St. Louis, Missouri
January 3, 2008 First First
($ in millions) Quarter Quarter
2008 2007
Net Sales By Segment
Corn seed and traits $467 $360
Soybean seed and traits 162 170
Cotton seed and traits 42 25
Vegetable and fruit seed 130 100
All other crops seeds and traits 35 25
TOTAL Seeds and Genomics $836 $680
Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides $1,008 $649
All other agricultural productivity products 255 210
TOTAL Agricultural Productivity $1,263 $859
TOTAL Net Sales $2,099 $1,539
Gross Profit $1,055 $682
Operating Expenses $662 $560
Interest Expense - Net $4 $3
Other Expense - Net $19 $14
Net Income $256 $90
Diluted Earnings per Share (See note 1.) $0.46 $0.16
Items Affecting Comparability - EPS Impact
Loss on discontinued operations -- 0.01
Diluted Earnings per Share from Ongoing Business
(For the definition of ongoing EPS, see note 1.) $0.46 $0.17
Effective Tax Rate 29% 12%
Comparison as a Percent of Net Sales:
Gross profit 50% 44%
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) 22% 25%
Research and development expenses (excluding
acquired in-process R&D) 10% 12%
Income from continuing operations before income
taxes and minority interest 18% 7%
Net income 12% 6%
Comment from Monsanto Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant:
"Our results in the first quarter represent a solid start to the fiscal year and highlight the strong performance of our Latin American business. With the most significant part of our annual business cycle still to come, we believe these results position us for another strong fiscal year for our business. We're seeing tremendous progress in projects across our R&D pipeline, and this underscores both our momentum and the value that our business is poised to deliver to farmers."
Market Conditions
The winter months in the Northern Hemisphere agricultural markets provide farmers with an opportunity to review their input costs for the 2008 season -- including new seed, trait and chemistry offerings. Strong early-season order patterns in the United States for the company's corn business are reinforcing growth trends in the company's branded seed business and adoption of trait technologies, particularly its triple-trait corn technology. Monsanto now expects that its DEKALB corn seed brand in the U.S. could realize an increase of 2-to-3 percentage points, up from its previously announced range of 1-to-2 points.
The growing season is well under way in the Southern Hemisphere. In Brazil, higher corn commodity prices have resulted in an increase in the number of total corn acres planted within the country to approximately 35 million acres. Monsanto currently estimates that the Brazilian hybrid corn seed market is 28 million acres. Recent estimates also suggest that soybean production in the country could be slightly higher than last season as well, or slightly higher than the 50 million acres planted last year.
Operations Update
The company reported net sales of $2.1 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, which were 36 percent higher than those in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007. The results in the quarter reflect the strong performance of the company's businesses outside the United States. Key drivers for the quarter were increased sales of Roundup agricultural herbicides in Brazil, Argentina and Europe, as well as stronger adoption of the company's seed and trait technologies in Brazil and Argentina.
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, Monsanto recorded net income of $256 million compared with net income of $90 million for the same period last year. Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, both on an as-reported and ongoing basis, were 46 cents a share.
Cash Flow
For first-quarter fiscal year 2008, net cash provided by operating activities was $996 million, compared with $600 million in the first-quarter of fiscal year 2007. Net cash required by investing activities was $256 million for the first-quarter of fiscal year 2008, compared with $67 million for the same quarter of fiscal year 2007. As a result, free cash flow was $740 million for the first-quarter fiscal year 2008, compared with $533 million for the same quarter in fiscal year 2007. (For a reconciliation of free cash flow, see note 1.) The increase in the three-month comparison related primarily to higher customer pre-payments in the United States. Net cash required by financing activities was $47 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, compared with $156 million for the same period in fiscal year 2007.
Outlook
The second and third quarters of fiscal year 2008 are expected to be the primary drivers for the company's fiscal year 2008 EPS results. These quarters reflect both the relative size of the company's U.S. business and the importance of its seeds-and-traits business to Monsanto's earnings.
