In my endeavors to locate a more reasonably priced security I came upon Archer Daniels Midland. ADM is a global food processing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company processes corn, wheat, cocoa, soybeans, and other food products. ADM also manufactures a wide variety of food related products including oils, protein meal, feeds, flour, and even ethanol. As a dividend investor I like companies who offer necessities. Food, after all, is a necessity!
ADM is also a “dividend champion” raising their dividend for more than 25 consecutive years! As of now the company pays out $0.30 per quarter, representing just over a 3% yield. In addition, I liked how the company’s EPS and dividend grew, even during the Great Recession. EPS was $2.84 in 2008 and $3.06 in 2009. Value Line rated the security with an A+ with financial strength and a “2” for safety. They project the share price to be between $50-65 by 2019/2021; a potential annual return around 11-17%. As of now the company’s P/E is slightly below its historical average. ADM may very well be close to its fair value. Below is a recent quote:
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Unfortunately there are some concerns. Value Line ranked ADM as a “4” for timeliness and a “3” for technical. Essentially, Value Line’s analysts believe ADM could underperform relative to other stocks the company covers. These ratings are likely due to currency headwinds, low demand for ADM’s products, and declining commodity prices. These issues are reflected in ADMs earnings with recent declines in EPS.
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The company intends to offset these challenges with millions in expense reductions. ADM is also looking to expand its product portfolio. They are in the process of acquiring a facility in Morocco that produces glucose and starch. The company also intends on buying a large stake in Harvest Innovations. Harvest Innovations specializes in minimally processed soy proteins, oils, and gluten free ingredients.
Overall, I see ADM as a positive addition to my portfolio. It doesn’t appear overly expensive and the financials look solid. The company carries an above average dividend yield of 3.1% and has had decades of uninterrupted payments. More importantly we’re talking about food! If ADM does go out of a business we’ll probably have bigger problems to deal with. With that in mind, I went ahead and put an order to buy 55 shares at market open.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed investment advisor or tax professional. I am not liable for any losses incurred by any parties. This blog should be viewed for entertainment and/or educational purposes only. Any transactions published are not recommendations to buy or sell any securities. Please consult with an investment professional before making investment decisions.
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