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Strong results in Roundup, seeds and traits businesses propel Monsanto to record third-quarter and year-to-date results - Monsanto sees increased use of its corn seeds and traits globally, company expects seventh consecutive year of branded corn market share gains in U.S.

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St. Louis, Missouri
June 25, 2008
                                             Third    Third    Nine    Nine
  ($ in millions)                          Quarter  Quarter  Months  Months
                                              2008     2007    2008    2007
  Net Sales by Segment
    Corn seed and traits                      $975     $891  $3,189  $2,443
    Soybean seed and traits                    447      325   1,064     868
    Cotton seed and traits                     279      212     361     260
    Vegetable and fruit seed                   185      170     521     444
    All other crops seeds and traits           161      114     293     207
  TOTAL Seeds and Genomics                  $2,047   $1,712  $5,428  $4,222

    Roundup and other glyphosate-based
     herbicides                             $1,168     $757  $3,158  $1,936
    All other agricultural productivity
     products                                  373      373     880     832
  TOTAL Agricultural Productivity           $1,541   $1,130  $4,038  $2,768

  TOTAL Net Sales                           $3,588   $2,842  $9,466  $6,990

  Gross Profit                              $1,969   $1,503  $5,253  $3,633

  Operating Expenses                          $875     $684  $2,292  $1,860

  Interest (Income) Expense - Net              $(3)      $1     $(6)     $7
  Other (Income) Expense - Net                 $(5)     $12   $(189)    $32

  Net Income                                  $811     $570  $2,196  $1,203

  Diluted Earnings per Share (See note 1.)   $1.45    $1.03   $3.93   $2.17
  Items Affecting Comparability - EPS Impact
    (Income) Loss on Discontinued Operations    --   $(0.01)     --   $0.01
    Solutia Claim Settlement (after tax)        --       --  $(0.23)     --
  Diluted Earnings per Share from Ongoing
   Business (For the definition of ongoing
   EPS, see note 1.)                         $1.45    $1.02   $3.70   $2.18

  Effective Tax Rate                           26%      29%     30%     30%



                                             Third    Third    Nine    Nine
  Comparison as a Percent of Net Sales:    Quarter  Quarter  Months  Months
                                              2008     2007    2008    2007
    Gross profit                               55%      53%     55%     52%
    Selling, general and administrative
     expenses (SG&A)                           17%      17%     17%     19%
    Research and development expenses
     (excluding acquired in-process R&D)        7%       7%      7%      8%
    Income before income taxes and minority
     interest                                  31%      28%     33%     25%
    Net income                                 23%      20%     23%     17%

Comment from Monsanto Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant:

"Backed by continued growing demand for our products, the first nine months of our fiscal year has been remarkable and we're now increasing our full-year guidance. This strong growth sets up a solid foundation for our business and to reach our target of more than doubling gross profit in 2012. Because we're both discovering and delivering innovative tools that can help increase productivity on farm, we offer an attractive solution to the farmer and their mission of meeting our world's growing food, feed and fuel needs. While others are asking should it be food OR feed OR fuel, we believe the answer is AND, and we have the solutions in hand to be a significant part of that answer."

Operations Update

Monsanto reported record net sales of $3.6 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, which were 26 percent higher than sales in the same period in fiscal year 2007. Results in the quarter reflected increased revenues from the company's Roundup agricultural herbicides globally, increased soybean seed and traits revenues in the United States, increased corn seed and trait revenues in the United States, higher corn seed revenues in Europe-Africa, and higher cotton seed and trait revenue in the United States.

Net sales in the company's first nine months of fiscal year 2008 resulted in year-to-date sales of $9.5 billion, which were 35 percent higher compared with sales in the same period last year. Key contributors to the company's growth included increased sales of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides globally, higher worldwide corn seed and traits revenues as well as increased soybean seed and traits revenues and cotton seed and traits revenues in the United States.

Monsanto's net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $811 million or 42 percent higher than net income in the same period last year. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, net income was 83 percent higher than net income in the same period last year.

Earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $1.45 both on an as-reported basis and an ongoing basis. EPS for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 were $3.93 on an as-reported basis, and $3.70 on an ongoing basis. EPS results for the first three quarters were affected favorably by $0.23 per share after tax from the settlement of Monsanto's claims in conjunction with Solutia's emergence from bankruptcy. (For a reconciliation of ongoing EPS, see page 1.)

Cash Flow

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, net cash provided by operating activities was $1.3 billion, compared with $89 million in the same period in 2007. Net cash required by investing activities was $650 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared with net cash required of $410 million for the same period last year. As a result, free cash flow was a source of $675 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, compared with a use of $321 million in the same period in fiscal year 2007. (For a reconciliation of free cash flow, see note 1.) Improved earnings, higher collections from accounts receivable and customer prepayments and the settlement of the Solutia-related claim contributed to the increase in free cash flow in the first nine months of 2008. Net cash provided by financing activities was $93 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared with net cash required of $204 million for the same period last year.

Outlook

Monsanto's fourth quarter is largely influenced by its global cotton business and U.S. Roundup agricultural herbicides business. The company historically records a loss in the fourth quarter.

Monsanto now expects that its full-year 2008 EPS will be approximately $3.63 on a reported basis and approximately $3.40 on an ongoing basis. (For a reconciliation of ongoing EPS, see page 1). Monsanto's full-year 2008 EPS guidance on a reported basis does not include an estimate for the in-process, research and development charge associated with the company's fourth quarter acquisitions.

The company now expects that its free cash flow for fiscal year 2008 will be $550 million. The company expects net cash provided by operating activities to be in the range of $2.6 billion, and net cash required by investing activities to be approximately $2.05 billion for fiscal year 2008. (For a reconciliation of free cash flow, see note 1.) This revised free cash flow guidance reflects the recently-completed acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds as well as the recently-announced acquisition of Marmot, S.A., which operates Semillas Cristiani Burkard (SCB), a privately-held seed company headquartered in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Preliminary Trait Acreage Report

As part of today's announcement, Monsanto also published a preliminary report on the company's biotech trait acreage for fiscal year 2008. This report is available on Monsanto's web site at http://www.monsanto.com/.

                    Seeds and Genomics Segment Detail

  ($ in millions)           Net Sales                    Gross Profit

                   Third   Third   Nine   Nine   Third   Third   Nine   Nine
  Seeds and      Quarter Quarter Months Months Quarter Quarter Months Months
   Genomics         2008    2007   2008   2007    2008    2007   2008   2007

  Corn seed and
   traits           $975    $891 $3,189 $2,443    $565    $530 $2,023 $1,543
  Soybean seed
   and traits        447     325  1,064    868     269     203    649    581
  Cotton seed
   and traits        279     212    361    260     195     179    252    222
  Vegetable and
   fruit seed        185     170    521    444      93      72    270    210
  All other
   crops seeds
   and traits        161     114    293    207      97      62    154     99
  TOTAL Seeds
   and Genomics   $2,047  $1,712 $5,428 $4,222  $1,219  $1,046 $3,348 $2,655



  ($ in millions)                   Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT)
                                      Third     Third        Nine     Nine
  Seeds and Genomics                Quarter   Quarter      Months   Months
                                       2008      2007        2008     2007
  EBIT (For a reconciliation of
   EBIT, see note 1.)                  $586      $557      $1,643   $1,302
  Unusual Items Affecting EBIT
    Income (Loss) on discontinued
     operation                         None        $8        None      $(5)

The Seeds and Genomics segment consists of the company's global seeds and related traits business, and genetic technology platforms.

Sales for Monsanto's Seeds and Genomics segment were $2 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, or 20 percent higher than sales in the same period last year.

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, the company realized increased soybean seed and traits revenues in the United States, increased corn seed and trait revenues in the United States, higher corn seed revenues in Europe-Africa and increased U.S. cotton seed and trait revenues. Monsanto expects that strong customer demand for its branded corn seed products contributed to a seventh consecutive year of market share gains in the U.S. corn seed market. In the United States, Monsanto's DEKALB brand could realize 2 to 3 percentage points in share growth and 1 to 2 percentage points in its American Seeds Inc. brands, pending final returns. In Argentina, Monsanto's brand increased 5 percentage points while its brands held share flat in Brazil, as the company had anticipated.

