ADM Reports 30 Percent Increase in Second-Quarter EPS

February 1, 2011

Strong performance from all businesses drove earnings to $ 732 million or $ 1.14 per share

DECATUR, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) today reported second-quarter net earnings of $ 732 million and record quarterly segment operating profit of $ 1.4 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, up $ 165 million and $ 392 million, respectively, from the same period one year earlier.

  • ADM earned $ 1.14 diluted EPS, a 30 percent increase versus last year’s $ 0.88 second quarter.
  • Segment operating profit of $ 1.4 billion was a record, up 40 percent from the same period in the prior year.
  • Oilseeds Processing profit declined $ 27 million as improved results from operations were more than offset by mark-to-market timing effects.
  • Corn Processing profit increased $ 109 million on favorable corn ownership, increased ADM ethanol production and strong export sweetener demand.
  • Agricultural Services results increased $ 276 million as ADM was well positioned to meet strong global grain demand and shipped record volumes through its U.S. origination and export network.

“The ADM team delivered outstanding performance across the board, resulting in record operating profit. Amid strong demand and regional dislocations, we used our vast global network to deliver for our customers and shareholders,” said Patricia Woertz, ADM chairman and CEO. “Looking ahead, global markets remain dynamic. In this environment, we use ADM’s exceptional capabilities, our unique global asset base and the insights of our team to drive value and to serve vital needs.”

Financial Highlights

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

  Quarter Ended

December 31

  Six Months Ended

December 31

 
  2010   2009   Change 2010   2009   Change
Segment operating profit $ 1,362   $ 970   $ 392 $ 2,127   $ 1,744   $ 383
Net earnings $ 732 $ 567 $ 165 $ 1,077 $ 1,063 $ 14
Diluted earnings per share $ 1.14 $ 0.88 $ 0.26 $ 1.68 $ 1.65 $ 0.03
Average shares outstanding     641     645         641     644    
 

A summary of segment operating profit and net earnings follows:

  Quarter ended
December 31
      Six months ended
December 31
 
2010   2009   Change 2010   2009   Change
(in millions)
   
Oilseeds Processing $ 325 $ 352 $ (27 ) $ 633 $ 636 $ (3 )
Corn Processing 399 290 109 740 478 262
Agricultural Services 426 150 276 558 325 233
Other   212     178     34     196     305     (109 )
Segment operating profit 1,362 970 392 2,127 1,744 383
Corporate   (364 )   (186 )   (178 )   (667 )   (243 )   (424 )
Earnings before income taxes 998 784 214 1,460 1,501 (41 )
Income taxes     (269 )   (223 )   (46 )   (389 )   (443 )   54  

Net earnings including noncontrolling interests

729

561

168

1,071

1,058

13

 

Less: Net earnings (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(3

)

(6

)

3

(6

)

(5

)

(1

)

           
Net earnings

$

732

 

$

567

 

$

165

 

$

1,077

 

$

1,063

 

$

14

 
 

Discussion of Operations

Net earnings for the second quarter of $ 732 million increased $ 165 million due to a $ 392 million increase in segment operating profit. This increase was partially offset by changes in LIFO inventory valuations, included in corporate, caused by higher agricultural commodity prices. Earnings before income taxes include a LIFO charge of $ 254 million this quarter, or $ 0.25 per share, compared to a LIFO charge of $ 54 million last year, or $ 0.05 per share. The company’s effective income tax rate for the quarter was 27 percent, comparable to the prior year’s second quarter rate of 28 percent.

Oilseeds Processing

Oilseeds operating profit in the second quarter declined $ 27 million to $ 325 million.

Crushing and origination operating profit increased $ 7 million to $ 200 million for the quarter. Globally, ADM’s crushing volumes were essentially flat compared to the year-ago quarter. ADM’s acquisition of the controlling interest in Golden Peanut, and the resulting revaluation, generated a pretax gain of $ 71 million. South American results strengthened on improved fertilizer and grain origination income. European results were lower due to mark-to-market timing effects related to substantial increases in commodity prices, effects that were partially offset by improved margins, including the impact of favorable softseed positioning.

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other generated a profit of $ 78 million for the quarter, similar to prior year results.

Oilseeds results in Asia declined $ 36 million to $ 47 million for the quarter, reflecting ADM’s share of the weaker results from its equity investee, Wilmar International Limited.

