Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP)

In Q2 Fiscal Year 2025, Compass Minerals reported results that exceeded market expectations due to strong Salt segment volume and inventory drawdown initiatives. The company executed a debt paydown of over $170 million in Q2 2025. Operational improvements and cost discipline have been boosting margins and cash flow. Analysts have a "Hold" consensus rating for CMP, with a price target of $20. The stock price gained 2.43% on October 24, 2025, but experienced a decline of -4.79% on October 27, 2025. A proposed class action settlement was announced, with a hearing scheduled for November 18, 2025.

Demand for Compass Minerals International, Inc.'s products, particularly highway deicing salt, is highly seasonal and dependent on weather conditions. Mild winters can lead to reduced sales volumes, while harsher winters can lead to rising prices. The Plant Nutrition segment also experiences seasonal demand. The improved outlook for the highway de-icing bid season presents a tangible near-term catalyst for revenue and pricing improvement.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. operates in the Basic Materials sector, focusing on the production and distribution of essential minerals. The company's primary products are categorized into Salt, Plant Nutrition, and Lithium and Other Minerals. The Salt segment produces deicing salt, water conditioning salt, and food-grade salt. The Plant Nutrition segment focuses on specialty fertilizers and soil health products, including Protassium+. Compass Minerals has expanded into the lithium market, developing lithium brine resources.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. has a significant geographic footprint in North America and the United Kingdom. Key operational locations include salt mines in Goderich, Ontario, Cote Blanche, Louisiana, and Winsford, Cheshire. Mechanical evaporation salt facilities are located in Lyons, Kansas; Unity, Saskatchewan; Goderich, Ontario; and Amherst, Nova Scotia. Solar evaporation facilities are located at the Great Salt Lake near Ogden, Utah. The company operates production and packaging facilities in the US, Canada, and the UK, and utilizes an extensive network of depots for storage and distribution. Compass Minerals also provides records management services in the United Kingdom, utilizing excavated areas of its Winsford salt mine and another location in London, England. The company also has subsidiaries in Brazil and Chile.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. maintains an established brand reputation, emphasizing long-term customer relationships and significant reserves of high-quality minerals. The company highlights its focus on ESG matters and its commitment to safely delivering essential mineral products. There were no specific negative events impacting the company's brand reputation in the past year.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. has significant institutional ownership, with 395 institutional owners and shareholders holding approximately 89.07% of total shares. Major institutional owners include Koch, Inc., SailingStone Capital Partners LLC, and BlackRock, Inc. Insider ownership is around 4.58%. Joseph Reece, a director, made a buy transaction of $48,400 on March 26, 2025.