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AGCO Corp (AGCO) Misses on Q4 Earnings, Issues 2018 View
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AGCO Corporation (AGCO - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of $1.10 per share in fourth-quarter 2017, up 55% from 84 cents per share recorded in fourth-quarter 2016. However, earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11.
Including restructuring and other infrequent expenses, the company reported earnings of 55 cents per share in the quarter compared to 77 cents per share reported in the prior-year quarter.
AGCO generated revenues of $2.53 billion, up 20.7% from $2.09 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter. Additionally, revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.39 billion. Excluding favorable currency translation impacts of approximately 5.9%, net sales climbed approximately 14.8% year over year.
AGCO Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cost of sales went up 19% to $2 billion from the year-earlier quarter. Gross profit came in at $531 million in the quarter, jumping 26% from $420 million recorded in the year-earlier quarter. Gross margin came in at 21%, expanding 100 basis points (bps) year over year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses flared up 23% year over year to $277 million. Adjusted income from operations surged 48.3% year over year to $145 million. Consequently, operating margin advanced 100 bps year over year to 5.7%.
Segment Performance
Sales at the North America segment increased 18.9% year over year to $531.8 million in the fourth quarter. The segment reported operating income of $12 million, as against loss of $4.9 million incurred in the year-ago quarter.
Sales at the South America segment climbed 2.5% year over year to $315.9 million. The segment reported operating income of $0.7 million compared to $13.6 million recorded in the year-earlier quarter.
The EAME (Europe/ Africa/ Middle East) segment’s sales came in at $1,434.6 million, up 25.9% from the year-ago quarter. EAME’s operating income climbed 34% to $163.4 million from $122 million reported in the prior-year quarter.
Sales at the Asia/Pacific segment jumped 23% year over year to $245 million from $199 million recorded a year ago. The segment reported income of $25.6 million, up a whopping 126.5% from the year-ago quarter.
2017 Performance
AGCO reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.02 in 2017, up 22.3% from $2.47 per share recorded in the prior year. Earnings came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Including one-time items, the bottom line came in at $2.32, up 18% from $1.96 recorded in 2016.
Revenues were up 12% year over year to $8.3 billion from $7.4 billion recorded in 2016. Revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.1 billion.
Financial Update
AGCO reported cash and cash equivalents of $367.7 million at the end of fourth-quarter 2017, down from $429.7 million at 2016 end. Cash flow from operations came in at $577.6 million in 2017 compared to $369.5 million recorded last year.
Guidance
AGCO guided that its net sales for 2018 will be around $9.1 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 9.6%. This is backed by improved sales volumes, positive pricing, as well as acquisition and foreign currency translation impacts. AGCO expects its earnings per share in 2018 will be around $3.50. It also anticipates gross and operating margins to improve from the 2017 levels, driven by the positive impact of pricing and cost-reduction efforts, partially offset by elevated engineering expenses.
AGCO remains optimistic about industry conditions in 2018 which have been trending positively from the lower end of the agricultural equipment cycle in key markets. Further, the company will continue to make long-term investments to raise the efficiency of factories, improve service levels and strengthen product offerings. It will also remain focused on cost management which will aid margins.
AGCO projects industry tractor sales to be relatively flat in 2018 compared to the previous year, with some modest improvements in combines and hay equipment. Farm income in 2018 is expected to improve modestly driven primarily by better dairy economics and higher 2017 wheat production. Thus, the company expects farmer sentiment to remain positive and 2018 demand to be relatively flat compared to prior-year levels.
AGCO projects its industry sales will be flat to modestly up in 2018 compared to 2017 in South America. Moreover, increasing demand for commodities, driven by the growing world population, rising emerging market protein consumption and biofuel use are anticipated to support elevated farm income over the long term.
Share Price Performance
Over the past year, AGCO has underperformed the industry with respect to price performance. The stock has gained around 5.2%, while the industry recorded growth of 37.2%.
Applied Industrial Technologies has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. Its shares have appreciated 23.6%, over the past six months.
Dover has a long-term earnings growth rate of 13%. The company’s shares have rallied 14.9% during the same time frame.
Deere has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.2%. The stock has gained 22.6% in six months’ time.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018
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Last year's 2017 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio produced double-digit winners, including FMC Corp. and VMware which racked up stellar gains of +67.9% and +61%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
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AGCO Corp (AGCO) Misses on Q4 Earnings, Issues 2018 View
AGCO Corporation (AGCO - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of $1.10 per share in fourth-quarter 2017, up 55% from 84 cents per share recorded in fourth-quarter 2016. However, earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11.