Monsanto's full-year 2008 EPS is now expected to be in the range of $2.50 to $2.60, excluding the impact of Solutia's emergence from bankruptcy, both on a reported and ongoing basis. The company also announced that it now expects that its free cash flow guidance for fiscal year 2008 will be higher even as it expects higher capital expenditures in fiscal year 2008. Strong demand for the company's corn seed products pulled forward the capital expenditures at its North American corn seed manufacturing facilities which had been previously announced as part of its two-year $610 capital expenditure plan.
The company noted that its free cash flow for fiscal year 2008 is now expected to be in the range of $900 million to $1 billion. The company expects net cash provided by operating activities to be in the range of $1.95 billion to $2.05 billion, and net cash required by investing activities to be approximately $1.05 billion for fiscal year 2008. (For a reconciliation of free cash flow, see note 1.)
Because Monsanto cannot predict with certainty when Solutia will be able to satisfy the conditions of its bankruptcy emergence, Monsanto's full-year 2008 EPS and cash flow guidance does not reflect any receipt of cash or equity reimbursements associated with Solutia's anticipated emergence from bankruptcy and the resolution of Monsanto's claim. If Solutia emerges from bankruptcy protection as it currently projects in January 2008, Monsanto anticipates that it could realize a non-recurring gain (net of tax) of approximately $0.22 to $0.24 per share in second quarter 2008 for the settlement of Monsanto's claim.
Seeds and Genomics Segment Detail
($ in millions) Net Sales Gross Profit
First First First First
Seeds and Genomics Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
2008 2007 2008 2007
Corn seed and traits $467 $360 $285 $223
Soybean seed and traits 162 170 111 122
Cotton seed and traits 42 25 24 15
Vegetable and fruit seed 130 100 64 51
All other crops seeds and traits 35 25 11 5
TOTAL Seeds and Genomics $836 $680 $495 $416
Earnings Before
($ in millions) Interest & Taxes
(EBIT)
First First
Seeds and Genomics Quarter Quarter
2008 2007
EBIT (For a reconciliation of EBIT, see note 1.) $(20) $1
Unusual Items Affecting EBIT
Loss on Discontinued Operations None $(8)
The Seeds and Genomics segment consists of the company's global seeds and traits business, and genetic technology platforms.
Sales for Monsanto's Seeds and Genomics segment were $836 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, or 23 percent higher than the same period last year.
Results in the quarter benefited from increased sales from the company's corn seed and traits business, which were 30 percent higher when compared with sales in the same period last year. The increase in the quarter related primarily to strong demand for the company's corn seed products in key corn-growing areas including Brazil and Argentina.
During the quarter, Monsanto's U.S. corn business also realized strong early orders for the company's corn products -- including its triple-trait technology which offers farmers both above-the-ground and below-the-ground insect protection, as well as weed control flexibility. The company is now forecasting that its triple-stack product could be planted on 25-to-27 million acres in the United States, an increase of some 50 percent over the prior year. Monsanto also now expects that its DEKALB corn seed brand in the U.S. could realize an increase of 2-to-3 percentage points, up from its previously announced range of 1-to-2 points.
Agricultural Productivity Segment Detail
($ in millions) Net Sales Gross Profit
First First First First
Agricultural Productivity Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
2008 2007 2008 2007
Roundup and other glyphosate-based
herbicides $1,008 $649 $487 $194
All other agricultural
productivity products 255 210 73 72
TOTAL Agricultural Productivity $1,263 $859 $560 $266
Earnings Before
($ in millions) Interest & Taxes
(EBIT)
First First
Agricultural Productivity Quarter Quarter
2008 2007
EBIT (For a reconciliation of EBIT, see note 1.) $385 $103
Unusual Items Affecting EBIT None None
The Agricultural Productivity segment consists primarily of crop protection products, residential lawn-and-garden herbicide products, and the company's animal agriculture business.
