EmailMonsanto (MON $64.27 +1.02) reported fourth quarter loss of $0.22 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.05 better than the Capital IQ Consensus Estimate of ($0.27).
Revenues rose 15.1% year/year to $2.25 billion versus the $1.91 billion consensus.
The company issued upside guidance for the first quarter with EPS of $0.10-0.15, excluding non-recurring items, versus the $0.08 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. The company issued in-line guidance for fiscal year 2012 with EPS of $3.34-3.44, excluding non-recurring items, versus the $3.42 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
The Seeds and Genomics segment, which saw significant gross profit increase in 2011 and represents the growth area for Monsanto's business in fiscal year 2012 and beyond, is expected to deliver both single digit percentage unit volume growth and continued mix improvement. The company expects Seeds and Genomics gross profit in the range of $5.7 billion to $5.85 billion for the year, with unit volume growth complemented by mix from both germplasm and trait upgrades globally. Gross profit for the Agricultural Productivity segment is expected at roughly $800 million. The company projects free cash flow in the range of $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2012.
