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Topic: Dividend Stocks

Agrium Inc. $72 – Toronto symbol AGU

AGRIUM INC. $72 (Toronto symbol AGU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 158.0 million; Market cap: $11.4 billion; SI Rating: Average) is a leading producer of fertilizers and crop protection products. The company uses natural gas to make ammonia, the basic ingredient in fertilizers. Most of Agrium’s facilities are near large gas suppliers in Alberta, which helps keep its input costs down.

Agrium will soon close its fertilizer plant in Kenai, Alaska, since it couldn’t find a reliable source of natural gas for the plant. The company looked into a plan to convert coal to natural gas. However, Agrium feels the project’s $2 billion U.S. cost is too expensive. It earned $3.25 U.S. a share (total $441 million U.S.) in 2007.

Requests for more information from U.S. competition regulators have delayed Agrium’s planned $2.7 billion U.S. takeover of U.S.-based agricultural products distributor UAP Holding Corp. The addition of UAP will make Agrium the biggest agriculture retailer in North America. Selling seeds and other products to farmers also gives Agrium steadier revenue streams than bulk fertilizer sales.

Agrium’s earnings should rise to $5.00 U.S. a share in 2008, and the stock trades at 14.1 times that figure. However, much of its growth depends on the politically inspired boom in ethanol production from grain. The $0.11 U.S. dividend yields 0.2%.

Agrium is a hold.

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