Including restructuring and other infrequent expenses, the company reported earnings of 55 cents per share in the quarter compared to 77 cents per share reported in the prior-year quarter.
AGCO generated revenues of $2.53 billion, up 20.7% from $2.09 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter. Additionally, revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.39 billion. Excluding favorable currency translation impacts of approximately 5.9%, net sales climbed approximately 14.8% year over year.
AGCO Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
AGCO Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | AGCO Corporation Quote
Operational Update
Cost of sales went up 19% to $2 billion from the year-earlier quarter. Gross profit came in at $531 million in the quarter, jumping 26% from $420 million recorded in the year-earlier quarter. Gross margin came in at 21%, expanding 100 basis points (bps) year over year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses flared up 23% year over year to $277 million. Adjusted income from operations surged 48.3% year over year to $145 million. Consequently, operating margin advanced 100 bps year over year to 5.7%.
Segment Performance
Sales at the North America segment increased 18.9% year over year to $531.8 million in the fourth quarter. The segment reported operating income of $12 million, as against loss of $4.9 million incurred in the year-ago quarter.
Sales at the South America segment climbed 2.5% year over year to $315.9 million. The segment reported operating income of $0.7 million compared to $13.6 million recorded in the year-earlier quarter.
The EAME (Europe/ Africa/ Middle East) segment’s sales came in at $1,434.6 million, up 25.9% from the year-ago quarter. EAME’s operating income climbed 34% to $163.4 million from $122 million reported in the prior-year quarter.
Sales at the Asia/Pacific segment jumped 23% year over year to $245 million from $199 million recorded a year ago. The segment reported income of $25.6 million, up a whopping 126.5% from the year-ago quarter.
2017 Performance
AGCO reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.02 in 2017, up 22.3% from $2.47 per share recorded in the prior year. Earnings came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Including one-time items, the bottom line came in at $2.32, up 18% from $1.96 recorded in 2016.
Revenues were up 12% year over year to $8.3 billion from $7.4 billion recorded in 2016. Revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.1 billion.
Financial Update
AGCO reported cash and cash equivalents of $367.7 million at the end of fourth-quarter 2017, down from $429.7 million at 2016 end. Cash flow from operations came in at $577.6 million in 2017 compared to $369.5 million recorded last year.
Guidance
AGCO guided that its net sales for 2018 will be around $9.1 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 9.6%. This is backed by improved sales volumes, positive pricing, as well as acquisition and foreign currency translation impacts. AGCO expects its earnings per share in 2018 will be around $3.50. It also anticipates gross and operating margins to improve from the 2017 levels, driven by the positive impact of pricing and cost-reduction efforts, partially offset by elevated engineering expenses.
AGCO remains optimistic about industry conditions in 2018 which have been trending positively from the lower end of the agricultural equipment cycle in key markets. Further, the company will continue to make long-term investments to raise the efficiency of factories, improve service levels and strengthen product offerings. It will also remain focused on cost management which will aid margins.
AGCO projects industry tractor sales to be relatively flat in 2018 compared to the previous year, with some modest improvements in combines and hay equipment. Farm income in 2018 is expected to improve modestly driven primarily by better dairy economics and higher 2017 wheat production. Thus, the company expects farmer sentiment to remain positive and 2018 demand to be relatively flat compared to prior-year levels.
AGCO projects its industry sales will be flat to modestly up in 2018 compared to 2017 in South America. Moreover, increasing demand for commodities, driven by the growing world population, rising emerging market protein consumption and biofuel use are anticipated to support elevated farm income over the long term.
Share Price Performance
Over the past year, AGCO has underperformed the industry with respect to price performance. The stock has gained around 5.2%, while the industry recorded growth of 37.2%.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
AGCO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the same sector include Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT - Free Report) , Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) and Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) . While Applied Industrial Technologies and Dover sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Deere carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Applied Industrial Technologies has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. Its shares have appreciated 23.6%, over the past six months.
Dover has a long-term earnings growth rate of 13%. The company’s shares have rallied 14.9% during the same time frame.
Deere has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.2%. The stock has gained 22.6% in six months’ time.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2018?
Last year's 2017 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio produced double-digit winners, including FMC Corp. and VMware which racked up stellar gains of +67.9% and +61%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018 today >>