Sales for the segment were also higher for the first nine months of the 2008 fiscal year compared with sales in the same period last year. Sales for the first nine months were $5.4 billion, or 29 percent higher than sales in fiscal year 2007. Key contributors to the company's growth through the first nine months included higher worldwide corn seed and traits revenues, increased soybean seed and traits revenues in the United States as well as higher U.S. cotton seed and traits revenue.

                 Agricultural Productivity Segment Detail

  ($ in millions)            Net Sales                   Gross Profit

                   Third   Third   Nine   Nine   Third   Third   Nine   Nine
  Agricultural   Quarter Quarter Months Months Quarter Quarter Months Months
   Productivity     2008    2007   2008   2007    2008    2007   2008   2007

  Roundup and
   other
   glyphosate-
   based
   herbicides     $1,168    $757 $3,158 $1,936    $594    $286 $1,559   $635
  All other
   agricultural
   productivity
   products          373     373    880    832     156     171    346    343
  TOTAL
   Agricultural
   Productivity   $1,541  $1,130 $4,038 $2,768    $750    $457 $1,905   $978



  ($ in millions)                   Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT)
                                      Third     Third        Nine     Nine
  Agricultural Productivity         Quarter   Quarter      Months   Months
                                       2008      2007        2008     2007
  EBIT (For a reconciliation of
   EBIT, see note 1.)                  $502      $242      $1,488     $423
  Unusual Items Affecting EBIT
    Solutia Claim Settlement           None      None        $210     None

The Agricultural Productivity segment consists primarily of crop protection products, the lawn-and-garden herbicide business, and the company's animal agricultural business.

Sales for Monsanto's Agricultural Productivity segment were $1.5 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, or 36 percent higher compared with sales in the same period last year. Results in the quarter benefited from increased average net selling prices for the company's Roundup agricultural herbicides globally.

Sales for the segment were higher for the first three quarters of the 2008 fiscal year compared with sales in the same period last year. Segment sales through the first nine months were $4 billion or 46 percent higher than sales in the same period in fiscal year 2007. Results through the first three quarters benefited from higher average net selling prices of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides globally.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

DEKALB and Roundup are trademarks of Monsanto Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

References to Roundup herbicides in this release mean Roundup branded herbicides, excluding lawn-and-garden herbicide products.

                             Monsanto Company
                      Selected Financial Information
             (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
                                Unaudited

  Statements of
   Consolidated
   Operations           Three Months Three Months  Nine Months  Nine Months
                            Ended        Ended        Ended        Ended
                        May 31, 2008 May 31, 2007 May 31, 2008 May 31, 2007

  Net Sales                   $3,588       $2,842       $9,466       $6,990
  Cost of Goods Sold           1,619        1,339        4,213        3,357
  Gross Profit                 1,969        1,503        5,253        3,633
  Operating Expenses:
    Selling, General and
     Administrative Expenses     622          487        1,617        1,299
    Research and Development
     Expenses                    251          190          672          554
    Acquired In-Process
     Research and Development      2            7            3            7
  Total Operating Expenses       875          684        2,292        1,860
  Income From Operations       1,094          819        2,961        1,773
  Interest Expense                31           29           99           96
  Interest Income                (34)         (28)        (105)         (89)
  Solutia-Related Expenses
   (Income)                        -            4         (187)          23
  Other (Income) Expense - Net    (5)           8           (2)           9
  Income Before Income Taxes
   and Minority Interest       1,102          806        3,156        1,734
  Income Tax Provision           285          231          947          521
  Minority Interest Expense        6           10           13            7
  Income From Continuing
   Operations                   $811         $565       $2,196       $1,206
  Discontinued Operations:
  Income (Loss) from Operations
   of Discontinued Businesses      -            8            -           (5)
  Income Tax Expense (Benefit)     -            3            -           (2)
  Income (Loss) on Discontinued
   Operations                      -            5            -           (3)