Corn Processing

For the quarter, corn processing operating profit increased $ 109 million to a profit of $ 399 million, enhanced by favorable corn ownership positions. Corn processing volumes were up 24 percent, reflecting the ramp-up of the company’s two new dry mills.

Sweeteners and starches operating profit decreased $ 52 million from the prior year to $ 119 million, due to lower average selling prices and higher net corn costs. Sales volumes were up due to improved export sweetener shipments and stronger U.S. demand for industrial starches.

Bioproducts profit in the quarter rose $ 161 million to $ 280 million, driven by improved ethanol margins and volumes, and by stronger lysine margins.

Agricultural Services

Agricultural Services operating profit increased $ 276 million to $ 426 million for the second quarter.

Merchandising and handling profit increased $ 273 million to $ 376 million on strong results from global merchandising operations and on record ADM export volumes from the United States.

Earnings from transportation operations improved on higher barge-freight rates and volumes.

Other

In the second quarter, profits from ADM’s Other business units increased $ 34 million to $ 212 million.

In Other processing, profits in wheat milling and cocoa operations were similar to last year’s strong results.

Other financial results increased $ 33 million mainly due to reduced provisions in the company’s captive insurance subsidiary.

Corporate Results

Corporate results decreased $ 178 million principally due to a $ 200 million change in LIFO reserves, higher expense for the elimination of minority interests, and higher corporate interest. Partially offsetting these items were $ 55 million of unrealized gains on interest rate swaps.

Current Market Conditions

Global supplies of corn, soybeans, canola and rapeseed remain dynamic. The global supply of wheat is ample, though there are some regional dislocations and quality issues. South American farmers have begun harvesting their crops. In North America, farmers are considering planting decisions.

Globally, demand for crops and processed products remains strong. Global demand for protein meal is being led by good demand from Asia. The one-year extensions of the blenders’ credits and the U.S. EPA’s recent decisions on enhanced ethanol blending are supportive of biofuels. U.S. corn-based ethanol remains the most competitive ethanol in the global market. Mexican demand for corn sweetener continues to be strong.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a conference call and audio webcast at 8:30 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, to discuss financial results and provide a company update. A financial summary slide presentation will be available to download approximately 60 minutes prior to the call. To listen to the call online or to download the slide presentation, go to www.adm.com/webcast. To listen by telephone, dial 866-362-4829 or 617-597-5346; the access code is 66596395. Replay of the call will be available from 12:30 p.m. Central Time on Feb. 1 to Feb. 8, 2011. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888; the access code is 18889828. To listen to the replay online, visit www.adm.com/webcast.

About ADM

Every day, the 29,000 people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) turn crops into renewable products that meet the demands of a growing world. At more than 240 processing plants, we convert corn, oilseeds, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses. We operate the world’s premier crop origination and transportation network, connecting crops and markets in more than 60 countries. Our global headquarters is in Decatur, Illinois, and our net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, were $62 billion. For more information about our company and our products, visit www.adm.com.

Segment Operating Analysis

(unaudited)

  Quarter ended
December 31
  Six months ended
December 31
2010   2009 2010   2009
(in ‘000s metric tons)

Processing volumes

   
Oilseeds Processing 7,834 7,799 14,909 14,172
Corn Processing 5,908 4,767 11,742 9,388
Wheat and cocoa   1,819   1,874   3,704   3,784
Total processing volumes   15,561   14,440   30,355   27,344
 
Quarter ended
December 31
Six months ended
December 31
2010   2009 2010   2009
(in millions)

Net sales and other operating income

Oilseeds Processing $ 6,220 $ 4,880 $ 12,680 $ 11,238
Corn Processing 2,485 2,029 4,663 3,945
Agricultural Services 10,757 7,640 17,291 12,962
Other   1,468   1,364   3,095   2,689
Total net sales and other operating

income

$ 20,930 $ 15,913 $ 37,729 $ 30,834
 

Segment Operating Profit

(unaudited)

  Quarter ended

December 31

    Six months ended

December 31

2010   2009   Change 2010   2009   Change
(in millions)
       
Oilseeds Processing Operating Profit
Crushing and origination $ 200 $ 193 $ 7 $ 376 $ 328 $ 48

