ADM Reports Adjusted First Quarter 2014 Earnings of $0.55 per Share

April 29, 2014

Net earnings of $267 million or $0.40 per share

DECATUR, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2014. The company reported adjusted earnings per share1 of $0.55, up from $0.46 in the same period last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $267 million, or $0.40 per share, comparable to the $0.41 per share in the same period one year earlier. Segment operating profit1 was $691 million, up 10 percent from the year-ago period. Adjusted segment operating profit1 was $780 million, up 17 percent from the year-ago period.

“Our businesses delivered mixed results in the first quarter,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. “Our Ag Services business again generated weak results due to a low margin environment as well as logistics and weather challenges in the U.S. Continued strong performance in Corn was supported by the robust ethanol market. And the sustained, solid results in Oilseeds were driven by good margins and volumes in North and South American soybean crushing.

“We continued to make good progress during the quarter in our ongoing portfolio management and other key initiatives to improve the earnings power and returns of the company.”

First Quarter 2014 Highlights1

  • Adjusted EPS of $0.55 excludes approximately $159 million in pretax LIFO charges, or $0.15 per share.
  • Oilseeds Processing operating profit increased $50 million, as North American soybean crushing had strong utilization amid good meal demand, and South American soybean crushing and origination benefited from large harvests, good demand, and an improved logistics environment.
  • Corn Processing operating profit increased $64 million on strong results from ethanol.
  • Agricultural Services operating profit increased $2 million, as market conditions and higher costs limited merchandising and handling margins.

Oilseeds Earnings Strong on Soybean Crushing

Oilseeds operating profit of $358 million represented an increase of $50 million from the same period one year earlier. These numbers exclude a charge for cocoa hedge timing effects of $24 million, or ($0.03) per share, versus a gain of $5 million in the year-ago period.

Crushing and origination operating profit was essentially flat, at $161 million. North American soybean crushing operations benefited from good crush capacity utilization in a favorable margin environment driven by strong domestic and export meal demand. That was offset by lower results in North American softseeds. In South America, soybean crushing operations saw improved utilization, and the logistics network saw increased volumes as it began moving the large harvest to world markets in an improved environment. European results were essentially flat.

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other generated a profit of $113 million for the quarter, up $5 million as improved European biodiesel results offset a decline in North America due to the absence of $20 million in biodiesel tax credits recorded in the year-ago period.

Cocoa and other earned $30 million in the quarter, up $57 million from the year-ago period, as the margin environment in the cocoa business continued to improve.

Oilseeds results in Asia for the quarter were down $17 million from the same period last year, principally reflecting ADM’s share of lower results from Wilmar International Limited.

Corn Processing Results Improved on Strong Ethanol Margin Environment

Corn processing operating profit of $261 million represented an increase of $64 million from the same period one year earlier. These numbers exclude negative timing effects of $65 million, or ($0.06) per share, versus a loss of $44 million, or ($0.04) per share, in the year-ago period.

Sweeteners and starches results declined $13 million to $107 million, with overall sales volumes for the quarter down slightly.

Bioproducts results increased $77 million to $154 million. Strong export demand and lower industry production volumes combined to drive a steadily improving margin environment throughout the quarter.

Agricultural Services Weak Amid Lack of Margin Opportunities

Agricultural Services operating profit was $153 million, similar to the year-ago period. Results for the quarter include the recovery of about $20 million of a previously established loss provision.

Merchandising and handling earnings declined $17 million to $69 million, as margins were limited both by inverted corn, soybean and wheat markets and by increased costs that were exacerbated by weather.

Transportation results recovered $27 million to $33 million. Pent-up barge freight demand caused by the harsh U.S. winter pushed freight rates up significantly as river traffic returned in March.

Milling and other results declined $8 million to $51 million as a lack of the seasonal carry in the wheat futures market reduced grain and feed merchandising opportunities.

Other Items of Note

This quarter’s effective tax rate was 27 percent, versus 28 percent in the same period last year.

