Archer aims to profit from pet boom

Article Excerpt

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $59 is a buy. The stock (New York symbol ADM; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 559.4 million; Market cap: $33.0 billion; Dividend yield: 2.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, flax seed, peanuts and other crops into a variety of food ingredients. The company has agreed to acquire a 75% stake in P4 Companies, which makes pet treats under the PetDine, Pedigree Ovens, The Pound Bakery and NutraDine brands. Archer Daniels is paying $600 million for that holding, which is equal to 84% of the $712 million, or $1.26 a share, it earned in the second quarter of 2021. It also has an option to buy the remaining 25% over the next few years. This acquisition nicely complements the company’s existing pet food operations. It will also help Archer take advantage of rising pet ownership levels. In fact, global pet food sales will likely rise from $100 billion this year…