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 Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Record Potash Volumes
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Nutrien Q1 adjusted EPS jumped 364% year over year to 51 cents, beating estimates by 6.3%
NTR posted record potash sales volumes of 3.51 million tons on strong demand and supply chain strength.
Nutrien reaffirmed 2026 guidance, including potash sales outlook of 14.1-14.8 million tonnes.
Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) recorded adjusted earnings of 51 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, up 363.6% year over year. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents by 6.3%.
Sales rose 18.5% year over year to $6,046 million and topped the consensus mark of $5,356.7 million by 12.9%.
A key operating highlight was record first-quarter potash sales volumes of 3.51 million tons, supported by strong demand and a well-positioned supply chain.
Nutrien Ag Solutions (Retail) generated first-quarter sales of $3,640 million, up 17.8% from $3,090 million a year ago. Management attributed the increase largely to higher crop nutrient sales volumes from core geographies, supported by an earlier start to field activity in the United States, alongside stronger proprietary product demand. The figure beat our estimate of $3,439 million.
The Potash segment posted net sales of $926 million, rising 24.5% year over year on higher global benchmark prices and record sales volumes. The metric beat our estimate of $717 million.
Nitrogen net sales increased 14.6% to $1,014 million, primarily reflecting stronger global benchmarks, while volume softness was tied to the absence of production from the Trinidad and New Madrid facilities. The figure beat our estimate of $795 million
Phosphate net sales climbed 34.7% to $485 million, benefiting from higher sales volumes and stronger benchmarks, though results were tempered by higher sulfur input costs. The figure exceeded our estimate of $344 million.
NTR's Financials
Nutrien ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $777 million, up from $701 million at the end of 2025. Long-term debt declined 5.6% to $8,825 million from $9,350 million at the end of 2025, while total long-term debt, including the current portion, was $9,861 million compared with $9,863 million at year-end.
Cash used in operating activities was $851 million in the first quarter. Nutrien said the year-over-year improvement primarily reflected higher fertilizer benchmark pricing, increased Retail earnings and record potash sales volumes.
Nutrien's 2026 Outlook
Management reaffirmed full-year guidance ranges following the quarter. Retail adjusted EBITDA is still expected in the $1.75-$1.95 billion range, reflecting the company’s outlook for crop input demand and downstream execution through the year.
Nutrien maintained its sales volume outlook across the upstream portfolio as well. Potash sales volumes are projected at 14.1-14.8 million tons, Nitrogen at 9.2-9.7 million tons and Phosphate at 2.4-2.6 million tons. The company also reiterated capital expenditures guidance of $2-$2.1 billion, with depreciation and amortization expected at $2.4-$2.5 billion and finance costs at $0.65-$0.75 billion.
NTR’s Price Performance
Nutrien’s shares have gained 22.9% in the past year compared with the 16.1% rise of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NTR’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
NTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) , NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) and Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN - Free Report) .
Idaho is expected to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, indicating 258.33% year-over-year growth. IDR sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NioCorp is expected to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on May 14. The consensus estimate for NB’s loss per share is pegged at 2 cents, indicating 83.33% year-over-year growth. NB presently carries a Zacks Rank #1.
Hawkins is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results on May 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWKN’s first-quarter earnings per share is pegged at 77 cents. HWKN carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Nutrien Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Record Potash Volumes
Key Takeaways
Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) recorded adjusted earnings of 51 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, up 363.6% year over year. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents by 6.3%.
Sales rose 18.5% year over year to $6,046 million and topped the consensus mark of $5,356.7 million by 12.9%.
A key operating highlight was record first-quarter potash sales volumes of 3.51 million tons, supported by strong demand and a well-positioned supply chain.
Nutrien Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Nutrien Ltd. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Nutrien Ltd. Quote
NTR's Segment Highlights
Nutrien Ag Solutions (Retail) generated first-quarter sales of $3,640 million, up 17.8% from $3,090 million a year ago. Management attributed the increase largely to higher crop nutrient sales volumes from core geographies, supported by an earlier start to field activity in the United States, alongside stronger proprietary product demand. The figure beat our estimate of $3,439 million.
The Potash segment posted net sales of $926 million, rising 24.5% year over year on higher global benchmark prices and record sales volumes. The metric beat our estimate of $717 million.
Nitrogen net sales increased 14.6% to $1,014 million, primarily reflecting stronger global benchmarks, while volume softness was tied to the absence of production from the Trinidad and New Madrid facilities. The figure beat our estimate of $795 million
Phosphate net sales climbed 34.7% to $485 million, benefiting from higher sales volumes and stronger benchmarks, though results were tempered by higher sulfur input costs. The figure exceeded our estimate of $344 million.
NTR's Financials
Nutrien ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $777 million, up from $701 million at the end of 2025. Long-term debt declined 5.6% to $8,825 million from $9,350 million at the end of 2025, while total long-term debt, including the current portion, was $9,861 million compared with $9,863 million at year-end.
Cash used in operating activities was $851 million in the first quarter. Nutrien said the year-over-year improvement primarily reflected higher fertilizer benchmark pricing, increased Retail earnings and record potash sales volumes.
Nutrien's 2026 Outlook
Management reaffirmed full-year guidance ranges following the quarter. Retail adjusted EBITDA is still expected in the $1.75-$1.95 billion range, reflecting the company’s outlook for crop input demand and downstream execution through the year.
Nutrien maintained its sales volume outlook across the upstream portfolio as well. Potash sales volumes are projected at 14.1-14.8 million tons, Nitrogen at 9.2-9.7 million tons and Phosphate at 2.4-2.6 million tons. The company also reiterated capital expenditures guidance of $2-$2.1 billion, with depreciation and amortization expected at $2.4-$2.5 billion and finance costs at $0.65-$0.75 billion.
NTR’s Price Performance
Nutrien’s shares have gained 22.9% in the past year compared with the 16.1% rise of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NTR’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
NTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) , NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) and Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN - Free Report) .
Idaho is expected to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, indicating 258.33% year-over-year growth. IDR sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NioCorp is expected to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on May 14. The consensus estimate for NB’s loss per share is pegged at 2 cents, indicating 83.33% year-over-year growth. NB presently carries a Zacks Rank #1.
Hawkins is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results on May 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWKN’s first-quarter earnings per share is pegged at 77 cents. HWKN carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.