As additional information to help clarify underlying business performance, the tables on page 9 include both adjusted EPS as well as adjusted EPS excluding timing effects.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a conference call and audio webcast at 8 a.m. Central Time 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 via the Internet or to download the slide presentation, go to www.adm.com/webcast. To listen by telephone, dial (888) 522-5398 in the U.S. or (706) 902-2121 if calling from outside the U.S. The access code is 22738761.

Replay of the call will be available from April 30, 2014, to May 6, 2014. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial (855) 859-2056 in the U.S. or (404) 537-3406 if calling from outside the U.S. The access code is 22738761. The replay will also be available online for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.

About ADM

For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 31,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 470 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

1 These are non-GAAP financial measures; see pages 4 and 9 for explanations and reconciliations

Financial Tables Follow

 
Segment Operating Profit and Corporate Results
A non-GAAP financial measure
(unaudited)
   
Quarter ended
March 31    
(In millions) 2014   2013 Change
Oilseeds Processing Operating Profit
Crushing and origination $ 161 $ 156 $ 5
Refining, packaging, biodiesel, and other 113 108 5
Cocoa and other (excluding timing effects) 30 (27 ) 57
Cocoa hedge timing effects* (24 ) 5 (29 )
Asia 54   71   (17 )
Total Oilseeds Processing $ 334   $ 313   $ 21  
Corn Processing Operating Profit
Sweeteners and starches (excluding timing effects) $ 107 $ 120 $ (13 )
Bioproducts (excluding timing effects ) 154 77 77
Corn hedge timing effects* (65 ) (44 ) (21 )

Total Corn Processing

$ 196   $ 153   $ 43  
Agricultural Services Operating Profit
Merchandising and handling $ 69 $ 86 $ (17 )
Milling and other 51 59 (8 )
Transportation 33   6   27  
Total Agricultural Services $ 153   $ 151   $ 2  
Other Operating Profit
Financial $ 8   $ 13   $ (5 )
Total Other $ 8   $ 13   $ (5 )
 
Segment Operating Profit $ 691 $ 630 $ 61
Memo: Adjusted Segment Operating Profit* $ 780 $ 669 $ 111
 
Corporate Results
LIFO credit (charge) $ (159 ) $ (34 ) $ (125 )
Interest expense - net (93 ) (105 ) 12
Unallocated corporate costs (80 ) (82 ) 2
Other charges (25 ) 25
Minority interest and other 7   (9 ) 16  
Total Corporate $ (325 ) $ (255 ) $ (70 )
Earnings Before Income Taxes $ 366   $ 375   $ (9 )

Segment operating profit is ADM’s consolidated income from operations before income tax excluding corporate items. Adjusted segment operating profit is segment operating profit adjusted, where applicable, for specified items and timing effects. Timing effects relate to hedge ineffectiveness and mark-to-market hedge timing effects. Management believes that segment operating profit and adjusted segment operating profit are useful measures of ADM’s performance because they provide investors information about ADM’s business unit performance excluding corporate overhead costs as well as specified items and timing effects. Segment operating profit and adjusted segment operating profit are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace earnings before income tax, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Segment operating profit and adjusted segment operating profit are not measures of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered alternatives to income before income taxes or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(unaudited)
 
Quarter ended
March 31
2014   2013
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Revenues $ 20,696 $ 21,727
Cost of products sold 20,021   20,971  
Gross profit $ 675 756
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 393 436
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates (132 ) (137 )
Interest income (22 ) (27 )
Interest expense 93 106
Other (income) expense - net (23 ) 3  
Earnings before income taxes 366 375
Income taxes (98 ) (105 )
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests 268 270

Less: Net earnings (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

1   1  
Net earnings attributable to ADM $ 267   $ 269  
 
Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.40 $ 0.41
 
Average number of shares outstanding 663 662
 
 

Other (income) expense - net consists of:

Gain on sales of assets/business (a) $ (23 ) (5 )
Other - net   8  
$ (23 ) $ 3  

(a) Current period gain includes individually insignificant disposals in Oilseeds ($15 million) and Ag Services ($8 million). Prior period gain includes individually insignificant disposals in Oilseeds ($2 million) and Ag Services ($3 million).

