Monsanto’s Fertile Quarter and Growing Outlook

Monsanto’s chairman/CEO said:

We’ve achieved a successful start to the year, with contributions from multiple areas that speaks to the strength of our global business and provides confidence in our ability to realize a third consecutive year of significant growth.

Monsanto raised its full-year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $4.18 to $4.32 to a new range of $4.30 to $4.40. The consensus estimate for full-year EPS had been $4.43. The company noted that its EPS and free cash flow guidance “does not include an estimated historical range of $0.20 to $0.25 of EPS contribution related to the Roundup Ready soybean business in Brazil ….” Adding in the Brazilian data boosts Monsanto’s anticipated EPS to a low of $4.50 and a high of $4.65.

Monsanto’s shares are up about 4.7% in premarket trading this morning, at $100.45, above the company’s 52-week high if it holds. The current 52-week range is $69.70 to $96.71. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of $101.65 before today’s report.