Price uncertainty clouds their outlook

Article Excerpt

AGRIUM INC. $52 (Toronto symbol AGU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 157 million; Market cap: $8.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; SI Rating: Average) makes fertilizers from natural gas, mainly at five facilities in North America. It also owns 50% of a plant in Argentina. This business supplies 45% of its revenue, but 70% of its earnings. Most of Agrium’s remaining revenue and earnings comes from its 872 agricultural-products stores in the U.S., Argentina and Chile. Steady revenues from these retail outlets help cut company’s exposure to sometimes volatile fertilizer prices. Agrium earned $7 million, or $0.04 a share, before unusual items in the three months ended March 31, 2009. (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). It earned $195 million, or $1.23 a share a year earlier. The earnings drop was mainly due to unusually wet and cold weather in the U.S., which prompted farmers to delay spreading fertilizer and planting new crops. Agrium’s sales rose 58.4%…