We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Nutrien Stock Rallies 40% YTD: What's Behind the Upside?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
NTR shares climbed 40.5% YTD, outperforming industry declines as fertilizer demand and pricing strengthened.
Nutrien lifted its 2025 potash sales outlook to 14-14.5M tons on strong demand in key global markets.
NTR posted strong Q3 2025 EBITDA and free cash flow growth, enabling dividends, buybacks and cost cuts.
Nutrien Ltd.’s (NTR - Free Report) shares have popped 40.5% so far this year, outperforming the industry’s 14.8% gain and the S&P 500’s 18.3% rise.
Price Performance of NTR vs. Industry and S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at the factors that are driving this fertilizer maker.
Global Fertilizer Demand Strength Supports NTR’s Rally
NTR’s rally has been underpinned by a combination of favorable agricultural market conditions, effective operational execution and improving investor confidence. The key driver has been sustained global fertilizer demand — particularly for potash, nitrogen and phosphate — bolstered by expectations of strong crop production and higher input requirements in 2025, alongside tight inventories and limited new supply.
Healthy demand from major markets such as North America, Brazil and Southeast Asia has supported firm pricing and higher sales volumes, prompting Nutrien to lift its 2025 potash sales outlook to around 14-14.5 million tons after delivering record shipment levels in the first nine months of the year.
Nutrien is also gaining from acquisitions and the growing adoption of its digital platform. It continues expanding in Brazil and plans to use free cash flow to pursue targeted growth investments and tuck-in acquisitions across its retail business in 2025.
Operational performance and financial results have further strengthened investor confidence. In the third quarter of 2025, Nutrien delivered strong EBITDA growth, supported by higher fertilizer sales volumes and firmer pricing across all segments, with potash, nitrogen and retail each contributing meaningfully, reflecting improved operating leverage alongside continued portfolio optimization and cost-control initiatives.
The company reported margin expansion and a sharp increase in free cash flow, which provided flexibility to return capital to its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks totaling well over $1 billion in the first nine months, underscoring Nutrien’s disciplined capital allocation and balance-sheet strength.
Nutrien Advances Cost Cuts & Efficiency Gains
Nutrien’s cost and operational efficiency efforts are set to further support performance. The company is focused on lowering potash production costs and has implemented several strategic actions to reduce controllable expenses and improve free cash flow. With accelerated efficiency and savings initiatives, Nutrien expects to achieve about $200 million in total cost reductions in 2025 and is currently ahead of schedule on this target.
NTR’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) , Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY - Free Report) and Paladin Energy Ltd (PALAF - Free Report) .
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Agnico Eagle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $7.78 per share. AEM, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 12%. The company's shares have surged 115.2% year to date. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMY’s current-year earnings is pegged at $2.68 per share. HMY carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. The company's shares have soared 148.5% year to date.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PALAF’s current-year earnings is pegged at 5 cents per share. PALAF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company's shares have risen 31.7% year to date.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Nutrien Stock Rallies 40% YTD: What's Behind the Upside?
Key Takeaways
Nutrien Ltd.’s (NTR - Free Report) shares have popped 40.5% so far this year, outperforming the industry’s 14.8% gain and the S&P 500’s 18.3% rise.
Price Performance of NTR vs. Industry and S&P 500
Let’s take a look at the factors that are driving this fertilizer maker.
Global Fertilizer Demand Strength Supports NTR’s Rally
NTR’s rally has been underpinned by a combination of favorable agricultural market conditions, effective operational execution and improving investor confidence. The key driver has been sustained global fertilizer demand — particularly for potash, nitrogen and phosphate — bolstered by expectations of strong crop production and higher input requirements in 2025, alongside tight inventories and limited new supply.
Healthy demand from major markets such as North America, Brazil and Southeast Asia has supported firm pricing and higher sales volumes, prompting Nutrien to lift its 2025 potash sales outlook to around 14-14.5 million tons after delivering record shipment levels in the first nine months of the year.
Nutrien is also gaining from acquisitions and the growing adoption of its digital platform. It continues expanding in Brazil and plans to use free cash flow to pursue targeted growth investments and tuck-in acquisitions across its retail business in 2025.
Operational Leverage & Cash Flow Reinforce Confidence
Operational performance and financial results have further strengthened investor confidence. In the third quarter of 2025, Nutrien delivered strong EBITDA growth, supported by higher fertilizer sales volumes and firmer pricing across all segments, with potash, nitrogen and retail each contributing meaningfully, reflecting improved operating leverage alongside continued portfolio optimization and cost-control initiatives.
The company reported margin expansion and a sharp increase in free cash flow, which provided flexibility to return capital to its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks totaling well over $1 billion in the first nine months, underscoring Nutrien’s disciplined capital allocation and balance-sheet strength.
Nutrien Advances Cost Cuts & Efficiency Gains
Nutrien’s cost and operational efficiency efforts are set to further support performance. The company is focused on lowering potash production costs and has implemented several strategic actions to reduce controllable expenses and improve free cash flow. With accelerated efficiency and savings initiatives, Nutrien expects to achieve about $200 million in total cost reductions in 2025 and is currently ahead of schedule on this target.
NTR’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) , Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY - Free Report) and Paladin Energy Ltd (PALAF - Free Report) .
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Agnico Eagle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $7.78 per share. AEM, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 12%. The company's shares have surged 115.2% year to date. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMY’s current-year earnings is pegged at $2.68 per share. HMY carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. The company's shares have soared 148.5% year to date.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PALAF’s current-year earnings is pegged at 5 cents per share. PALAF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company's shares have risen 31.7% year to date.