ADM Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

ADM on Nov. 18 reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that are consistent with its previously announced preliminary results, and also filed its third quarter form 10-Q. The Company also filed its restated financial statements in its fiscal year 2023 Form 10-K and its forms 10-Q for the first and second quarters of 2024. The restatement did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial results for any of the periods covered by those reports, as noted below.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net earnings of $18 million, adjusted net earnings² of $530 million
  • See below for impact of non-cash charge against GAAP earnings for the third quarter of $461 million related to our Wilmar equity investment
• Earnings per share² of $0.04, with adjusted earnings per share^1,2 of $1.09, both down versus the prior year period
• Trailing four-quarter average return on invested capital (ROIC) of 6.6%, trailing four-quarter average adjusted return on invested capital (ROIC)¹ of 8.8%

Year-to-date cash flows from operating activities were $2,468 million, with cash flows from operations before working capital^1,3 of $2,341 million, as compared to cash flows from operating activities of $1,891 million and cash flows from operations before working capital^1,3 of $3,804 million for the corresponding prior-year year-to-date period.

“Accuracy and transparency are important to the Company and we are pleased to have now completed the restatement and be current with our financial filing. We continue to focus on implementing enhancements to internal controls to ensure integrity and accuracy of reporting,” said Chair of the Board and CEO Juan Luciano.

“Looking ahead, while we foresee softer market conditions into next year, we are taking actions to improve performance and drive value creation. We are redoubling our focus on productivity and operational excellence, while maintaining our disciplined approach to capital allocation.”

Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2024 Results

Summary of Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2024

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, earnings before income taxes were $108 million, down (90)% versus the prior year quarter. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge against GAAP earnings of $461 million related to its equity investment in Wilmar. Earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $0.04, and adjusted earnings per share were $1.09, both down versus the prior year quarter. Total segment operating profit was $1,037 million, down (28)% versus the prior year quarter, and excluded specified items of $504 million, or approximately $1.03 per share, related to impairments.

Earnings before income taxes were $1,588 million year-to-date in 2024, down (55)% versus the prior year period. Total segment operating profit was $3,158 million year-to-date in 2024, down (32)%. Earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $2.48 and adjusted earnings per share were $3.61, down versus the prior year.

Ag Services and Oilseeds Segment Summary

AS&O segment operating profit was $480 million during the third quarter of 2024, down (43)% compared to the prior year quarter.

The Ag Services subsegment operating profit was (53)% lower versus the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower results in South America Origination, as slower farmer selling and higher logistics costs related to industry take-or-pay contracts led to lower margins. The prior year quarter also included $48M of insurance proceeds related to Hurricane Ida.

The Crushing subsegment operating profit was (25)% lower versus the prior year quarter. Global soybean crush margins were higher, supported by strong margins in EMEA. However, higher canola seed prices due to less supply in Europe drove lower canola crush margins, leading to lower results. During the quarter, there were approximately zero mark-to-market timing impacts versus approximately $100 million of positive impacts from the same period a year ago, totaling approximately $100 million of negative net impacts versus the prior year. The current quarter also included $24 million of insurance proceeds for the partial settlement of the Decatur East and West insurance claims related to incidents in 2023.

The Refined Products & Other (RPO) subsegment operating profit was (63)% lower versus the prior year quarter, primarily driven by lower results in North America, as higher imports of used cooking oil and increased pre-treatment capacity drove significantly lower refining and global biodiesel margins. During the quarter, there were negative mark-to-market timing impacts in RPO of approximately $20 million versus approximately $100 million of positive timing impacts in the prior year, totaling approximately $120 million of negative net impacts year over year.

Equity earnings from the Company’s investment in Wilmar were $62 million during the quarter compared to the prior year quarter of $35 million.

Year-to-date in 2024, the AS&O segment delivered $1,803 million in segment operating profit, lower versus the elevated prior year. Ample supplies out of South America created more balanced supply and demand conditions, leading to a lower margin environment in the segment. Improved segment volumes and lower costs partially offset the impact from lower margins. Equity earnings from the Company’s Wilmar investment were 20% higher versus the comparable prior year period.

Carbohydrate Solutions Segment Summary

Carbohydrate Solutions segment operating profit was $452 million for the third quarter of 2024, down (3)% compared to the prior year period.

The Starches & Sweeteners subsegment increased 13%, versus the prior year period, primarily driven by strong starches and sweeteners volumes and margins, supported by high utilization rates across the network. The current quarter also included $47 million of insurance proceeds for the partial settlement of the Decatur West insurance claims related to an incident that occurred in 2023.

In the Vantage Corn Processing (VCP) subsegment, operating loss of $(3) million was lower compared to the prior year period, driven by higher inventories and production, leading to a lower margin environment.

