ADM Reports First Quarter 2024 Results, Affirms Full-Year EPS Guidance

ADM (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Segment operating profit of $1,311 million, adjusted segment operating profit¹ of $1,317 million
• Trailing four-quarter average adjusted return on invested capital (ROIC)¹ of 11.2%

“ADM’s solid first quarter results showcased our team’s ability to execute our strategy with agility in the face of anticipated challenging market conditions,” said Chair of the Board and CEO Juan Luciano.

“To manage through the cycle, we are driving key strategic initiatives across the business, including the ramp-up of production at our Green Bison JV and the scaling of our regenerative agriculture and BioSolutions efforts. Our productivity initiative pipeline is also expanding and we are already seeing the results of our actions to reduce supply chain complexity and better serve our customers in Nutrition as the segment delivered sequential quarterly improvement in operating profit. Our capital deployment actions such as our accelerated share repurchase program also continue to contribute to enhanced shareholder returns. Driving these priorities forward, we remain confident in our guidance for the year.”

First Quarter 2024 Results

Summary of First Quarter 2024

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $1.42. Segment operating profit on a GAAP basis was $1,311 million and included charges of $6 million, or approximately $0.01 per share, related to impairments and restructuring.

Adjusted segment operating profit was $1,317 million for the first quarter, a 24% decrease versus the prior year period. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.46. Lower pricing and execution margins led to a decline of $1.00 per share versus the prior year period, largely reflecting the impact of lower crush and origination margins, as well as lower mark-to-market timing impacts of $0.38 per share. Improved input and manufacturing costs, primarily related to lower energy costs, led to an increase of $0.15 per share versus the prior year. Volume improvement represented a $0.20 per share increase versus the prior year period, primarily reflecting higher processed volumes in AS&O. Higher equity earnings led to a $0.07 per share increase in the first quarter of 2024 versus the prior year period.

1Q 2024 Segment Overview

Ag Services and Oilseeds Summary

AS&O segment operating profit was $864 million during the first quarter of 2024, down 29% compared to the prior year period. The Ag Services subsegment operating profit was 33% lower, primarily due to the stabilization of trade flows leading to lower Global Trade and risk management results in comparison to the prior year. Slower farmer selling also negatively impacted export volumes and margins in South America. In the Crushing subsegment, operating profit was 27% lower versus the prior year as increased imports of used cooking oil and the anticipation of large South American supplies negatively impacted North American soy crush margins. During the quarter, there were positive mark-to-market timing impacts of approximately $40 million versus approximately $240 million of positive impacts a year ago. Refined Products and Other (RPO) subsegment results of $170 million were lower versus the prior year, as the increased imports of used cooking oil negatively impacted refining margins in North America. During the quarter, there were negative mark-to-market timing impacts of $30 million versus positive impacts of approximately $40 million in the prior year period. Equity earnings from Wilmar were $149 million during the first quarter, approximately 37% higher than the prior year.

1Q 2024 AS&O Overview

Carbohydrate Solutions Summary

Carbohydrate Solutions segment operating profit was $248 million during the first quarter of 2024, down 11% compared to the prior year period. The Starches & Sweeteners subsegment decreased $52 million, as strong starches and sweeteners margins were offset by lower domestic ethanol margins due to strong industry production and elevated stocks, as well as moderating margins in the EMEA region. In the Vantage Corn Processing (VCP) subsegment, results improved $21 million as strong demand for sustainably certified exports of ethanol supported volumes and higher margins.

1Q 2024 Carbohydrate Solutions Overview

Nutrition Summary

Nutrition segment operating profit was $84 million during the first quarter of 2024, down 39% compared to the prior year period. Human Nutrition subsegment operating profit was $76 million, approximately $62 million lower versus the prior year period, as impacts related to unplanned downtime at Decatur East and a normalizing texturants market negatively impacted margins. In the Animal Nutrition subsegment, operating profit of $8 million was higher year-over-year as cost optimization efforts and lower input costs bolstered margins.

1Q 2024 Nutrition Overview

Other and Corporate Summary

For the first quarter, Other segment operating profit was $121 million, up 25% compared to the prior year, supported by higher Captive Insurance results due to higher program premiums and lower claims. ADM Investor Services results improved on higher net interest income.

In Corporate, unallocated corporate costs increased versus the prior year on higher global technology investments to support digital transformation efforts and increased legal fees. Other Corporate was unfavorable compared to the prior year due to investment valuation losses of approximately $18 million in our ADM Ventures portfolio.

Outlook

The Company affirms its previously provided EPS guidance for the full year. ADM continues to expect adjusted earnings per share² in the range of $5.25 to $6.25 for the full year.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a webcast today, April 30, 2024, 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.

About ADM

ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. We’re an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. We’re a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of ingredients and solutions from nature. We’re a trailblazer in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of products for consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives. We’re a cutting-edge innovator, guiding the way to a future of new consumer and industrial solutions. And we're a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize the multiple industries we serve. Around the globe, our innovation and expertise are meeting critical needs while nourishing quality of life and supporting a healthier planet. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those that are described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that the Company files or furnishes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, ADM does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses certain “Non-GAAP” financial measures as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are measures of performance not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, GAAP reported measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in this press release.

Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted earnings per share (EPS). Adjusted net earnings reflects ADM’s reported net earnings after removal of the effect on net earnings of specified items as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Adjusted EPS reflects ADM’s fully diluted EPS after removal of the effect on EPS as reported of specified items as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Management believes that Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted EPS are useful measures of ADM’s performance because they provide investors additional information about ADM’s operations allowing better evaluation of underlying business performance and better period-to-period comparability. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace or be alternatives to net earnings and EPS as reported, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, or any other measures of operating results under GAAP. Earnings amounts described above have been divided by the company’s diluted shares outstanding for each respective period in order to arrive at an adjusted EPS amount for each specified item.

Segment operating profit and adjusted segment operating profit. Segment operating profit is ADM’s consolidated income from operations before income tax excluding corporate items. Adjusted segment operating profit, a non-GAAP measure, is segment operating profit excluding specified items. 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. 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, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). Adjusted ROIC is Adjusted ROIC earnings divided by adjusted invested capital. Adjusted ROIC earnings is ADM’s net earnings adjusted for the after-tax effects of interest expense on borrowings and specified items. Adjusted invested capital is the sum of ADM’s equity (excluding noncontrolling interests) and interest-bearing liabilities and other specified items. Management believes Adjusted ROIC is a useful financial measure because it provides investors information about ADM’s returns excluding the impacts of specified items and increases period-to-period comparability of underlying business performance. Management uses Adjusted ROIC to measure ADM’s performance by comparing Adjusted ROIC to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Adjusted ROIC, Adjusted ROIC earnings and Adjusted invested capital are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace or be alternatives to GAAP financial measures.

ADM presents guidance of forecasted adjusted EPS for the full year 2024 in this release. ADM is not able to present forecasted GAAP EPS or a quantitative reconciliation to forecasted adjusted EPS in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exemption provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. ADM is unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact of any impairment and timing of restructuring-related and other charges, along with acquisition-related expenses and the outcome of certain regulatory, legal and tax matters. The financial impact of these items is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to ADM’s consolidated statements of earnings.

Financial Tables Follow

Source: Corporate Release
Source: ADM

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