Agriculture Earnings

There are 4 agriculture stocks releasing earnings this Thursday. I want to take a look at them.

UPDATE: I guess AGU isn't really reporting earnings on Thursday. The best estimate I have is from earnings.com 7-Feb-08 - 14-Feb-08

AGU
Agrium - produces and markets agricultural nutrients, industrial products, and specialty fertilizers worldwide, as well as involves in the retail supply of agricultural products and services in North and South Americas.

PE: 40
2007 PE: 21.2
2008 PE: 14.11

EPS estimate: 0.87, vs -0.47 last year
Revenue estimate: 1220.23 vs 899.0 last year

Wow, look at that expected growth. Also, almost all the analysts following it have an outperform rating on it. Now lets look at the chart.



Unfortunately, it is not close to any support, but I suppose that does not matter with an earnings release. The only significant thing I see is a possible head and shoulder formation that would complete with a sell off after earnings.

TRA
Terra Industries - engages in the production and marketing of nitrogen and methanol products for agricultural and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
engages in the production and marketing of nitrogen and methanol products for agricultural and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

PE: 32
2007 PE: 17.8
2008 PE: 10.66

EPS Estimate: 0.64 vs 0.1 last year
Revenue Estimate: 539.0 vs 450.0 last year

I am not sure if the revenue estimate is accurate since it is from one analyst, but the EPS grow is phenomenal. The analyst have high ratings on this stock as well.

The chart looks very similar to AGU


SYT
Syngenta - an agribusiness company, operates in crop protection and seeds businesses. It operates in three segments: Crop Protection, Seeds, and Plant Science.

PE: 39
2007 PE: 23.6
2008 PE: 20.8

EPS Estimate: 2.26 vs -4.8 last year
Revenue Estimate: 2695.0 vs 2718.0 last year

They are based in Switzerland so they report only twice a year. I am not sure how accurate any of the numbers are since there are very few analysts covering the stock. Bear Stearns just initiated on this stock with an "Outperform" rating, however LEH, GS and UBS have neutral ratings on it.

Similar looking chart.


BG
Bunge - engages in the agriculture and food business. It operates in three segments: Agribusiness, Fertilizer, and Food Products.

PE: 20
2007 PE: 21.6
2008 PE: 18.3

EPS Estimate: 1.49 vs 2.09
Revenue Estimate: 11939.1 vs 7683.0

Thats some nice growth. Most analysts have a neutral rating on it.



The stock is very close to its 52 week high, so a bad earnings could bring it down pretty hard.

PTR - Head and Shoulders

PetroChina Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum and natural gas related activities in the People's Republic of China. It operates in four segments: Exploration and Production, Refining and Marketing, Chemicals and Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline.



This is a nice head and shoulder if I have every seen one. The high was at 266, now we are at 140, thats almost a 50% loss!!! And we aren't even at the lows of the head and shoulder formation. The pattern predicts the stock will hit 100 soon, but given the downside action in the stock the last few months, this could be very speculative.