Topic: Growth Stocks

Wall Street Stock Forecaster Hotline – Friday, April 4, 2014

Article Excerpt

MONSANTO CO., $114.28, New York symbol MON, sells technology-based agricultural products, such as genetically modified seeds, to farmers, grain processors and food companies. It also sells weed- and pest-control products. In the second quarter of its 2014 fiscal year, which ended February 28, 2014, Monsanto earned $1.7 billion, up 12.6% from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 15.0%, to $3.15 from $2.74, on fewer shares outstanding. That beat the consensus forecast of $3.07. Sales gained 6.6%, to $5.83 billion from $5.47 billion. That also beat the consensus sales forecast of $5.8 billion. Seed sales (which account for 80% of Monsanto’s total) rose 6.9%. That’s mainly due to a 21.1% jump in soybean seed sales. Sales of corn seeds rose at a slower pace of 4.1%, as last year’s record U.S. corn harvest has hurt corn prices. However, improving demand in Eastern Europe should spur corn seed sales in the second half of fiscal 2014. Sales of other agricultural products, like…