Nutrien's Shares Rally 17% YTD: What's Driving the Stock?

Group 1 - Nutrien Ltd.'s shares have increased by 16.7% this year, outperforming the Zacks Fertilizers industry's rise of 4.8% [1] - The company is experiencing strong demand for fertilizers, driven by robust global agriculture markets and tight inventories, which are expected to support crop commodity prices in 2025 [4][5] - Nutrien is benefiting from acquisitions and the adoption of its digital platform, particularly expanding its presence in Brazil and pursuing growth investments in retail [6] Group 2 - Cost and operational efficiency initiatives are enhancing Nutrien's performance, with a focus on reducing production costs in the potash business and achieving approximately $200 million in total savings by 2025 [7] - The demand for potash is expected to rise due to strong grower economics and low inventory levels, while the phosphate market is also benefiting from increased global demand [5] - Healthy nitrogen fertilizer demand is noted in major markets, with expectations of increased U.S. corn acreage in 2025 and strong crop input demand in the first half of the year [5]