Higher costs hurt Archer’s profits

Article Excerpt

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $87 is a buy. The company (New York symbol ADM; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 544.6 million; Market cap: $47.4 billion; Dividend yield: 2.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, flax seed and other crops into a variety of food ingredients such as flour, oils and sweeteners. With the March 2023 payment, Archer Daniels raised its quarterly dividend by 12.5%. The new annual rate of $1.80 a share yields 2.1%. Archer’s revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2023, fell 7.7%, to $25.19 billion from $27.28 billion a year earlier. Earnings before unusual items fell 15.4%, to $1.03 billion from $1.22 billion. The lower results are largely due to rising raw commodity prices and tight crop supplies. Note: due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings declined at a slower pace of 12.1%, to $1.89 from $2.15. Archer Daniels Midland is still a buy. buy…