Sales for Monsanto's Agricultural Productivity segment were $1.3 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, or 47 percent higher compared with sales in the same period last year. The primary contributors to the segment's growth in the quarter were higher pricing and volume of the company's Roundup agricultural herbicides in Brazil, Argentina and Europe.
Gross profit for the segment in the first quarter was $560 million or than more double compared with gross profit in the same period last year. The increase in the quarter related primarily to higher pricing of branded Roundup herbicides as well as higher volumes.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
References to Roundup herbicides in this release mean Roundup branded herbicides, excluding lawn-and-garden herbicide products.
Monsanto Company
Selected Financial Information
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited
Statements of Consolidated Operations Three Months Ended
Nov. 30,
2007 2006
Net Sales $2,099 $1,539
Cost of Goods Sold 1,044 857
Gross Profit 1,055 682
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 461 382
Research and Development Expenses 200 178
Acquired In-Process Research and Development 1 --
Total Operating Expenses 662 560
Income from Operations 393 122
Interest Expense 36 33
Interest Income (32) (30)
Solutia-Related Expenses 17 10
Other Expense - Net 2 4
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income
Taxes and Minority Interest 370 105
Income Tax Provision 107 13
Minority Interest Expense (Income) 7 (3)
Income from Continuing Operations $256 $95
Discontinued Operations:
Loss from Operations of Discontinued Businesses -- (8)
Income Tax Benefit -- (3)
Loss on Discontinued Operations -- (5)
Net Income $256 $90
EBIT (see note 1) $365 $104
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share:
Income from Continuing Operations $0.47 $0.18
Loss on Discontinued Operations -- (0.01)
Net Income $0.47 $0.17
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share:
Income from Continuing Operations $0.46 $0.17
Loss on Discontinued Operations -- (0.01)
Net Income $0.46 $0.16
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic 546.2 543.1
Diluted 557.7 553.6
Monsanto Company
Selected Financial Information
(Dollars in millions)
Unaudited
Condensed Statements of Consolidated Financial Position
As of As of
Nov. 30, Aug. 31,
2007 2007
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents $1,617 $866
Trade Receivables - Net of Allowances of
$229 and $217, Respectively 1,642 1,499
Miscellaneous Receivables 473 407
Deferred Tax Assets 453 449
Inventories 2,241 1,719
Other Current Assets 136 144
Total Current Assets 6,562 5,084
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net of Accumulated
Depreciation of $3,401 and $3,260, respectively 2,726 2,656
Goodwill 2,735 2,625
Other Intangible Assets - Net 1,407 1,415
Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets 774 730
Long-Term Receivables 615 79
Other Assets 494 394
Total Assets $15,313 $12,983
Liabilities and Shareowners' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Short-Term Debt, Including Current Portion
Long-Term Debt $261 $270
Accounts Payable 673 649
Income Taxes Payable 80 150
Accrued Compensation and Benefits 237 349
Accrued Marketing Programs 467 517
Deferred Revenues 1,197 260
Grower Production Accruals 351 86
Dividends Payable -- 96
Miscellaneous Short-Term Accruals 861 698
Total Current Liabilities 4,127 3,075
Long-Term Debt 1,153 1,150
Postretirement Liabilities 491 542
Long-Term Portion of Solutia-Related Reserve 125 119
Long-Term Deferred Revenue 554 --
Other Liabilities 804 594
Shareowners' Equity 8,059 7,503
Total Liabilities and Shareowners' Equity $15,313 $12,983
Debt to Capital Ratio: 15% 16%
Monsanto Company
Selected Financial Information
(Dollars in millions)
Unaudited
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows Three Months Ended
Nov. 30,
2007 2006
Operating Activities:
Net Income $256 $90
Adjustments to Reconcile Cash Provided by
Operating Activities:
Items That Did Not Require (Provide) Cash:
Depreciation and Amortization Expense 143 128
Bad-Debt Expense 19 9
Stock-Based Compensation Expense 19 18
Excess Tax Benefits from Stock-Based Compensation (45) (12)
Deferred Income Taxes 50 (4)
Equity Affiliate Expense - Net 2 10
Acquired In-Process Research and Development 1 --
Other Items (13) 3
Changes in Assets and Liabilities That Provided
