Corteva Reports Strong Results for First Quarter 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

Corteva reported strong financial results for Q1 2022, achieving net sales of $4.60 billion, up 10% from the previous year. Organic sales grew 16%, with Crop Protection sales rising 23% and EPS at $0.79 reflecting a 4% decline year-over-year. The company maintained its guidance for 2022, expecting net sales between $16.7 billion and $17.0 billion. Strategic initiatives include a business realignment and new product launches, aimed at enhancing operational performance amidst ongoing global challenges.

Positive

• Net sales increased to $4.60 billion, a 10% rise year-over-year.
• Organic sales growth of 16%, reflecting strong demand across all regions.
• Crop Protection net sales surged 23%, driven by new product penetration.
• Operating EBITDA reached $1.04 billion, a 15% improvement from the prior year.
• Affirmed full-year 2022 guidance with expected net sales of $16.7 billion to $17.0 billion.

Negative

• GAAP income from continuing operations decreased by 6% year-over-year.
• Earnings per share dropped by 4%, from $0.83 to $0.79.

INDIANAPOLIS, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) ("Corteva" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

1Q 2022 Results Overview

	Net Sales	Income from Cont. Ops (After Tax)	EPS
GAAP	$4.60B	$577M	$0.79
vs. 1Q 2021	+10%	(6)%	(4)%
	Organic1 Sales	Operating EBITDA1	Operating EPS1
NON-GAAP	$4.84B	$1.04B	$0.97
vs. 1Q 2021	+16%	+15%	+23%

First Quarter 2022 Highlights

• First quarter 2022 net sales rose 10% versus prior year with gains in both segments. Organic¹ sales increased 16% in the same period with double-digit gains in all regions.
• Seed net sales grew 1% and organic¹ sales increased 7% year over year, with notable gains in both EMEA² and Latin America, partially offset by the seasonal timing of seed deliveries in North America². Price was up 8% globally, led by continued execution on the company's price for value strategy and recovery of higher input costs.
• Crop Protection net sales grew 23% and organic¹ sales increased 29%, led by North America². Volume gains were driven by early demand and continued penetration of new products, including Enlist^TM and Rinskor^TM herbicides and Zorvec^TM fungicide. Price gains reflected strong execution across all regions in response to cost inflation.
• GAAP income and earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $577 million and $0.79 per share for the first quarter 2022, respectively. Operating EBITDA¹ was $1.04 billion, a 15% improvement over prior year on strong price execution and volume gains in all regions, partially offset by inflation and currency headwinds. Operating EPS¹ was $0.97 per share, up 23% compared to the same period last year.
• Management affirmed full year 2022 net sales and Operating EBITDA¹ guidance³. The Company expects net sales to be in the range of $16.7 billion to $17.0 billion and Operating EBITDA¹ in the range of $2.8 billion to $3.0 billion. The Company adjusted its expectations for Operating EPS¹ for 2022, which is now expected to be in the range of $2.35 to $2.55 per share, reflecting lower average share count.

"Corteva delivered a solid start to 2022 with double-digit sales and Operating EBITDA growth in the first quarter reflecting continued execution amidst a challenging macro and geopolitical environment, including the current situation in Eastern Europe.

"The Company made progress on its strategic initiatives to accelerate performance, including the recently announced business realignment that will enhance simplicity and speed of business.

"Looking ahead, we expect healthy market fundamentals to continue given record crop prices, strong farm income levels and demand for food globally.

"We remain committed to bringing industry-leading, sustainable solutions to farmers to drive productivity and ease the current pressure on the global food system," said Chuck Magro, Corteva Chief Executive Officer.

1. Organic Sales, Operating EPS and Operating EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See page A-5 for further discussion. 2. North America is defined as U.S. and Canada. EMEA is defined as Europe, Middle East and Africa. 3. The Company does not provide the most comparable GAAP measure on a forward-looking basis. See page 5 for further discussion.

