The primarygoalofthepaperistoshowthevalidityofinvestingcapitalinfertilizer–mining companies,
both fromamarketreturnperspectiveforindividualorinstitutionalinvestors,orfromahedging
standpoint forinsurancecompaniesandothereconomicactorsexposedtoinflation riskandhigh
agricultural commodityprices.Afterprovidingsomeelementsonthefertilizermarketanddescribingthe
joint dynamicsofcorn,wheatandfertilizerpricesoverthelastdecade,weanalyzeanexhaustivesample
of listedfertilizerproducingcompaniesovertheyearsJanuary2004–December 2012.Weshowthattheir
shares generatedquitegoodreturnsoverthewholeperiodandextremelyhighonesduringtheyears
January 2004–December 2007,bothinabsolutetermsandcomparedtotheirbetas.Wealsoexhibitthat
these returnsdisplayhighersensitivitiestomajoragriculturalindexesthantotheWorldBankFertilizer
Index,makingthehedgingargumentquitecompelling.