Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your view on Ingredion? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Ingredion Inc., $65.25, symbol INGR on New York (Shares outstanding: 76.6 million; Market cap: $5.0 billion; www.ingredion.com), was formerly known as Corn Products International. The company is one of the world’s largest corn refiners, producing food ingredients such as corn syrups, as well as industrial products like starches and enzymes. It makes these goods by milling corn and other starch-based materials. The company’s geographic sales break down as follows: North America (54%), South America (25%), the Asia-Pacific region (12%), and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (9%). In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Ingredion’s earnings per share before one-time items rose 26.7%, to $1.52 from $1.20 a year earlier. Sales rose 3.0%, to $1.76 billion from $1.71 billion. The company raised its prices and saw strong demand from the North American soft drink and brewing industries, as well as rising sales in Asia. That has offset lower sales in Europe and South America. Ingredion also cut its costs; that further boosted its…