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other

78

76

2

154

146

8

Asia   47     83     (36 )   103     162     (59 )
Total Oilseeds Processing $ 325   $ 352   $ (27 ) $ 633   $ 636   $ (3 )
Corn Processing Operating Profit
Sweeteners and starches $ 119 $ 171 $ (52 ) $ 265 $ 365 $ (100 )
Bioproducts   280     119     161     475     113     362  
Total Corn Processing $ 399   $ 290   $ 109   $ 740   $ 478   $ 262  
Agricultural Services Operating Profit
Merchandising and handling $ 376 $ 103 $ 273 $ 479 $ 260 $ 219
Transportation   50     47     3     79     65     14  
Total Agricultural Services $ 426   $ 150   $ 276   $ 558   $ 325   $ 233  
Other Operating Profit
Processing $ 160 $ 159 $ 1 $ 186 $ 266 $ (80 )
Financial   52     19     33     10     39     (29 )
Total Other $ 212   $ 178   $ 34   $ 196   $ 305   $ (109 )
Corporate Results
LIFO credit (charge) $ (254 ) $ (54 ) $ (200 ) $ (377 ) $ 22 $ (399 )
Interest expense - net (83 ) (71 ) (12 ) (172 ) (136 ) (36 )
Corporate costs (66 ) (70 ) 4 (139 ) (139 )

Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps

55

55

24

24

Other   (16 )   9     (25 )   (3 )   10     (13 )
Total Corporate $ (364 ) $ (186 ) $ (178 ) $ (667 ) $ (243 ) $ (424 )
 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(unaudited)

  Quarter ended
December 31
  Six months ended
December 31
2010   2009 2010   2009
(in millions, except per share amounts)
   
Net sales and other operating income $ 20,930 $ 15,913 $ 37,729 $ 30,834
Cost of products sold   19,696     14,860     35,687     28,808  
Gross profit 1,234 1,053 2,042 2,026

Selling, general and administrative expenses

412 358 793 712
Other (income) expense – net   (176 )   (89 )   (211 )   (187 )
Earnings before income taxes 998 784 1,460 1,501
Income taxes   (269 )   (223 )   (389 )   (443 )
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests 729 561 1,071 1,058

Less: Net earnings (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests

  (3 )   (6 )   (6 )   (5 )
Net earnings attributable to ADM $ 732   $ 567   $ 1,077   $ 1,063  
 
Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.14   $ 0.88   $ 1.68   $ 1.65  
 
Average number of shares outstanding   641     645     641     644  
 
 

Other (income) expense - net consists of:

Interest expense $ 115 $ 105 $ 232 $ 203
Investment income (41 ) (36 ) (65 ) (66 )

Gain related to Golden Peanut acquisition

(71 )

(71

)

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates

(138 )

(139

)

(263

)

(291

)

Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps (55 ) (24 )
Other – net   14     (19 )   (20 )   (33 )
$ (176 ) $ (89 ) $ (211 ) $ (187 )
 

Summary of Financial Condition

(unaudited)

December 31
2010

   

June 30
2010

(in millions)
NET INVESTMENT IN  
Working capital $ 16,131 $ 10,279
Property, plant, and equipment 9,194 8,712
Investments in and advances to affiliates 2,975 2,799
Long-term marketable securities 823 678
Other non-current assets   1,261   1,225
$ 30,384 $ 23,693
 
FINANCED BY
Short-term debt $ 5,632 $ 374
Long-term debt, including current maturities 7,053 7,174
Deferred liabilities 1,795 1,514
Shareholders’ equity   15,904   14,631
$ 30,384 $ 23,693
 

Summary of Cash Flows
(unaudited)

Six Months Ended
December 31
2010     2009
(in millions)
Operating Activities  
Net earnings $ 1,071 $ 1,058
Depreciation and amortization 463 431
Other – net (24 ) 171
Changes in operating assets and liabilities   (5,593 )   (280 )
Total Operating Activities (4,083 ) 1,380
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (645 ) (939 )
Net assets of businesses acquired (163 ) (57 )
Other investing activities   (333 )   216  
Total Investing Activities (1,141 ) (780 )
Financing Activities
Long-term debt borrowings 35 10
Long-term debt payments (237 ) (36 )
Net borrowings (payments) under lines of credit 5,179 (140 )
Purchases of treasury stock (86 )
Cash dividends (192 ) (180 )
Other   5     8  
Total Financing Activities   4,704     (338 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (520 ) 262
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period   1,046     1,055  
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 526   $ 1,317  

Archer Daniels Midland Company
Media:
David Weintraub, 217-424-5413
Director, External Communications
or
Investors:
Dwight Grimestad, 217-424-4586
Vice President, Investor Relations