The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) announces financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Financial Highlights:

"Trade had an excellent fourth quarter, with an early harvest, where we were able to accumulate higher-than-normal quality grain at good basis values. We also saw some improved merchandising opportunities and good results in our premium ingredients business. We are integrating Skyland Grain, LLC locations into our trade flows and this report includes two months of results from that recent investment. Renewables also had a very solid quarter but could not duplicate 2023 despite record ethanol production due to lower ethanol prices and co-product values. In Nutrient & Industrial, we had year-over-year improvement led by our manufactured product lines that helped offset soft ag supply chain results due to limited farmer engagement," said President and CEO Bill Krueger. "In these changing ag markets, I'm proud of our team."

"Looking forward, we see continued regulatory and geopolitical uncertainties coupled with potentially challenging agricultural economics. We also see signs of opportunity. We currently expect a significant increase in planted corn acres and continuing strong ethanol exports. Our mix of North American agribusiness and ethanol production assets along with our strength in merchandising, positions us well to withstand downward pressures from these market shifts," added Krueger. "In addition to the recent Skyland Grain investment, we are making progress on several longer-term capital investments that will enhance future results. We also continue to actively pursue growth in the Renewables space, both by lowering the carbon intensity of our ethanol plants as well as evaluating expansion and acquisition opportunities. In December, we announced some changes to improve the alignment of our commercial teams to serve our customers even better, gain operational efficiencies, and continue to drive growth. We are excited about the new Agribusiness and Renewables teams and are working hard to achieve our growth strategy." 

Cash, Liquidity, and Long-Term Debt Management

"Our businesses continued to generate solid operating cash flows into the fourth quarter. Our cash flows and lower commodity prices resulted in a cash position of more than $560 million at the end of the year. In addition, our debt remains at a modest level, inclusive of debt acquired as part of the Skyland Grain investment," said Executive Vice President and CFO Brian Valentine. "Our long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.8 times is still well below our stated target of 2.5 times. We were pleased to be able to deploy more capital during the quarter and anticipate increased spending on some of the previously announced growth projects in 2025."

The company generated $269 million and $251 million in cash from operating activities for the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively, and generated $100 million and $122 million in cash from operations before working capital changes for the same periods, respectively.

For the full years of 2024 and 2023, the company generated $332 million and $947 million in cash from operating activities, respectively. Cash from operations before working capital changes for the same years was $323 million and $330 million even with the changing ag markets.

Fourth Quarter Segment Overview

Trade Posts Record Fourth Quarter Driven by Solid Operations

Trade recorded pretax income and adjusted pretax income attributable to the company of $54 million for the quarter, compared to pretax income of $44 million and adjusted pretax income of $47 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year.

Solid elevation margins and space income in core grain assets on an early and robust harvest drove results. The merchandising businesses realized improvements over the prior year, despite limited volatility in the grain markets. The premium ingredients business had another consistent and profitable quarter.

The portfolio mix of assets, ingredients, and merchandising businesses provides a solid foundation to benefit from large crops and carry markets, as well as tight, demand-driven markets. With a lower-than-expected corn carryout at the end of the year, an inverse has returned to the corn markets, which could result in an increase in corn acres planted and increased volatility in 2025. Domestic premium ingredient demand is also expected to stay solid and should continue to support recent capital growth investments.

Trade's fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA was $76 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $62 million. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA was $161 million in 2024, compared to $155 million in 2023.

Renewables Reports Solid Quarter on Efficient Operations

The Renewables segment reported pretax income of $25 million and pretax income attributable to the company of $16 million in the fourth quarter compared to pretax income of $60 million and pretax income attributable to the company of $33 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Fourth quarter results were down from a prior year record, as ethanol board crush margins were down $0.16/gallon and co-product values traded lower on reduced corn prices and weaker corn oil values.  Partially offsetting these headwinds, the four ethanol plants continued to run efficiently, with record fourth quarter production, and reduced input cost, including lower corn basis of $0.09/gallon year-over-year. Third-party ethanol merchandising also saw improved profitability in 2024.

While spot ethanol crush margins are generally seasonally soft in the first quarter, a portion of first quarter volumes have been hedged at favorable levels. While there remains regulatory uncertainty, elevated export demand, upcoming planned maintenance in the industry, and the spring driving rebound should all support improved plant economics. Co-product values may also see improvement as there has been a recent rebound in corn values.

Renewables recorded EBITDA of $40 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 2023 fourth quarter EBITDA of $73 million. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA was $189 million in 2024, compared to $230 million 2023.

Nutrient & Industrial Shows Improvement on Prior Year

Nutrient & Industrial recorded pretax income and pretax income attributable to the company of $3 million in the fourth quarter, an improvement from the prior year. The increased results are primarily due to improvements in manufactured products and one-time prior year expenses that did not repeat. Core agriculture product lines were down year-over-year on softer industry fundamentals. With high yields during harvest pulling more nutrients from the soil and an expected increase in corn acres planted, there may be an opportunity for increased volume in 2025.

Nutrient & Industrial's current quarter EBITDA was $13 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $11 million in 2023. For the full year, Nutrient & Industrial recorded EBITDA of $57 million in 2024, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $62 million in 2023.

Income Taxes

The company recorded income tax expense at an effective rate of 20% for the fourth quarter and 15% for the year. This rate was impacted by the tax treatment of noncontrolling interests and federal tax credits; a significant portion are biofuel tax credits related to the production of cellulosic ethanol.

Conference Call

The company will host a webcast on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET, to discuss its performance and provide its outlook for 2025. To access the call, please dial 888-317-6003 or 412-317-6061 (international toll) and use elite entry number: 3381023. It is recommended that you call 10 minutes before the conference call begins. 

To access the webcast, click on the link: https://app.webinar.net/k56MoWjneK8 and submit the requested information as directed. A replay of the call can also be accessed under the heading "Investors" on the company's website at www.andersonsinc.com.    

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Without limitation, these risks include economic, weather and regulatory conditions, competition, geopolitical risk, and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which the financial information and its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct.

Non-GAAP Measures

This release contains non-GAAP financial measures. The company believes that pretax income (loss) attributable to the company; adjusted pretax income (loss) attributable to the company; adjusted pretax income (loss); adjusted net income attributable to the company; adjusted diluted earnings per share; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (or EBITDA); adjusted EBITDA; and cash from operations before working capital changes provide additional information to investors and others about its operations, allowing an evaluation of underlying operating performance and liquidity and better period-to-period comparability. The above measures are not and should not be considered as alternatives to pretax income (loss) or income (loss) before income taxes, net income (loss), diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders and cash provided by (used in) operating activities as determined by generally accepted accounting principles. Reconciliations of the GAAP to non-GAAP measures may be found within this press release and the financial tables provided herein.

Company Description

The Andersons, Inc., named in 2024 as one of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times and one of America's Climate Leaders by USA Today, is a diversified company rooted in agriculture that conducts business in the agribusiness and renewables sectors. Guided by its Statement of Principles, The Andersons is committed to providing extraordinary service to its customers, helping its employees improve, supporting its communities, and increasing the value of the company. For more information, please visit www.andersonsinc.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE The Andersons, Inc.

SOURCE: The Andersons, Inc.

Investor Relations Contact: Mike Hoelter, Vice President, Corporate Controller and
Investor Relations, Phone: 419-897-6715, E-mail: investorrelations@andersonsinc.com

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