Archer Daniels (ADM) Q4 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Lag

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2017 results, wherein the bottom line topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate while the top line missed the same. With this, the company retains its more than three-year long trend of sales misses.

Following the quarterly results, the company’s shares dipped 1.2% in the pre-market trading session. Moreover, Archer Daniels has underperformed the Consumer Staples sector in a year due to its negative surprise history. Evidently, this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock has declined 8.9% against the sector’s growth of 8%.

Q4 Highlights

The company’s fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 82 cents per share increased 9.3% year over year and also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 70 cents.

On a reported basis, Archer Daniels’ earnings were $1.39 per share compared with 73 cents in the prior-year quarter.

However, total revenues of $16,070 million declined 2.6% year over year on lower sales across most of its segments. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16,350 million as well.

Going by segments, quarterly revenues at Archer Daniels’ Agricultural Services segment were down 6.8% year over year to $7,517 million, the Corn Processing segment’s revenues dipped 0.3% to $2,509 million and the Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients segment’s revenues fell 3.3% to $526 million. Conversely, the Oilseeds Processing segment's revenues grew 2.7% to $5,424 million, while revenues at the Other division remained flat at $94 million.

Operational Discussion

Archer Daniels reported adjusted segment operating profit of $793 million in fourth-quarter 2017, down 4.1% from the year-ago quarter. On a GAAP basis, the company’s segment operating profit declined 9.1% year over year to $733 million.

On a segmental adjusted basis, adjusted operating profit for the Agricultural Services segment climbed 22.9% to $301 million owing to robust merchandising and handling results. The improvement was also fueled by sturdy performance in Global Trade, solid destination marketing gains as well as insurance and other income, which somewhat compensated the lack of competitiveness of U.S. grain exports. While, Milling and Other operations were weak due to reduced volumes and soft margins, Transportation results were impacted by diminished barge loadings as well as freight values.

Archer Daniels' Corn Processing segment’s adjusted operating profit improved 2.4% to $261 million. Results benefited from enhanced results at both North America, and EMEA Sweeteners and Starches. However, Bioproducts results were hurt by soft ethanol margins partly offset by favorable risk management.

The Oilseeds Processing segment’s adjusted operating profit decreased 15.5% year over year to $202 million. In spite of robust crush volumes and persistent growth in demand, results were hurt by soft crush margins as well as lower South American origination margins. Together, these factors hampered Crushing and Origination results. Additionally, soft biodiesel results hurt Refining, Packaging, Biodiesel and Other operations. However, the decline was somewhat mitigated by sturdy refining and packaging results. Further, results in Asia continued to gain from Wilmar’s contributions.

The Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients segment’s adjusted operating profit surged 47.4% to $56 million owing to double-digit rise in WILD Flavors’ operating profit driven by soli sales in all regions. Also, the results at the Specialty Ingredients division witnessed a year-over-year growth.

Financials

Archer Daniels ended the quarter with $804 million in cash and cash equivalents. As of Dec 31, 2017, long-term debt including current maturities was $6,636 million. Shareholders’ equity at quarter end was $18,322 million.

In 2017, Archer Daniels generated $2,211 million of cash from operating activities. Further, the company’s trailing four-quarter average adjusted ROIC came in at 6.4%.

Additionally, the company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2017, in the form of share repurchases and dividend payments, remaining well on track with its balanced capital allocation plan.

Concurrent to this earnings release, management has declared a dividend hike of 4.7% to 33.5 cents per share compared with prior payout of 32 cents. The new dividend is payable on Mar 13, 2018, to shareholders of record as on Feb 20.

Looking Ahead

Management remains pleased with its results, supported by cost and capital initiatives, earnings per share growth and increased returns. Going into 2018, Archer Daniels remains encouraged to deliver growth through its strategic initiatives like increasing capabilities, product innovations, maximizing shareholders’ value and solid international foothold.

Interested in Consumer Staples Space? Check These Three Picks

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Consumer Staples sector include Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW) , Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) and United Natural Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNFI) , all carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Lamb Weston, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 7.9% in the trailing four quarters.

Sysco, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 9%, has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 2.6% in the last four quarters.

United Natural, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 6.2%, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 2.3% in the trailing four quarters.

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