Our Research


November 4, 2024

Tougher Sledding, but BG Should Manage Well

By Heather Jones

BG reported Q3 EPS upside driven, relative to HJR, largely by lower-than-expected corporate expense and a MTM tax true-up benefit. It tweaked guidance to ‘at least’ $9.25 from ~$9.25 despite lower-than-expected Q3 results and the…

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November 4, 2024

Q4 Could be Volatile, but 2025 pos

By Heather Jones

DAR’s Q3 results disappointed materially relative to both HJR and consensus estimates. The Food segment and DGD drove the shortfall, reflecting weaker-than-expected pricing in the former. Regarding the DGD shortfall, we are not clear on…

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October 23, 2024

Thoughts Into Earnings

By Heather Jones

Very elevated uncertainty is the overwhelming theme headed into Q3 earnings, whether that be related to biofuels policy (see our Ag Brief published yesterday), the Election or protein production. Below (cont’d pg 2) we offer…

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October 22, 2024

HJR Ag-Brief: Biofuels Outlook Update

By Heather Jones

Global, particularly domestic, biofuel markets are transitioning between two starkly different environments. U.S./European product/credit prices have been pressured by a weaker energy complex and excess credit inventories. Feedstock values have been stickier (much stronger yr/yr…

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October 15, 2024

GPRE: Updated Outlook, Est.

By Heather Jones

We have adjusted our Q3 and full-year 2024 estimates for GPRE, as well as our 2025 projection. Since we last updated estimates, the corn curve has moved higher, while ethanol has moved lower. That has…

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October 11, 2024

INGR: Updated Outlook, Est.

By Heather Jones

We believe Ingredion likely benefited from better-than-expected demand/margin conditions in its Mexico business during Q3 given a step up in HFCS demand there against a backdrop of broadly stronger beverage consumption. In addition, peer commentary…

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October 10, 2024

TSN: Updated Outlook, Estimates

By Heather Jones

Q4 beef and chicken fundamentals were better than we had anticipated; pork margins were better than expected, as well, but beef and chicken are the primary driver of our more constructive earnings outlook. We have…

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October 10, 2024

PPC: Updated Outlook, Estimates

By Heather Jones

In the U.S. chicken business, Q3 and early Q4 have played out in a very unusual way. Demand accelerated as the pivot within retail and foodservice away from beef grew more pronounced. Further, production has…

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October 9, 2024

CALM: Updated Outlook, Est.

By Heather Jones

Cal-Maine’s Q1 results disappointed relative to both HJR and consensus; relative to HJR, feed costs came in materially lower than our estimate, but were more than offset by lower-than-expected price realization. We had attempted to…

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October 8, 2024

DAR: Updated Outlook, Est.

By Heather Jones

2024 has been a banner year for highlighting the risks associated with businesses leveraged to government regulation/programs, even supportive ones. Despite the prospect of materially higher mandated demand in 2025, U.S. RD/BD margins have been…

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October 7, 2024

BG: Updated Est., Outlook

By Heather Jones

There have been shifts within the broader portfolio, but net/net, our Q3 view is not materially changed (up $0.01). Our full-yr estimate is higher, however, as the Q4 crush margin outlook is substantially improved. We…

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October 7, 2024

ADM: Q3, 2025 Preview

By Heather Jones

Despite a better-than-expected crush margin backdrop, we have reduced our Q3 and full-year 2024 estimates. Our Q3 goes to $1.17 ($1.42) and full-year to $5.11 ($5.26). We revised our Q4 estimate materially higher as we…

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October 4, 2024

HJR Protein Roundup: Helene Take

By Heather Jones

Given the ferocity of Hurricane Helene’s winds and its drenching rains, damage to the broiler industry that is concentrated in the Southeast is to be expected. The industry is no stranger to hurricane damage as…

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September 19, 2024

CALM: Updated Estimates; HPAI Yields Binary Thesis

By Heather Jones

Due to higher-than-expected egg prices, we have raised our Q1 estimate to $3.19 from $2.70 (cons $2.83) and our full-yr goes to $8.04 from $6.71. Pricing has fallen sharply over the past 2-3 weeks, but…

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September 13, 2024

HJR Protein Roundup: Production Outlook

By Heather Jones

2024 has borne a striking resemblance to 2014/2015 – sharp contraction in cattle herd (bottomed in 2014, down 9% from 2007 peak), dropping feed costs, bird flu and supply challenges within the broiler industry. This…

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