• Net earnings of $1.0 billion, adjusted net earnings of $1.1 billion
• Trailing four-quarter average adjusted ROIC of 13.6%

ADM (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.

“ADM delivered another very strong quarter to complete an outstanding year, and the strategic work we have done throughout 2022 has positioned us well for 2023 and beyond,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano.

“For the full year, we delivered adjusted EPS of $7.85, adjusted segment operating profit of $6.6 billion, and trailing four-quarter average adjusted ROIC of 13.6%. We generated cash from operations before working capital of $5.3 billion, giving us the opportunity to continue to invest in ADM while returning $2.3 billion to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. From Nutrition revenue growth that continues to outpace the industry; to Carbohydrates Solutions results that include 26% year-over-year revenue growth in BioSolutions; to an agile, global AS&O business that supported the global food system in the midst of challenging external forces, Team ADM delivered again in 2022.

“As we look ahead, we are strengthening our focus on controllable actions to mitigate the impact of market forces, and we will continue to improve our global capabilities to serve our customers. We are also increasing our investments in the decarbonization of some of our large production facilities to enable the evolution of our Carbohydrate Solutions segment, and investing in our future by empowering new food technology platforms to address evolving consumer preferences and longer-term food security needs. We remain committed to balanced capital allocation, which includes returning cash to shareholders. We are pleased to announce today that we’re raising our quarterly dividend by 12.5%, to $0.45 per share, representing our 50th consecutive year of dividend increases.”

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Q4 2022 EPS as reported of $1.84 includes a $0.10 per share charge related primarily to impairments, restructuring, and settlement contingencies; a $0.02 per share gain related to the sale of certain assets; and a $0.01 per share tax expense related to certain discrete items. Adjusted EPS, which excludes these items, was $1.93.¹

Quarterly Results of Operations

Ag Services & Oilseeds delivered substantially higher year-over-year results.

• Ag Services results were higher than the fourth quarter of 2021. Low water conditions reduced North American export volumes, partially offset by the South American team, which executed well to deliver higher margins and volumes. Global Trade results were lower than the strong fourth quarter of 2021, with lower ocean freight results partially offset by higher results in EMEA origination and destination marketing. The business benefited from a $110 million legal recovery related to the 2019 and 2020 closure of the Reserve, Louisiana, export facility.

• Crushing results were more than double those of the prior-year period. In North America, strong export volumes for soybean meal and growing domestic demand for renewable diesel contributed to strong margins. In EMEA, oil demand powered strong rapeseed margins, more than offsetting higher energy costs compared to the prior year. Expanding margins drove negative timing impacts in the quarter of approximately $40 million.

• RPO results were significantly higher year over year, as the business continued to execute well to meet demand for food oil, renewable diesel in the U.S. and biodiesel globally.

• Equity earnings from Wilmar were much higher versus the fourth quarter of 2021.

Carbohydrate Solutions results were substantially lower year over year.

• The Starches and Sweeteners subsegment, which includes ethanol production from our wet mills, delivered much higher year-over-year results. The North America business delivered solid volumes and strong margins in both starches and sweeteners, partially offsetting lower ethanol margins. The EMEA team effectively managed risk and delivered improved results on better margins in a continued dynamic environment. The global wheat milling business delivered higher margins driven by solid customer demand.

• Vantage Corn Processors results were substantially lower, as higher ethanol inventory levels pressured margins, especially compared to the very strong margin environment in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Nutrition delivered revenue growth of 7% for the quarter, and 11%¹ on a constant currency basis. Q4 operating profits were significantly lower than the prior-year quarter’s.

• Human Nutrition results were lower than those of the fourth quarter of 2021. Flavors results were similar to the prior year, as strong revenue growth helped offset demand fulfillment challenges. Specialty Ingredients continued to see strong demand for its product portfolio, including plant-based proteins, offset by inventory adjustments. Health & Wellness was higher year over year, driven primarily by the bioactives portfolio, including the results from the Deerland acquisition.

• Animal Nutrition results were substantially lower than the prior-year quarter, primarily due to lower margins in amino acids driven by recovery in the global supply of lysine; pet nutrition volumes were lower in Latin America, partially driven by demand fulfillment challenges. Feed results were stronger, driven by APAC and Latin America, partially offset by the impact of softer demand in EMEA.

Other Business results were significantly higher than the prior year. Higher short-term interest rates drove improved earnings in ADM Investor Services, and captive insurance experienced favorable underwriting results and lower claim settlements versus the prior year.

Other Items of Note

As additional information to help clarify underlying business performance, the table on page 10 includes reported earnings and EPS as well as adjusted earnings and EPS.

Segment operating profit of $1.6 billion for the quarter includes charges of $71 million ($0.09 per share) primarily related to impairments, restructuring and settlement contingencies, and gains of $17 million ($0.02 per share) related to the sale of certain assets.

In Corporate results, interest expense increased year over year on higher interest rates. Unallocated corporate costs were higher year over year due primarily to higher IT operating and project-related costs, and higher costs in the company’s centers of excellence. Other Corporate was favorable versus the prior year primarily due to higher contributions from foreign currency-related hedge activity and lower railroad maintenance expense. Corporate results also included losses related to the mark-to-market adjustment on the Wilmar exchangeable bond and severance totaling $6 million ($0.01 per share).

The effective tax rate for the quarter was approximately 16% compared to 21% in the prior year. The decreased rate was driven primarily by changes in the geographic mix of pretax earnings in addition to lower discrete tax expense versus the prior year. The full-year tax rate was 17%.

Dividend

ADM’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of 45.0 cents per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on March 2, 2023, to shareholders of record on Feb. 9, 2023. This is ADM’s 365th consecutive quarterly payment, a record of 91 years of uninterrupted dividends. As of Dec. 31, 2022, there were 547,069,584 shares of ADM common stock outstanding.

Note: Additional Facts and Explanations

Additional facts and explanations about results and industry environment can be found at the end of the ADM Q4 Earnings Presentation at www.adm.com/webcast.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a webcast on January 26, 2023, at 8 a.m. Central Time to discuss financial results and provide a company update. 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of our comments and materials in this presentation constitute forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. These statements and materials are based on many assumptions and factors that are subject to risk and uncertainties. ADM has provided additional information in its reports on file with the SEC concerning assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in this presentation, and you should carefully review the assumptions and factors in our SEC reports. To the extent permitted under applicable law, ADM assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

About ADM

ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. We’re a premier global human and animal nutrition company, delivering solutions today with an eye to the future. We’re blazing new trails in health and well-being as our scientists develop groundbreaking products to support healthier living. We’re a cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new future of plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace petroleum-based products. We’re an unmatched agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. And we’re a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Financial Tables Follow

Source: Corporate Release
Source: ADM