A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor has a dual composition hard bias layer structure that is used to longitudinally bias the sensor's free ferromagnetic layer. The dual composition hard bias layer structure is composed of first layer of CoPt, having high anisotropy compared to the second layer. The second layer, composed of CoFe, has a higher magnetization compared to the first layer. The resulting dual hard bias layer structure exhibits high values of coercivity and squareness while maintaining a reduced sensor thickness compared to sensors of the prior art.