Year-to-date in 2024, Carbohydrate Solutions segment operating profit of $1,057 million was (1)% lower than the prior year, as lower margins in the EMEA region and lower domestic ethanol margins were partially offset by improved volumes and lower costs.

Nutrition Segment Summary

Nutrition segment operating profit was $105 million for the third quarter of 2024, down (19)% compared to the prior year period.

Human Nutrition subsegment operating profit was $86 million, approximately (27)% lower versus the prior year period. These results include solid performance by recent Flavors M&A, lapping of non-recurring benefits in the prior year period, changes in inventory adjustments and certain other costs, including costs associated with the closure of a joint venture. The current quarter also included $25 million of insurance proceeds for the partial settlement of the Decatur East insurance claims related to an incident that occurred in 2023.

In the Animal Nutrition subsegment, operating profit of $19 million was 58% higher compared to prior year quarter, as cost optimization efforts and lower input costs supported higher margins.

Year-to-date in 2024, Nutrition segment operating profit of $298 million was (32)% lower than the prior year period, primarily driven by negative impacts related to unplanned downtime at Decatur East, lower texturants margins, and higher costs in Human Nutrition.

Other and Corporate Summary

For the third quarter, Other business operating loss was $17 million, down $63 million versus the prior year period, due to lower Captive insurance results from $112 million in claim settlements. Included in claim settlements were partial settlements of $96 million for the Decatur East and West insurance claims. ADM Investor Services results decreased on lower interest income.

Year-to-date in 2024, Other business operating gain was $200 million, down $29 million versus the prior year period, due to lower Captive insurance results from $112 million in claim settlements. Included in claim settlements were partial settlements of $96 million for the Decatur East and West insurance claims. ADM Investor Services results decreased on lower interest income.

In Corporate for the third quarter, unallocated corporate costs increased versus the prior year on $28 million in higher legal fees and $14 million in higher financing costs, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.

In Corporate for year-to-date 2024, unallocated corporate costs increased versus the prior year on higher global technology investments to support digital transformation efforts, $75 million in increased legal fees, and $33 million in increased financing costs, partially offset by lower incentive compensation. Other Corporate was unfavorable compared to the prior year period due to investment valuation losses partially offset by foreign currency gains.

Outlook³

The Company affirmed its previously provided EPS guidance for the full year. ADM expects adjusted earnings per share^1,2 in the range of $4.50 to $5.00 for the full year 2024 based on trends in ADM’s performance to date, legislative and regulatory policy uncertainties, and ongoing headwinds from slower market demand and internal operational challenges.

Within the reportable segments, for the fourth quarter compared to the prior year period, the Company anticipates lower year-over-year segment operating profit in AS&O, as an improved environment in Ag Services is expected to be more than offset by lower margins in Crushing and Refined Products & Other. In Carbohydrate Solutions, solid demand and margins in North American Starches & Sweeteners and strong fundamentals in ethanol are expected to be offset by moderating wheat milling margins, leading to fourth quarter segment operating profit that is roughly in-line with the prior year period. In Nutrition, the Company anticipates the fourth quarter operating profit will be higher than the prior year period, but lower than the third quarter of 2024, due to softer consumer demand, lower texturants pricing, and ongoing operational challenges, including prolonged downtime at Decatur East.

Wilmar

GAAP earnings include a reduction in the carrying value of the Wilmar equity investment to reflect the Singapore Exchange trading price as of the balance sheet date. The reduction resulted from a determination that declines in the valuation amount for our investment are impaired on an “other than temporary” basis as of the end of the quarter. This has resulted in a non-cash charge against GAAP earnings for the third quarter of 2024 of $461 million. The Company is continuing to evaluate trends in the trading price of our Wilmar equity investment and the potential for future charges that could result.

Restated Financial Statements

As previously disclosed, following ongoing dialogue with the staff of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company concluded that it would amend the Company’s fiscal year 2023 Form 10-K (the “FY2023 Form 10-K”) and Form 10-Q for the first and second quarters of 2024 (collectively, the “Q1 and Q2 2024 Form 10-Qs”). The Company has now filed the amended FY2023 Form 10-K and the amended Q1 and Q2 2024 Form 10-Qs, which contain the restated financial statements for each of the periods included in those filings, including fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023 in the FY2023 Form 10-K and each of the quarterly and year-to-date periods included in the Q1 and Q2 2024 Form 10-Qs (collectively, the “Restatements”). Because the transactions affected by the restatement occurred between the Company’s reporting segments, the restatement had no impact on ADM’s consolidated balance sheet, earnings, or cash flows for the periods presented in the restated filings.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a webcast on December 3, 2024 at 8 a.m. Central Time to discuss financial results and outlook. To listen to the webcast, go to www.adm.com/webcast. A replay of the webcast will also be available for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.