We recently compiled a list of the 15 Biggest Agriculture Stocks in 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) stands against the other agriculture stocks. We also discuss the increase in technology adoption in the industry to improve operations in agriculture and farming.
The agriculture sector is crucial for food security and economic stability. It extends beyond farm businesses to include other farm-related industries in the United States. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed over $1.5 trillion to the American economy in 2023, representing 5.5% of the GDP.
The output of farm businesses stood at $222.3 billion, or 0.8% of the GDP. However, economists believe agriculture’s overall contribution is much higher than this figure because numerous players in various sectors rely on agricultural inputs and contribute added value to the economy.
READ ALSO: 13 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks To Invest In According to Hedge Funds and 8 Best Fertilizer Stocks To Buy Now.
According to McKinsey, the global food and agribusiness industry is valued at over $5 trillion, and given current trends, this number is expected to rise further. By 2050, caloric demand is projected to grow by 70%, while crop demand for human consumption and animal feed is forecast to soar by at least 100%.
The surge in population worldwide continues to lead to an increased demand for food, necessitating innovative agricultural practices. Recent trends have highlighted a shift toward the adoption of technology in agriculture and farming, which aims to enhance sustainable production.
A 2024 survey by a leading consultancy firm has revealed a growing trend among farmers for technology adoption, with a 3 percent increase since 2022 in farmers who are using or are willing to adopt digital technology to improve operations. North America continues to lead agricultural technology adoption, while Latin America experienced the fastest rate of growth – 10% – between 2022 and 2024.
The United States has the highest rate of technology adoption, with 61% of the farmers using or willing to adopt digital agronomy, and 51% for precision agriculture hardware, while the adoption rate for remote-sensing technologies among American farmers stood at 38%. More than two-thirds of farmers were using or willing to adapt to farm management software. The study also highlighted that large farms were 45% more likely to adopt agriculture technology than smaller farms, citing scale factors to generate positive ROI.
The growing focus on sustainable practices and innovative technologies among farmers to enhance their productivity not only bodes well for the future of the agriculture industry but also presents an opportunity for organizations that provide these technologies to cater to farmers’ diverse needs across different regions.
Methodology
For this article, we sifted through screeners to get a pool of stocks in the agricultural inputs and farm products industries. We also referred to our previous articles on the industry to further enrich our list of stocks. From there, we picked the top 15 companies with the highest market cap, as of the close of the day on Friday, January 31, 2025. The 15 biggest agriculture stocks are ranked in ascending order of market cap.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A close up of a baker stirring a bowl of flour and sugar in a bakery.
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR)
Market Cap: $8.89 billion
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) is a leading global provider of ingredient solutions, serving customers in more than 120 countries. It produces and sells a variety of food and beverage ingredients, such as starches and sweeteners. The company transforms plant-based materials and grains into value-added ingredients for food, beverages, animal nutrition, and industrial products. A lot of its products are derived from corn, potato, tapioca, and rice.
During its Q4 2024 earnings call on February 4, Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024. Net sales dropped 6% during the quarter and 9% for the year, both compared to the corresponding prior year periods. This dip was attributed to factors ranging from price mix challenges to loss of revenue from the sale of its South Korean business, and foreign exchange impacts.
However, Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings, with EPS at $2.63 for Q4, up 34% from last year, and beating analysts’ expectations by 10 cents. Adjusted EPS for the full year 2024 stood at $10.65, compared to $9.42 in 2023. The company credited the results to continued sales volume momentum in the Texture & Healthful Solutions, and Food & Industrial Ingredients segments.
During 2024, Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) reiterated its commitment to robust shareholder returns, through $210 million in dividends and $216 million of share repurchases. The company is dedicated and determined to continue to return value to shareholders ahead as well.
Wall Street analysts are bullish on INGR, with a consensus Buy rating and an average share price upside potential of over 22%, making it one of the best agriculture stocks to buy.
Overall INGR ranks 10th on our list of the biggest agriculture stocks in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of INGR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than INGR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
