MATTHEW PERRONE
AP Health Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Agriculture business giant Monsanto Co. reported a wider-than-expected loss Wednesday for its fourth quarter on higher expenses, including a one-time legal settlement.
The company’s earnings forecast for 2015 also fell short of analysts’ expectations as Monsanto said it expects “continued industry headwinds.”
Monsanto has dominated the bioengineered-seed business for years and recently began developing products specifically for emerging markets like Argentina, Brazil and parts of Asia. The company is also making investments in computerized tools for the agricultural sector.
For the quarter ended Aug. 31, Monsanto reported a loss of $156 million, or 31 cents per share, compared with a loss of $249 million, or 47 cents per share, in the same period last year.
The loss came despite higher sales of the company’s two key business units, genetically-engineered seeds and herbicide.
The company’s results included a one-time payment to settle an environmental legal case. Without that payment the company would have lost 27 cents per share.
That was still below the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research, which predicted a loss of 24 cents per share.
Quarterly revenue increased more than 19 percent to $2.63 billion in the period, beating Wall Street forecasts. Analysts expected $2.42 billion, according to Zacks.
In the last quarter sales of biotech seeds increased 16 percent to $1.38 billion. Sales of the company’s herbicide and agricultural products grew 23 percent to $1.25 billion.
For full-year 2015 the company is looking for earnings in the range of $5.75 to $6. Executives cautioned that its first quarter 2015 earnings would likely be half the level of its first quarter 2014 results, due to reduced seed planting in key markets and other seasonal factors. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of $6.02 for fiscal 2015.
Monsanto shares edged up 26 cents to $108 in late morning trading Wednesday. Its shares have declined 7 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index has increased almost 5 percent.
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