ADM Reports First Quarter Earnings of $1.22 per Share, $1.39 per Share on an Adjusted Basis
ADM (NYSE: ADM) reported strong financial results for Q1 2021, showing a year-over-year increase in earnings across all business segments. The company achieved a reported EPS of $1.22 and an adjusted EPS of $1.39, reflecting significant operating profit growth. Ag Services and Oilseeds saw an 84% rise in profits, while Carbohydrate Solutions also reported substantial gains. Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano highlighted the company's strategic focus on productivity and innovation, with an optimistic outlook for continued growth driven by favorable demand trends.
- Q1 2021 reported EPS of $1.22 and adjusted EPS of $1.39, up from $0.69 and $0.64 in Q1 2020.
- Operating profit reached $1.1 billion, representing strong growth across all business segments.
- Ag Services and Oilseeds segment profits increased by 84% year-over-year.
- Carbohydrate Solutions reported significantly higher results, driven by better margins and increased ethanol prices.
- Q1 2021 marks the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year adjusted operating profit growth.
- South American origination results were significantly lower due to reduced farmer selling and higher freight costs.
- Equity earnings from Wilmar decreased compared to the previous year.
- Animal Nutrition results were lower versus Q1 2020, primarily due to lower demand and higher input costs.
ADM (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
“ADM delivered an outstanding first quarter, building on our great 2020 performance. As expected, we achieved strong earnings spanning all three of our businesses, and a sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year adjusted operating profit growth,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano.
“Our team executed well across the board, as we continued to find new and innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We are seeing clear, favorable demand trends for many of our products, and we expect that pattern to continue as vaccine rollouts accelerate and restrictions ease.
“We are also moving into the next phase of our strategic transformation, which will sharpen our focus on two key pillars — Productivity and Innovation — to enhance our capabilities to deliver outstanding execution, serve customer needs, and power growth and profitability.
“Taking all of these factors into account, our outlook today is even more optimistic than what we shared at the beginning of the year. We expect significant year-over-year growth in earnings across all three of our businesses in 2021, and continued sustainable growth in the years to come.”
First Quarter 2021 Highlights |
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(Amounts in millions except per share amounts) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||
Earnings per share (as reported) |
$ |
1.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.69 |
|
Adjusted earnings per share1 |
$ |
1.39 |
|
|
$ |
0.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Segment operating profit |
$ |
1,105 |
|
|
$ |
599 |
|
Adjusted segment operating profit1 |
$ |
1,199 |
|
|
$ |
643 |
|
Ag Services and Oilseeds |
777 |
|
|
422 |
|
||
Carbohydrate Solutions |
259 |
|
|
68 |
|
||
Nutrition |
154 |
|
|
142 |
|
||
Other Business |
9 |
|
|
11 |
|
||
-
Q1 2021 EPS as reported of
$1.22 includes a$0.13 per share charge related to asset impairment, restructuring, and legal settlements, and a$0.04 per share charge related to the mark-to-market adjustment on the Wilmar exchangeable bond. Adjusted EPS, which excludes these items, was$1.39 .1
Quarterly Results of Operations
Ag Services & Oilseeds achieved a record Q1, with operating profits 84 percent higher year over year.
-
Ag Services results were significantly higher versus the first quarter of 2020. In North America, great execution helped capitalize on strong Chinese demand, resulting in an outstanding performance. South American origination results were down significantly due to lower farmer selling versus the prior year. Lower margins, including impacts from the slightly delayed harvest and higher freight costs, also affected South American results. Results for the quarter were impacted by approximately
$75 million in negative timing effects related to ocean freight positions; those impacts will reverse in the coming quarters.
- Crushing delivered its best quarter ever, as the business leveraged its diversified global footprint to capture strong execution margins in both soybean and softseed crushing, driven by robust vegetable oil demand and tight soybean stocks. Net timing impacts for the quarter were minimal.
- Refined Products and Other results were higher year over year. While overall volumes were down due to pandemic impacts, margins were stronger in both North America and EMEAI refined oils. Global biodiesel results were lower year over year.
- Equity earnings from Wilmar were lower versus the prior-year period.
1 Non-GAAP financial measures; see pages 5, 10, 11 and 12 for explanations and reconciliations, including after-tax amounts.
Carbohydrate Solutions results were significantly higher than the prior-year period.
- Starches and Sweeteners, including ethanol production from our wet mills, achieved significantly higher results. The business managed risk exceptionally well, capitalizing on rising prices in the ethanol complex and favorable co-product values in an industry environment of improving margins and falling inventories. Corn oil results were significantly higher than the previous year, which had been impacted by substantial mark-to-market effects. In general, though demand for sweeteners and flour by the foodservice sector remained below the prior year, there were signs of acceleration in March.
- Vantage Corn Processors results were substantially higher, driven by improved margins on the distribution of fuel ethanol and strong performance in USP-grade industrial alcohol.
Nutrition delivered solid year-over-year operating profit growth.
- Human Nutrition results were significantly higher than the prior-year quarter. Flavors had an exceptional quarter, driven by strong sales across various market segments, especially beverages. Favorable product mix in North America, improved margins in EMEAI, and accelerated income from a customer agreement also contributed to results, partially offset by certain specific expenses. Specialty Ingredients results were lower, primarily driven by demand factors, including the effect of pantry loading in the previous-year quarter and shifts in demand for texturants. Health and Wellness had a strong start to the year, with robust demand driving higher results in probiotics and fibers.
- Animal Nutrition results were lower versus the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily by lower demand and higher input costs as a result of pandemic effects, primarily in South America. This was partially offset by favorable results in amino acids, driven by improved product mix.
Other Business results were lower than the prior-year period, driven by lower Captive Insurance underwriting results, partially offset by more favorable ADMIS earnings.
Other Items of Note
As additional information to help clarify underlying business performance, the table on page 10 includes reported earnings and EPS as well as adjusted earnings and EPS.
Segment operating profit of
In Corporate results, interest expense decreased from the prior year on lower interest rates and the favorable liability management actions taken in the prior year. Unallocated corporate costs were slightly higher year over year due primarily to the continued investments in IT and business transformation, and transfers of costs from business segments into the centralized centers of expertise in supply chain and operations. Other charges decreased due primarily to the absence of railroad maintenance expenses in the prior-year quarter. Corporate results also included restructuring charges of
The effective tax rate for the quarter was approximately 16 percent compared to a benefit of approximately 4 percent in the prior year.
Note: Additional Facts and Explanations
Additional facts and explanations about results and industry environment can be found at the end of the ADM Q1 Earnings Presentation at www.adm.com/webcast.
Conference Call Information
ADM will host a webcast on April 27, 2021, at 8 a.m. Central Time to discuss financial results and provide a company update. To listen to the webcast, go to www.adm.com/webcast. A replay of the webcast will also be available for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of our comments and materials in this presentation constitute forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. These statements and materials are based on many assumptions and factors that are subject to risk and uncertainties. ADM has provided additional information in its reports on file with the SEC concerning assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in this presentation, and you should carefully review the assumptions and factors in our SEC reports. To the extent permitted under applicable law, ADM assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Financial Tables Follow
Source: Corporate Release
Segment Operating Profit, Adjusted Segment Operating Profit (a non-GAAP financial measure) and Corporate Results (unaudited) |
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FAQ
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