  Net Income                    $811         $570       $2,196       $1,203

  EBIT (see note 1)           $1,088         $799       $3,131       $1,725

  Basic Earnings (Loss) per
   Share
  Income from Continuing
   Operations                  $1.48        $1.04        $4.01        $2.22
  Income (Loss) on
   Discontinued
   Operations                      -        $0.01            -       $(0.01)
  Net Income                   $1.48        $1.05        $4.01        $2.21

  Diluted Earnings (Loss) per
   Share
  Income from Continuing
   Operations                  $1.45        $1.02        $3.93        $2.18
  Income (Loss) on
   Discontinued
   Operations                      -        $0.01            -       $(0.01)
  Net Income                   $1.45        $1.03        $3.93        $2.17

  Weighted Average Shares
   Outstanding:
    Basic                      549.0        544.4        547.6        543.7
    Diluted                    560.0        555.2        558.9        554.4



                             Monsanto Company
                      Selected Financial Information
                          (Dollars in millions)
                                Unaudited

  Condensed Statements of Consolidated Financial
   Position                                          As of        As of
                                                 May 31, 2008  Aug. 31, 2007
  Assets

  Current Assets:
    Cash and Cash Equivalents                        $1,714         $866
    Trade Receivables - Net of Allowances of
     $253 and $217, Respectively                      3,258        1,499
    Miscellaneous Receivables                           468          407
    Deferred Tax Assets                                 340          449
    Inventories                                       2,206        1,719
    Other Current Assets                                141          144
  Total Current Assets                                8,127        5,084

  Property, Plant and Equipment - Net of Accumulated
   Depreciation of $3,625 and $3,260, Respectively    2,962        2,656
  Goodwill                                            2,769        2,625
  Other Intangible Assets - Net                       1,375        1,415
  Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets                        816          730
  Long-Term Receivables - Net of Allowances of
   $172 and $131, Respectively                          653           79
  Other Assets                                          590          394
  Total Assets                                      $17,292      $12,983

  Liabilities and Shareowners' Equity

  Current Liabilities:
    Short-Term Debt, Including Current Portion
     of Long-Term Debt                                  $10         $270
    Accounts Payable                                    788          649
    Income Taxes Payable                                134          150
    Accrued Compensation and Benefits                   368          349
    Accrued Marketing Programs                          720          517
    Deferred Revenues                                   369          260
    Grower Production Accruals                          120           86
    Dividends Payable                                     -           96
    Miscellaneous Short-Term Accruals                   779          698
  Total Current Liabilities                           3,288        3,075

  Long-Term Debt                                      1,703        1,150
  Postretirement Liabilities                            505          542
  Long-Term Portion of Environmental and Related
   Litigation Reserve                                   150          135
  Long-Term Deferred Revenue                            588            -
  Other Liabilities                                     847          578
  Shareowners' Equity                                10,211        7,503
  Total Liabilities and Shareowners' Equity         $17,292      $12,983

  Debt to Capital Ratio:                                14%          16%



                             Monsanto Company
                      Selected Financial Information
                          (Dollars in millions)
                                Unaudited

  Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows            Nine Months  Nine Months
                                                      Ended        Ended
                                                  May 31, 2008  May 31, 2007
  Operating Activities:
    Net Income                                          $2,196       $1,203
    Adjustments to Reconcile Cash Provided by
     Operations:
    Items That Did Not Require (Provide) Cash:
      Depreciation and Amortization Expense                423          386
      Bad-Debt Expense                                      52           29
      Receipt of Securities from Solutia Settlement        (38)           -
      Stock-Based Compensation Expense                      64           54
      Excess Tax Benefits from Stock-Based Compensation   (161)         (49)
      Deferred Income Taxes                                126          (10)
      Equity Affiliate Expense - Net                         2           30
      Acquired In-Process Research and Development           3            7
      Other Items                                          (10)          (1)
    Changes in Assets and Liabilities That Provided
     (Required) Cash, Net of Acquisitions:
      Trade Receivables                                 (1,490)      (1,969)
      Inventories                                         (387)          91
      Deferred Revenues                                     (1)         (45)
      Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities       746          466
      Net Investment Hedge Settlement                      (97)          (4)
      Other Items                                         (103)         (99)
  Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities              1,325           89