 

Company Updates

• Business Realignment to Accelerate Operational Performance
• Company recently announced organizational model changes, moving from a matrix model to a business-unit focused model to align resources and cost structure to the specific needs of each business, enhancing ownership and accountability for customer delivery and operational execution
• Tim Glenn was named Executive Vice President, Seed Business Unit, with full ownership in leading the global seed franchise to bring best-in-class solutions to farmers and customers around the world, maximizing yield and profitability
• Robert King joined Corteva as Executive Vice President, Crop Protection Business Unit, leading the global crop protection operations, including supply chain and manufacturing, to provide farmers with sustainable and differentiated technologies needed to improve productivity and profitability, protecting overall crop health
• New Product Pipeline Driving Momentum
• During the quarter, the EPA issued updated supplemental labels for Enlist One^® and Enlist Duo^® herbicides, removing most geographic restrictions for certain species and expanding access to over 98% of the U.S. soybean production area giving farmers access to this critical weed-control technology – providing growers with further confidence in the value of the Enlist^TM weed control system as a best-in-class, integrated solution
• The Company delivered sales increases on new Crop Protection products – up $180 million versus first quarter 2021, an increase of almost 60%, reflecting continued strong demand for industry-leading technologies such as Enlist^TM herbicide, Isoclast^TM insecticide and Zorvec^TM fungicide
• Company Takes Actions to Mitigate Food Security Impacts from Humanitarian Crisis, Exits Russian Operations
• During the quarter, the Company worked closely with Ukrainian customers to deliver products needed for planting to lessen negative impacts on the current humanitarian crisis
• Given the current situation with Russia's war on Ukraine, the Company has made the decision to withdraw from Russia and, having already paused new sales in the country, is initiating a plan to stop production and business activities
• In connection with this announcement and given the war's impact on global food security, the Company also announced plans to donate seed to Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East region for the 2023 growing season, to lessen the impact on global food production

2022 Guidance

The Company affirmed its previously provided net sales and Operating EBITDA¹ guidance³ for the full year 2022. Corteva expects net sales in the range of $16.7 billion to $17.0 billion, which at the mid-point represents expected net sales growth of 8% for the year and organic¹ sales growth of 11% for the year. Operating EBITDA¹ is expected to be in the range of $2.8 billion to $3.0 billion. The Company adjusted its expectations for Operating EPS¹ for 2022, which is now expected to be in the range of $2.35 to $2.55 per share, to reflect lower average share count. The Company is not able to reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to its most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, as it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty items outside of its control, such as Significant Items, without unreasonable effort.

Click here to download the full press release, including segment detail and reconciliations of non-GAAP and GAAP measures, or visit the Corteva Investor Relations website.

About Corteva

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovation, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world's most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the Company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.

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Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains certain estimates and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "outlook," or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about Corteva's strategy for growth, product development, regulatory approvals, market position; capital allocation strategy; liquidity; environmental, social and governance ("ESG") targets and initiatives; the anticipated benefits of acquisitions, restructuring actions, or cost savings initiatives; and the outcome of contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters, expenditures, and financial results are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements and other estimates are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements and other estimates also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Corteva's control. While the list of factors presented below is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Corteva's business, results of operations and financial condition. Some of the important factors that could cause Corteva's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements include: (i) failure to successfully develop and commercialize Corteva's pipeline; (ii) failure to obtain or maintain the necessary regulatory approvals for some of Corteva's products; (iii) effect of the degree of public understanding and acceptance or perceived public acceptance of Corteva's biotechnology and other agricultural products; (iv) effect of changes in agricultural and related policies of governments and international organizations; (v) effect of competition and consolidation in Corteva's industry; (vi) effect of competition from manufacturers of generic products; (vii) costs of complying with evolving regulatory requirements and the effect of actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permit requirements; (viii) effect of climate change and unpredictable seasonal and weather factors; (ix) failure to comply with competition and anti-trust laws; (x) capital markets sentiment towards ESG matters (xi) competitor's establishment of an intermediary platform for distribution of Corteva's products; (xii) impact of Corteva's dependence on third parties with respect to certain of its raw materials or licenses and commercialization; (xiii) effect of industrial espionage and other disruptions to Corteva's supply chain, information technology or network systems; (xiv) effect of volatility in Corteva's input costs; (xv) failure to raise capital through the capital markets or short-term borrowings on terms acceptable to Corteva; (xvi) failure of Corteva's customers to pay their debts to Corteva, including customer financing programs; (xvii) increases in pension and other post-employment benefit plan funding obligations; (xviii) risks related to environmental litigation and the indemnification obligations of legacy EID liabilities in connection with the separation of Corteva; (xix) risks related to Corteva's global operations; (xx) failure to effectively manage acquisitions, divestitures, alliances cost savings initiatives, and other portfolio actions; (xxi) risks related to COVID-19; (xxii) Corteva's ability to recruit and retain key personnel; (xxiii) Corteva's intellectual property rights or defend against intellectual property claims asserted by others; (xxiv) effect of counterfeit products; (xxv) Corteva's dependence on intellectual property cross-license agreements; (xxvi) other risks related to the Separation from DowDuPont; and (xxvii) risks related to the Russia and Ukraine military conflict.

Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Corteva is unable to currently identify or that Corteva does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Where, in any forward-looking statement or other estimate, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of Corteva's management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Corteva disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Corteva's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as modified by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Regulation G (Non-GAAP Financial Measures)

This earnings release includes information that does not conform to U.S. GAAP and are considered non-GAAP measures. These measures may include organic sales, organic growth (including by segment and region), operating EBITDA, operating earnings per share, and base income tax rate. Management uses these measures internally for planning and forecasting, including allocating resources and evaluating incentive compensation. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures best reflect the ongoing performance of the Company during the periods presented and provide more relevant and meaningful information to investors as they provide insight with respect to ongoing operating results of the Company and a more useful comparison of year over year results. These non-GAAP measures supplement the Company's U.S. GAAP disclosures and should not be viewed as an alternative to U.S. GAAP measures of performance. Furthermore, such non-GAAP measures may not be consistent with similar measures provided or used by other companies. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP measures to U.S. GAAP are provided in the Selected Financial Information and Non-GAAP Measures starting on page A-5 of the Financial Statement Schedules.

Corteva is not able to reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to its most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, as it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty items outside of the Company's control, such as Significant Items, without unreasonable effort. For Significant items reported in the periods presented, refer to page A-8 of the Financial Statement Schedules. Beginning January 1, 2020, the Company presents accelerated prepaid royalty amortization expense as a significant item. Accelerated prepaid royalty amortization represents the noncash charge associated with the recognition of upfront payments made to Monsanto in connection with the Company's non-exclusive license in the United States and Canada for Monsanto's Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® herbicide tolerance traits. During the five-year ramp-up period of Enlist E3TM, Corteva is expected to significantly reduce the volume of products with the Roundup Ready 2 Yield® and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® herbicide tolerance traits beginning in 2021, with expected minimal use of the trait platform after the completion of the ramp-up. Organic sales is defined as price and volume and excludes currency and portfolio impacts. Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings (loss) (i.e., income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes) before interest, depreciation, amortization, non-operating benefits (costs), foreign exchange gains (losses), and net unrealized gain or loss from mark-to-market activity for certain foreign currency derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, excluding the impact of significant items. Non-operating (benefits) costs consists of non-operating pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) benefits (costs), tax indemnification adjustments, and environmental remediation and legal costs associated with legacy businesses and sites of Historical DuPont. Tax indemnification adjustments relate to changes in indemnification balances, as a result of the application of the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement, between Corteva and Dow and/or DuPont that are recorded by the Company as pre-tax income or expense.

Operating earnings (loss) per share are defined as "earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations - diluted" excluding the after-tax impact of significant items, the after tax impact of non-operating benefits (costs), the after-tax impact of amortization expense associated with intangible assets existing as of the Separation from DowDuPont, and the after-tax impact of net unrealized gain or loss from mark-to-market activity for certain foreign currency derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting. Although amortization of the Company's intangible assets is excluded from these non-GAAP measures, management believes it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Any future acquisitions may result in amortization of additional intangible assets. Net unrealized gain or loss from mark-to-market activity for certain foreign currency derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting represents the non-cash net gain (loss) from changes in fair value of certain undesignated foreign currency derivative contracts. Upon settlement, which is within the same calendar year of execution of the contract, the net gain (loss) from the changes in fair value of the non-qualified foreign currency derivative contracts will be reported in relevant non-GAAP financial measures, allowing quarterly results to reflect the economic effects of the foreign currency derivative contracts without the resulting unrealized mark to fair value volatility. Base income tax rate is defined as the effective tax rate excluding the impacts of foreign exchange gains (losses), non-operating benefits (costs), amortization of intangibles (existing as of the Separation), mark-to-market gains (loss) on certain foreign currency contracts not designated as hedges, and significant items.

® TM Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.

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SOURCE Corteva, Inc.

FAQ

What were Corteva's net sales for Q1 2022?

Corteva's net sales for Q1 2022 were $4.60 billion, a 10% increase compared to Q1 2021.

How did Corteva's organic sales perform in Q1 2022?

Organic sales increased by 16% in Q1 2022.

What is Corteva's EPS for Q1 2022?

Corteva reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.79 for Q1 2022.

What is the forecast for Corteva's net sales in 2022?

Corteva expects net sales for 2022 to be in the range of $16.7 billion to $17.0 billion.

How did Corteva's Crop Protection sales perform in Q1 2022?

Crop Protection sales grew 23% in Q1 2022, led by early demand and new product introductions.