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Why You Should Retain Mosaic (MOS) Stock in Your Portfolio
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The Mosaic Company (MOS - Free Report) is benefiting from healthy demand for phosphate and potash and actions to improve its cost structure. However, softer fertilizer prices may weigh on its top line and margins.
The company’s shares are down 23.5% in a year compared with a 20.7% decline recorded by its industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Healthy Demand, Cost Cuts Aid MOS
Mosaic is well-placed to gain from strong demand for phosphate and potash, aided by favorable agricultural conditions. Attractive farm economics and improved affordability driving demand for fertilizers globally. Farmer economics remains attractive in most global growing regions on strong crop demand and affordable inputs.
Demand for grains and oilseeds remains high along with strong farm economics. Improved farmer affordability due to a pullback in prices of nutrients are also likely to continue to drive demand for fertilizers. Strong demand is expected to support the company’s sales volumes.
Per MOS, agricultural fundamentals are strong this year and farmers worldwide remain profitable notwithstanding the softening of corn and soybean prices. The expected transition from El Nino to La Nina could benefit regions like Southeast Asia, India and Brazil. Many growers in certain parts of the world, after years of reduced fertilizer use, are aiming to restore soil nutrients.
Mosaic is also taking actions to reduce costs amid a still-challenging operating environment. Its actions to improve its operating cost structure through transformation plans are expected to boost profitability. Mosaic remains on track with its cost-reduction plan announced last year, which is expected to drive $150 million in run-rate cost reductions by the end of 2025.
The company also remains committed to carrying out investments with high returns with moderate capital expenditures. It has completed the 800,000-ton MicroEssentials capacity conversions. The Esterhazy Hydrofloat project, which will add 400,000 tons in milling capacity, is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The construction of a new blending and distribution center in Palmeirante, Brazil is also expected to be completed in 2025.
Weak Prices to Weigh on Margins
Softer potash and phosphate prices may impact the company’s margins. Prices of phosphate and potash have retreated since the back half of 2022 from their peak levels attained in the first half riding on the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war and disruptions due to the sanctions in Belarus. Lower selling prices hurt sales and margins across the company’s Phosphate and Potash segments in the first quarter of 2024. Despite some recovery of late, weaker year-over-year fertilizer prices are expected to continue to weigh on the company’s profitability in the second quarter.
Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) , Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA - Free Report) and ATI Inc. (ATI - Free Report) .
Carpenter Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). CRS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters while matching it once, with the average earnings surprise being 15.1%. The company’s shares have soared roughly 89% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Axalta Coating Systems, carrying a Zacks Rank #1, has a projected earnings growth rate of 26.8% for the current year. In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for AXTA's current-year earnings has been revised upward by 5.9%. The company’s shares have gained roughly 8% in the past year.
ATI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). ATI beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 8.3%. The company’s shares have rallied around 34% in the past year.
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Why You Should Retain Mosaic (MOS) Stock in Your Portfolio
The Mosaic Company (MOS - Free Report) is benefiting from healthy demand for phosphate and potash and actions to improve its cost structure. However, softer fertilizer prices may weigh on its top line and margins.
The company’s shares are down 23.5% in a year compared with a 20.7% decline recorded by its industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Healthy Demand, Cost Cuts Aid MOS
Mosaic is well-placed to gain from strong demand for phosphate and potash, aided by favorable agricultural conditions. Attractive farm economics and improved affordability driving demand for fertilizers globally. Farmer economics remains attractive in most global growing regions on strong crop demand and affordable inputs.
Demand for grains and oilseeds remains high along with strong farm economics. Improved farmer affordability due to a pullback in prices of nutrients are also likely to continue to drive demand for fertilizers. Strong demand is expected to support the company’s sales volumes.
Per MOS, agricultural fundamentals are strong this year and farmers worldwide remain profitable notwithstanding the softening of corn and soybean prices. The expected transition from El Nino to La Nina could benefit regions like Southeast Asia, India and Brazil. Many growers in certain parts of the world, after years of reduced fertilizer use, are aiming to restore soil nutrients.
Mosaic is also taking actions to reduce costs amid a still-challenging operating environment. Its actions to improve its operating cost structure through transformation plans are expected to boost profitability. Mosaic remains on track with its cost-reduction plan announced last year, which is expected to drive $150 million in run-rate cost reductions by the end of 2025.
The company also remains committed to carrying out investments with high returns with moderate capital expenditures. It has completed the 800,000-ton MicroEssentials capacity conversions. The Esterhazy Hydrofloat project, which will add 400,000 tons in milling capacity, is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The construction of a new blending and distribution center in Palmeirante, Brazil is also expected to be completed in 2025.
Weak Prices to Weigh on Margins
Softer potash and phosphate prices may impact the company’s margins. Prices of phosphate and potash have retreated since the back half of 2022 from their peak levels attained in the first half riding on the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war and disruptions due to the sanctions in Belarus. Lower selling prices hurt sales and margins across the company’s Phosphate and Potash segments in the first quarter of 2024. Despite some recovery of late, weaker year-over-year fertilizer prices are expected to continue to weigh on the company’s profitability in the second quarter.
The Mosaic Company Price and Consensus
The Mosaic Company price-consensus-chart | The Mosaic Company Quote
Stocks to Consider
Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) , Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA - Free Report) and ATI Inc. (ATI - Free Report) .
Carpenter Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). CRS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters while matching it once, with the average earnings surprise being 15.1%. The company’s shares have soared roughly 89% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Axalta Coating Systems, carrying a Zacks Rank #1, has a projected earnings growth rate of 26.8% for the current year. In the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for AXTA's current-year earnings has been revised upward by 5.9%. The company’s shares have gained roughly 8% in the past year.
ATI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). ATI beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 8.3%. The company’s shares have rallied around 34% in the past year.