Archer adds value with new products

Article Excerpt

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $42 (New York symbol ADM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 587.6 million; Market cap: $24.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, canola, flax seed, peanuts and other crops to make a variety of food ingredients such as flour, oils and sweeteners. It’s also the largest maker of ethanol from corn in the U.S. To cut its exposure to volatile crop prices, Archer continues to expand into value-added products. For example, the company recently paid $84 million for 90% of Harvest Innovations. This firm processes soy and oils for gluten-free pastas and other foods. Archer will buy the remaining 10% in the next two years. The company also paid an undisclosed sum for a plant in Morocco that makes sweeteners from corn. The purchase will help expand its share of the global sweeteners’ market. In addition, a plan to improve efficiency should cut…