(Required) Cash, Net of Acquisitions:
Trade Receivables 46 251
Inventories (460) (256)
Deferred Revenues 933 592
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities 99 (158)
PCB Litigation Settlement Proceeds 5 5
Solutia-Related Payments (6) (6)
Net Investment Hedge Settlement (6) --
Other Items (47) (70)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 996 600
Cash Flows Provided (Required) by Investing Activities:
Maturities of Short-Term Investments -- 22
Capital Expenditures (154) (92)
Acquisitions of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired (92) --
Purchases of Long-Term Equity Securities (26) --
Technology and Other Investments (12) (10)
Other Investments and Property Disposal Proceeds 28 13
Net Cash Required by Investing Activities (256) (67)
Cash Flows Provided (Required) by Financing Activities:
Net Change in Financing With Less Than
90-Day Maturities 22 (1)
Short-Term Debt Proceeds -- 2
Short-Term Debt Reductions -- (8)
Long-Term Debt Proceeds -- 3
Long-Term Debt Reductions -- (69)
Payments on Other Financing (1) (2)
Treasury Stock Purchases (49) (56)
Stock Option Exercises 32 17
Excess Tax Benefits From Stock-Based Compensation 45 12
Dividend Payments (96) (54)
Net Cash Required by Financing Activities (47) (156)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash
Equivalents 58 5
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents 751 382
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 866 1,460
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $1,617 $1,842
Monsanto Company
Selected Financial Information
(Dollars in millions)
Unaudited
1. EBIT, Ongoing EPS and Free Cash Flow: The presentations of EBIT,
ongoing EPS and free cash flow are not intended to replace net income
(loss), cash flows, financial position or comprehensive income (loss),
and they are not measures of financial performance as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the
United States. The following tables reconcile EBIT, ongoing EPS and
free cash flow to the respective most directly comparable financial
measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Reconciliation of EBIT to Net Income (Loss): EBIT is defined as
earnings (loss) before interest and taxes. Earnings (loss) is intended
to mean net income (loss) as presented in the Statements of
Consolidated Operations under GAAP. The following table reconciles
EBIT to the most directly comparable financial measure, which is net
income (loss).
Three Months
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007 2006
EBIT - Seeds and Genomics Segment $(20) $1
EBIT - Agricultural Productivity Segment 385 103
EBIT- Total 365 104
Interest Expense - Net 4 3
Income Tax Provision(A) 105 11
Net Income $256 $90
(A) Includes the income tax provision from continuing operations, the
income tax benefit (provision) on minority interest, and the income
tax benefit on discontinued operations.
Reconciliation of EPS to Ongoing EPS: Ongoing EPS is calculated excluding certain after-tax items which Monsanto does not consider part of ongoing operations. The reconciliation of EPS to ongoing EPS for the three months ended Nov. 30, 2007 and 2006, is included on page 1 of this release.
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow: Free cash flow represents the total of cash flows from operating activities and investing activities, as reflected in the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows presented in this release. With respect to the fiscal year 2008 free cash flow guidance, Monsanto does not include any estimates or projections of Net Cash Provided (Required) by Financing Activities because in order to prepare any such estimate or projection, Monsanto would need to rely on market factors and conditions that are outside of its control.
Fiscal Year Three Months Ended
2008 Nov. 30,
Guidance 2007 2006
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $1,950 - $2,050 $996 $600
Net Cash Required by Investing Activities (1,050) (256) (67)
Free Cash Flow $900 - $1,000 740 533
Net Cash Required by Financing Activities N/A (47) (156)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
and Cash Equivalents N/A 58 5
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents N/A 751 382
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of
Period N/A 866 1,460
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
Period N/A $1,617 $1,842
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