MON - Monsanto

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Monsanto Company is a publicly traded American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation headquartered in Creve Coeur, Greater St. Louis, Missouri. It is a leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed and Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide. Monsanto's role in agricultural changes, biotechnology products, lobbying of government agencies, and history as a chemical company have made the company controversial.

Founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny, Monsanto initially produced food additives like saccharin and vanillin, expanded into industrial chemicals like sulfuric acid and PCBs in the 1920s, and by the 1940s was a major producer of plastics, including polystyrene and synthetic fibers. Notable achievements by Monsanto and its scientists as a chemical company included breakthrough research on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and being the first company to mass-produce light emitting diodes (LEDs). The company also formerly manufactured controversial products such as the insecticide DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and recombinant bovine somatotropin (a.k.a. bovine growth hormone).

Monsanto was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell, as one of four groups announcing the introduction of genes into plants in 1983, and was among the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops, which it did in 1987. It remained one of the top 10 U.S. chemical companies until it divested most of its chemical businesses between 1997 and 2002, through a process of mergers and spin-offs that focused the company on biotechnology.

Monsanto was one of the first companies to apply the biotechnology industry business model to agriculture, using techniques developed by Genentech and other biotech drug companies in the late 1970s in California.:2–6 In this business model, companies invest heavily in research and development, and recoup the expenses through the use and enforcement of biological patents. Its seed patenting model has also been criticized as biopiracy and a threat to biodiversity.

 

Monsanto Falls Short on Earnings but Lifts Guidance

Monsanto Co. (MON) reported its fiscal second-quarter financial results before the markets opened Wednesday. The company said it had $2.42 in earnings per share (EPS) on $4.53 billion in revenue, which compares to consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters of $2.44 in EPS on revenue of $4.76 billion. In the same period of last year, it posted EPS of $2.89 and $5.20 billion in revenue.

The company updated its fiscal year 2016 as-reported EPS guidance to be in the range of $3.72 to $4.48 per share, primarily due to a change in the expected timing for the accounting of restructuring expenses. The company confirmed ongoing EPS guidance in the range of $4.40 to $5.10 per share. Monsanto’s guidance incorporates the anticipated continuation of several global and industry headwinds, including the expected $0.90 to $1.00 of currency headwinds. Consensus estimates call for $4.65 in EPS on $13.88 billion in revenue for the fiscal year.

During this past quarter, Monsanto continued to execute on key initiatives within its core business, led by new global corn hybrid portfolio introductions, significant Intacta RR2 PRO soybean adoption, launch of its new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend varieties and continued progress within its digital agriculture platform with a series of extended partnerships.

The company also completed its $3 billion accelerated share repurchase agreements.

Hugh Grant, chairman and CEO of Monsanto, commented:
We continue to have a strong growth plan, backed by our commitment to delivering value to our customers through the industry’s most-proven integrated pipeline. Not only does this give us the confidence that we can deliver a baseline EPS CAGR in the mid-teens from the mid-point of our fiscal year 2016 guidance through fiscal year 2019, but it fuels our belief that we can continue to be the innovation engine for the industry and the partner of choice in leading agricultural solutions.

On the books, the company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.06 billion, compared to $3.75 billion at the end of the previous fiscal year.

Shares of Monsanto closed Tuesday down 0.6% at $86.10, with a consensus analyst price target of $99.84 and a 52-week trading range of $81.22 to $123.82.

LINK - http://247wallst.com/commodities-me...o-falls-short-on-earnings-but-lifts-guidance/

 

Big gainer today (up nearly 5% so far today) and up and over the 200MA. Will see if it closes there.

 

Monsanto to reject $62 billion Bayer takeover bid, seek higher price
Monsanto Co will reject Bayer AG's $62 billion acquisition bid and seek a higher price, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Read full article here: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...yer-takeover-bid-seek-higher-price/ar-BBtpORe

 

Reported before open today (6/29/16)
Earnings: EPS $2.17 Revenue $4.19B
Estimates: EPS $2.40 Revenue $4.49B

Up 2.38% today so far

 

Ex-Div-Date: 7/6/16
Payment Date: 7/29/16
Dividend: $0.54
Current Price: $103.41
Annual Yield: 2.09%