opportunity [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4890873-mosaic-this-sell-off-is-a-classic-contrarian-opportunity]
* Fertilizer prices plunge as Strait of Hormuz apparently set to open [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4576297-fertilizer-prices-plunge-as-strait-of-hormuz-apparently-set-to-open]
* Corteva unveils leadership team for planned seed and genetics spin-off [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4574770-corteva-unveils-leadership-team-for-planned-seed-and-genetics-spin-off]