More gains ahead

Article Excerpt

MONSANTO CO. $101 (New York symbol MON, Aggressive Growth Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 533.8 million; Market cap: $53.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.7; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.monsanto.com) reported that its sales in the three months ended May 31, 2013 rose 0.7%, to $4.25 billion from $4.22 billion a year earlier. Sales of genetically modified seeds (72% of total sales) fell 2.4% on weaker demand for its soybean and cotton seeds. However, sales at the Agricultural Productivity division (28%) rose 9.4% due to higher selling prices for its Roundup weed killer. Due to higher costs to make its seeds, earnings in the quarter fell 3.4%, to $1.68 a share from $1.74 a year earlier. If you exclude a one-time tax charge, earnings per share rose 1.8%, to $1.66 from $1.63. The company is a major target for environmental activists and vandals opposed to genetically modified foods. That adds to its risk. However, the worldwide need…