Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) reported higher than expected quarterly earnings earlier this month as sales of tractors and harvesters in the Americas rose. However, there are concerns that this could be the end of the farming boom that has gripped the global economy for the last few years as record wheat, cocoa and coffee prices all reach multi-year lows. Falling crop prices generally signal lower earnings for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) as cash receipts from crop sales usually move in line with orders for equipment. The wealth affect from high crop prices will lead farmers to spend more. However, cash receipts are expected to fall 8% this year from last and then a further 4% next year-all bad news for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE).
Oversupply in the market
Corn prices hit $8.49 a bushel during 2012 as the drought in North America devastated crops. Unfortunately there is a trend in the farming industry for farmers to over plant for the next season after a season of extremely high crop prices. The primary example of this is in the market for Sugar, in particular London sugar, which hit a high of $850 during 2011, spurring farmers to overplant and now market oversupply has forced the price down to $491 .
Moreover, a quick search on Google for ‘record crops’ will show you that Brazilian coffee, corn and soybean crops are all at record levels, which will depress prices further, reducing cash receipts and consequently Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)’s sales.
However, this oversupply is beneficial to Canadian fertilizer company Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU), which makes money if the crops are highly profitable or not. That said, Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU) is more affected by the weather and planting seasons, so the company’s earnings are highly volatile. Indeed, an unseasonal first half of colder weather hit Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU)’s second quarter earnings (Universal also has the same problem with its tobacco crop) although the company’s revenue still expanded by 4% earnings for the second quarter fell 14% year-on-year .
Still, Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU) is a relatively defensive company as farmers will always need to fertilize their crops no matter what cash receipts they receive — there has been a trend in recent years for farmers to plant even more as the price of the crop falls, exasperating global oversupply but increasing Agrium’s profitability.
Potash problems
Having said that, Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU)’s biggest worry has now become its potash operations. Potash is a mineral containing potassium, which is used in fertilizer production . Agrium’s vertically integrated fertilizer supply chain means that 4% of the company’s revenue and 8% of gross profit is linked to potash production. Unfortunately, the price of potash has recently been subject to much volatility as this excerpt from Yahoo Finance explains:
On July 30, Uralkali, one of the largest potash producers, announced its decision to break out of a joint-venture from Belarus Potash Company (BPC) to sell potash to the global market. Until recently, Canpotex (a joint-venture between Potash Corp., Mosaic Co., and Agrium) and the Belarus Potash Company (a joint-venture between Uralkali and Belaruskali) had occupied ~70% of global trade of potash (add FSU and Canada together in the chart above). The duopoly has given potash producers much power to sell their products at higher prices than what prices would be in a much competitive market.
This collapse is expected to pressure Potash prices sending them down to $300 per tonne in the second half of the year, down from $400 in the first half. As large parts of Agrium’s operations rely on potash, management expects a $10 change in the price of potash will hit net earnings by $9 million. So, a $100 fall will wipe $90 million off net earnings, that’s a 12% hit to third quarter earnings based on net income of $750 million during the second quarter.
Chinese imports
There is also trouble brewing within the nitrogen fertilizer business. The low price of coal has led to a high output of cheap, Chinese urea, a key nitrogen fertilizer ingredient , which is pushing down global prices. This will affect nitrogen fertilizer producers such as CF Industries and Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (NYSE:TNH). That said, Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (NYSE:TNH)’s small size and location to farmers here in the US could allow the company to extract a premium from its customers. Considering the company only has one production facility and already high margins with relatively low fixed costs, it is unlikely the firm’s earnings will be damaged as much as the larger, national CF Industries. Moreover, lower urea input costs could lead to even wider profit margins.
Having said all of that, it is entirely possible that the lower fertilizer costs will improve farmer’s margins next year, pushing up crop cash receipts. This would be positive for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE). However, as of yet there is little evidence that this will happen. The most likely scenario is that crop prices will continue on their downward trend unless the weather suddenly changes.
Foolish summary
Often thought of as a defensive industry for the long term, the outlook for both the fertilizer and farm equipment markets is starting to become foggy. It is likely that Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)’s revenue will fall next year, and the falling price of potash will hit Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU)’s earnings significantly. So, while farming is a good long term investment, over the short term there could be volatility.
The article A Number of Factors Could Hurt These Agricultural Companies originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rupert Hargreaves.
Fool contributor Rupert Hargreaves has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
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