     
Summary of Financial Condition
(Unaudited)
 
March 31, March 31,
2014   2013
(in millions)
NET INVESTMENT IN
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,083 $ 1,448
Short-term marketable securities 452 183
Operating working capital (a) 11,555 13,581
Property, plant, and equipment 10,102 10,122
Investments in and advances to affiliates 3,382 3,252
Long-term marketable securities 537 683
Other non-current assets 1,197   1,304
$ 28,308   $ 30,573
FINANCED BY
Short-term debt $ 300 $ 2,358
Long-term debt, including current maturities 5,373 6,505
Deferred liabilities 2,573 2,734
Shareholders' equity 20,062   18,976
$ 28,308   $ 30,573

(a) Current assets (excluding cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities) less current liabilities (excluding short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt).

 
Summary of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
 
Three months ended
March 31
2014   2013
(in millions)
Operating Activities
Net earnings $ 268 $ 270
Depreciation and amortization 219 227
Other - net (259 ) (135 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (586 ) (5 )
Total Operating Activities (358 ) 357
 
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (188 ) (248 )
Net assets of businesses acquired (16 )
Marketable securities - net (41 ) 391
Other investing activities 84   42  
Total Investing Activities (145 ) 169
 
Financing Activities
Long-term debt borrowings 1 17
Long-term debt payments (1,154 ) (250 )
Net borrowings (payments) under lines of credit (63 ) (441 )
Purchases of treasury stock (175 )
Cash dividends (158 ) (125 )
Other 14   7  
Total Financing Activities (1,535 ) (792 )
 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (2,038 ) (266 )
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 3,121   1,714  
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 1,083   $ 1,448  
 
Segment Operating Analysis
(unaudited)
 
Quarter ended
March 31
2014   2013
(in '000s metric tons)

Processed volumes

Oilseeds 8,689 8,355
Corn 5,749 5,294
Milling and Cocoa 1,773   1,731
Total processed volumes 16,211   15,380
 
 
Quarter ended
March 31
2014 2013
(in millions)

Revenues

Oilseeds Processing $ 7,803 $ 8,143
Corn Processing 2,830 3,053
Agricultural Services 9,974 10,500
Other 89   31
Total revenues $ 20,696   $ 21,727
 
Adjusted Earnings Per Share
A non-GAAP financial measure
(unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
March 31
2014   2013
Reported EPS (fully diluted) $ 0.40 $ 0.41
Adjustments:
LIFO (credit) charge (a) 0.15 0.03
FCPA charges (b) 0.03
Effective tax rate adjustments (c)   (0.01 )
Sub-total adjustments 0.15   0.05  
Adjusted earnings per share (non-GAAP) $ 0.55   $ 0.46  
 
 
 
Memo: Timing effects (gain) loss
Corn (d) 0.06 0.04
Cocoa (e) 0.03 (0.01 )
Sub-total timing effects 0.09   0.03  
Adjusted EPS excluding timing effects (non-GAAP) $ 0.64   $ 0.49  
 
      (a)   The company’s pretax changes in its LIFO reserves during the period, tax effected using the company’s U.S. effective income tax rate.
(b) Charges, net of estimated tax, related to settlements with government agencies pertaining to potential violations of anti-corruption practices.
(c) Impact to EPS due to the change in annual effective tax rate.
(d) Corn timing effects in the current quarter are comprised of corn hedge ineffectiveness gains of $0.01 per share and ethanol mark-to-market charges of $0.07 per share. The prior period timing item is a charge of $0.04 per share for corn hedge ineffectiveness.
(e) The company’s pretax cocoa timing effects, tax effected using the company's effective tax rate.

Adjusted EPS and adjusted EPS excluding timing effects reflect ADM’s fully diluted EPS after removal of the effect on Reported EPS of certain specified items and timing effects as more fully described above. Management believes that these are useful measures of ADM’s performance because they provide investors additional information about ADM’s operations allowing better evaluation of ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace or be an alternative to Reported EPS, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, or any other measures of operating results under GAAP. Earnings amounts in the tables above have been divided by the company’s diluted shares outstanding for each respective quarter in order to arrive at an adjusted EPS amount for each specified item and timing effect.

Archer Daniels Midland Company
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David Weintraub
217-424-5413
or
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