ADM Reports Net Earnings of $712 Million in Second Quarter, Operating Profit Up More Than 40%

Chicago, IL — Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) reported net earnings of $712 million in its second-quarter financial report on Tuesday, July 27. Segment operating profit was up more than 40% at $1.145 billion, led by Ag Services and Oilseeds at $570 million.

“It was yet another excellent quarter for ADM, as our team delivered record earnings, with strong year-over-year profit growth across all three business units,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano.

“This is a very different ADM than even a few short years ago, and our transformation is far from over. Our productivity efforts are powering our execution, and — combined with our unparalleled global footprint and strong risk management — supported outstanding results in both Ag Services & Oilseeds and Carbohydrate Solutions.


Subscribe here for Grain E-News delivered to your inbox every Thursday. 📧


"And we’re driving innovation, which helped support record top-line and bottom-line results in Nutrition; in fact, we are now raising our expectations of full-year profit growth for Nutrition to 20 percent.

“We’re excited about our growth trajectory as we continue to expand our participation in large and fast-growing categories, from alternative proteins to renewable green diesel to plant-based biosolutions, with all of our strategic efforts underpinned by our unique opportunity to use ADM’s integrated value chain to advance decarbonization of the food and agriculture industries.

"Given our great start to the year and our expectation of continued momentum in the second half, we are confident in delivering very strong full-year earnings, and we remain well-positioned for robust, sustained growth in the years to come.”

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights

(Amounts in millions except per share amounts)

2021

2020

Earnings per share (as reported)

$

1.26

$

0.84

Adjusted earnings per share1

$

1.33

$

0.85

Segment operating profit

$

1,145

$

813

Adjusted segment operating profit1

$

1,160

$

804

Ag Services and Oilseeds

570

413

Carbohydrate Solutions

383

195

Nutrition

201

158

Other Business

6

38

  • Q2 2021 EPS as reported of $1.26 includes a $0.16 per share charge related to asset impairment and non-cash pension settlement, a $0.06 per share gain related to the mark-to-market adjustment on the Wilmar exchangeable bond, and a $0.03 gain related to the sale of certain assets. Adjusted EPS, which excludes these items, was $1.33.1

1 Non-GAAP financial measures; see pages 5, 10, 11 and 12 for explanations and reconciliations, including after-tax amounts.

Quarterly Results of Operations

Ag Services & Oilseeds delivered operating profits almost 40 percent higher than the previous year’s quarter.

  • Ag Services results were higher year over year. The North American origination business effectively managed its positions in a dynamic pricing environment, and also delivered significantly higher export volumes, driven by corn sales to China. South American origination was impacted by slower farmer selling and high commodity prices, which impacted contract fulfillment. Global trade performance was lower than the strong second quarter of 2020, with results driven partially by timing impacts that should reverse.
  • Crushing had substantially higher year-over-year results. The business executed well in an environment of strong vegetable oil demand to deliver higher execution margins in North American soy and EU softseeds. Results were partially offset by weaker soybean crush margins in South America. In addition, there were approximately $70 million in net incremental negative timing effects, which should reverse in the coming quarters.
  • Refined Products and Other results were significantly higher than the prior-year period, driven by continued recovery in foodservice as well as positive timing effects in North America, partially offset by impacts of the reduction in Brazilian biodiesel mandates.
  • Equity earnings from Wilmar were higher year over year.

Carbohydrate Solutions results were almost double those of the prior-year period.

  • Starches and Sweeteners, including ethanol production from our wet mills, delivered substantially higher year-over-year results, driven by about $90 million in positioning gains across the ethanol complex in a highly dynamic environment, as well as more normalized results from corn oil. Sweetener volumes were higher, reflecting the beginnings of a recovery in demand from the foodservice channel. Ethanol margins improved versus the prior-year period, driven by a resurgence in driving miles in the U.S.
  • Vantage Corn Processors results were much higher than the second quarter of 2020, supported by the resumption of production at our two dry mills, improved fuel ethanol margins and favorable performance in USP-grade industrial alcohol from our Peoria complex.

Nutrition delivered a record Q2, with 15 percent revenue growth and 27 percent higher year-over-year profits.

  • Human Nutrition revenues were 13 percent higher than the second quarter of last year on a constant currency basis, and operating profits were up 24 percent. In North America and EMEA, the flavors business delivered strong volumes and improved product mix, particularly in the beverage segment. Specialty Ingredients delivered strong sales growth in specialty proteins, though results were lower due to certain one-time costs, mainly in texturants. In Health & Wellness, stronger sales and margins in probiotics were offset by higher costs in fibers due to planned facility downtime.
  • Animal Nutrition revenue was 17 percent higher year over year on a constant currency basis and profits were up 44 percent as improved demand and margins in amino acids, strength in feed additives and ingredients, and better performance in EMEA more than offset COVID-19 and labor-related impacts in other regions.

Other Business results were substantially lower than the prior-year period, driven primarily by captive insurance underwriting losses, most of which were offset by corresponding recoveries in other business segments.


Related Articles:

Grain Talk Podcast: Cargill's Ben Fargher on Climate Leadership, Sustainability, and Regenerative Agriculture

Webinar Recording: Lunch Box Safety Talk: Combustible Dust Explosion Prevention Strategies

Grain Talk Podcast: Margaret Barber Shares How Port of Coos Bay, OR, Is Poised For Grain Export Growth