Compass Minerals (CMP) Shares Surge 8.8% to $22.68 Amid Price Target Upgrade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 07 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CMP?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Stock Price Surge: Compass Minerals' shares rallied 8.8% in the last trading session to close at $22.68, with notable trading volume indicating strong market interest in the company's future performance.
- Price Target Upgrade: BMO Capital raised its price target for CMP from $20 to $25 while maintaining a 'Market Perform' rating, which may further bolster investor confidence in the stock.
- Strong Earnings Expectations: The company is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.11 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 120%, with revenues projected at $329.69 million, up 7.3%, highlighting its growth potential in the market.
- Earnings Estimate Revisions: Despite strong earnings expectations, the consensus EPS estimate for CMP has been revised down by 11.6% over the past 30 days, and this negative trend could hinder further stock price appreciation.
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Analyst Views on CMP
Wall Street analysts forecast CMP stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 22.730
Low
21.00
Averages
22.67
High
25.00
Current: 22.730
Low
21.00
Averages
22.67
High
25.00
About CMP
Compass Minerals International, Inc. is a global provider of essential minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash (SOP) and magnesium chloride. The Company is also working to develop a long-term fire-retardant business. Its segments include Salt and Plant Nutrition. Salt segment provides highway deicing salt to customers in North America and the United Kingdom, as well as consumer deicing and water conditioning products, ingredients used in consumer and commercial food preparation, and other salt-based products for consumer, industrial, chemical and agricultural applications in North America. In the United Kingdom, it operates a records management business utilizing excavated areas of its Winsford salt mine with one other location in London, England. Plant Nutrition segment produces and markets SOP products in various grades worldwide to distributors and retailers of crop inputs, as well as growers and for industrial uses. It markets its SOP under the trade name Protassium+.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Rare Earth Production Capability: REalloys' Euclid facility is the only site in North America capable of producing heavy rare earth metals and alloys, having secured contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and NASA, solidifying its critical position in defense and industrial markets.
- Integrated Supply Chain Advantage: The company has established a complete supply chain from raw materials to finished magnets by owning the Hoidas Lake rare earth project and securing partnerships across multiple countries, reducing reliance on China and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Technological Innovation and Efficiency: Collaboration with the Saskatchewan Research Council enables REalloys to utilize an AI-driven facility for efficient rare earth metal separation without relying on Chinese technology, with an expected annual output of 525 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium metal, making it the largest source of heavy rare earth oxides in North America.
- Preparation for Policy Changes: With the implementation of new U.S. defense procurement regulations in 2027, REalloys' production capacity will meet the urgent demand for domestically sourced rare earth metals, ensuring its dominant position in the future market.
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- Accelerated Redemption Plan: Compass Minerals has announced the full redemption of $150 million of its 6.750% Senior Notes due 2027, scheduled for March 30, 2026, which will significantly improve the company's debt structure and financial position.
- Liquidity Utilization: CFO Peter Fjellman stated that utilizing strong liquidity to pay down debt ahead of schedule is a top priority for fiscal 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial health.
- Debt Management Strategy: The redemption will be executed with cash on hand at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest up to the redemption date, further enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Company Background: Compass Minerals is a leading global provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering products that support agricultural and industrial applications, operating 11 production and packaging facilities with over 1,800 employees.
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- Quarterly Net Income Recovery: Compass Minerals reported a net income of $0.43 in Q1 2026, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $0.57 a year ago, marking the first quarterly profit since 2023 and indicating a positive shift in the company's financial health.
- Adjusted EBITDA Doubles: The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $65 million, doubling from the previous year, reflecting strong performance in the Salt segment and positive momentum in Plant Nutrition, despite the planned sale of the Wynyard SOP operation impacting overall results.
- Significant Growth in Salt Business: Salt segment revenue reached $332 million, with sales volumes for highway deicing and C&I sectors increasing by 43% and 14%, respectively, while operating earnings per ton improved to $14.33, showcasing robust market demand and the company's competitiveness in this sector.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company raised the midpoint of its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $224 million, with the Salt segment expected to contribute between $230 million and $252 million in EBITDA, reflecting continued strength in core operations and improvements, despite challenges from rising distribution costs.
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- Strong Earnings Performance: Compass Minerals reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.43, beating expectations by $0.17, indicating robust profitability and effective cost management within the company.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenues of $396.1 million, reflecting a 28.9% year-over-year increase and surpassing market expectations by $62.52 million, showcasing strong product demand and an increase in market share.
- EBITDA Guidance Increase: Full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance was raised by 2% at the midpoint to a range of $208 million to $240 million, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance and a positive outlook on market conditions.
- Strategic Reset Impact: Compass Minerals outlines a 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $200 million to $240 million, reflecting the company's commitment to restructuring its strategy and cost structure to adapt to evolving market demands.
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- Salt Segment Growth: Compass Minerals' salt segment revenue increased by 37% year-over-year to $331.5 million, primarily driven by a 43% rise in highway deicing and a 14% increase in consumer and industrial sales, which not only enhances the company's competitiveness in the winter market but also lays a solid foundation for future sales growth.
- Plant Nutrition Improvement: Although plant nutrition revenue declined by 1% to $60.8 million, the average sales price rose by 14% to approximately $687 per ton, resulting in operating income turning from a loss of $3.1 million last year to a profit of $5.4 million, demonstrating the company's adaptability and profit potential in a high-price market.
- Financial Position Optimization: As of December 31, 2025, Compass Minerals reduced its net debt by 10% year-over-year, exceeding $90 million, reflecting the company's ongoing efforts to lower liabilities and enhance financial flexibility, which will support future investments and growth.
- Strategic Asset Sale: The company has signed an agreement to sell its Wynyard sulfate of potash operations for $30.8 million, which not only aids in further debt reduction but also optimizes resource allocation, ensuring sustained growth of core operations in alignment with the company's long-term strategic goals.
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- Earnings Announcement: Compass Minerals is set to release its Q1 earnings on February 4th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.26, reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 147.3%, indicating significant improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated Q1 revenue stands at $333.58 million, representing an 8.6% year-over-year growth, which highlights the company's positive performance in market demand and sales growth, likely to have a favorable impact on stock price.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, Compass Minerals has beaten EPS estimates 50% of the time and revenue estimates 75% of the time, demonstrating stability in financial performance and market confidence.
- Future Guidance: The company has outlined an adjusted EBITDA guidance of $200 million to $240 million for 2026, showcasing its commitment to resetting strategy and cost structure, which may lay the groundwork for future growth.
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