Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI) and Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings and institutional ownership. \n\nProfitability\nThis table compares Intrepid Potash and Mosaic’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.\n\nAnalyst Ratings\nThis is a breakdown of current ratings for Intrepid Potash and Mosaic, as reported by MarketBeat. \n\nIntrepid Potash currently has a consensus price target of $19.00, suggesting a potential downside of 45.75%. Mosaic has a consensus price target of $35.08, suggesting a potential downside of 3.67%. Given Mosaic’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Mosaic is more favorable than Intrepid Potash. \n\nEarnings & Valuation\nThis table compares Intrepid Potash and Mosaic’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.\n\nMosaic has higher revenue and earnings than Intrepid Potash. Intrepid Potash is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mosaic, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. \n\nInstitutional and Insider Ownership\n56.1% of Intrepid Potash shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.5% of Mosaic shares are held by institutional investors. 2.4% of Intrepid Potash shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Mosaic shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.\n\nVolatility and Risk\nIntrepid Potash has a beta of 1.72, meaning that its share price is 72% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mosaic has a beta of 1.12, meaning that its share price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500. \n\nSummary\nMosaic beats Intrepid Potash on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.\n\nAbout Intrepid Potash\nIntrepid Potash, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the extraction and production of the potash in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Potash, Trio, and Oilfield Solutions. The company offers muriate of potash for various markets, such as agricultural market as a fertilizer input; the industrial market as a component in drilling and fracturing fluids for oil and gas wells, as well as an input to other industrial processes; and the animal feed market as a nutrient supplement. It also provides Trio, a specialty fertilizer that delivers potassium, sulfate, and magnesium in a single particle; water for oil and gas services industry; salt for various markets, including animal feed, industrial applications, pool salt, and the treatment of roads and walkways for ice melting or to manage road conditions; magnesium chloride for use as a road treatment agent for deicing and dedusting; brines for use in oil and gas industry to support well workover and completion activities; and metal recovery salts. Intrepid Potash, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Denver, Colorado.\n\nAbout Mosaic\nThe Mosaic Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. It owns and operates mines, which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients, such as diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ammoniated phosphate products; and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients primarily under the Biofos and Nexfos brand names, as well as produces a double sulfate of potash magnesia product under K-Mag brand name. The company also produces and sells potash for use in the manufacturing of mixed crop nutrients and animal feed ingredients, and for industrial use; and for use in the de-icing and as a water softener regenerant. In addition, it provides nitrogen-based crop nutrients, animal feed ingredients, and other ancillary services; and purchases and sells phosphates, potash, and nitrogen products. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, retail chains, farmers, cooperatives, independent retailers, and national accounts. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI) versus Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) Critical Comparison

This article compares Intrepid Potash and Mosaic based on profitability, analyst ratings, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, and volatility. Mosaic outperforms Intrepid on 12 of 15 factors, including higher revenue, earnings, and institutional ownership, while Intrepid has a lower price-to-earnings ratio.