  Cash Flows Provided (Required) by Investing Activities:
    Maturities of Short-Term Investments                    59           22
    Capital Expenditures                                  (530)        (297)
    Acquisitions of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired      (113)        (125)
    Purchases of Long-Term Equity Securities               (78)           -
    Technology and Other Investments                       (39)         (35)
    Other Investments and Property Disposal Proceeds        51           25
  Net Cash Required by Investing Activities               (650)        (410)

  Cash Flows Provided (Required) by Financing Activities:
    Net Change in Financing With Less Than 90-Day
     Maturities                                            (28)         265
    Short-Term Debt Reductions                              (9)          (8)
    Long-Term Debt Proceeds                                548            4
    Long-Term Debt Reductions                             (238)        (277)
    Payments on Other Financing                             (3)          (4)
    Debt Issuance Costs                                     (5)           -
    Treasury Stock Purchases                              (145)        (101)
    Stock Option Exercises                                 100           59
    Excess Tax Benefits From Stock-Based Compensation      161           49
    Dividend Payments                                     (288)        (191)
  Net Cash Provided (Required) by Financing Activities      93         (204)
  Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash
   Equivalents                                              80           59
  Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents     848         (466)
  Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period         866        1,460
  Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period            $1,714         $994



                             Monsanto Company
                      Selected Financial Information
                          (Dollars in millions)
                                Unaudited

  1. EBIT, Ongoing EPS and Free Cash Flow:  The presentations of EBIT,
     ongoing EPS and free cash flow are not intended to replace net income
     (loss), cash flows, financial position or comprehensive income (loss),
     and they are not measures of financial performance as determined in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the
     United States. The following tables reconcile EBIT, ongoing EPS and
     free cash flow to the respective most directly comparable financial
     measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.

     Reconciliation of EBIT to Net Income (Loss):  EBIT is defined as
     earnings (loss) before interest and taxes. Earnings (loss) is intended
     to mean net income (loss) as presented in the Statements of
     Consolidated Operations under GAAP. The following table reconciles EBIT
     to the most directly comparable financial measure, which is net income
     (loss).



                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                              May 31,            May 31,
                                          2008      2007     2008      2007
  EBIT - Seeds and Genomics Segment       $586      $557   $1,643    $1,302
  EBIT - Agricultural Productivity
   Segment                                 502       242    1,488       423
  EBIT- Total                            1,088       799    3,131     1,725
  Interest (Income) Expense - Net           (3)        1       (6)        7
  Income Tax Provision(A)                  280       228      941       515
  Net Income                              $811      $570   $2,196    $1,203

       (A) Includes the income tax provision on minority interest income.

     Reconciliation of EPS to Ongoing EPS:  Ongoing EPS is calculated
     excluding certain after-tax items which Monsanto does not consider part
     of ongoing operations. The reconciliation of EPS to Ongoing EPS for the
     third quarter and nine months ended May 31, 2008 and May 31, 2007, is
     included on page 1 of this release.

     Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow: Free cash flow represents the total
     of cash flows from operating activities and investing activities, as
     reflected in the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows presented in
     this release. With respect to the fiscal year 2008 free cash flow
     guidance, Monsanto does not include any estimates or projections of Net
     Cash Provided (Required) by Financing Activities because in order to
     prepare any such estimate or projection, Monsanto would need to rely on
     market factors and conditions that are outside of its control.



                                              Fiscal Year  Nine Months Ended
                                                 2008             May 31,
                                               Guidance        2008    2007
  Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities     $2,600       $1,325     $89
  Net Cash Required by Investing Activities     (2,050)        (650)   (410)
  Free Cash Flow                                  $550          675    (321)
  Net Cash Provided (Required) by Financing
   Activities                                      N/A           93    (204)
  Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
   and Cash Equivalents                            N/A           80      59
  Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents        N/A          848    (466)
  Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period N/A          866   1,460
  Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period       N/A       $1,714    $994
 

 

 

 

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