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8-K - EARNINGS RELEASE - Andersons, Inc.a8kq42014earningsrelease.htm


NEWS RELEASE

THE ANDERSONS, INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER & FULL YEAR RESULTS
Record Full-Year Earnings of $3.84 per Diluted Share
Fourth Quarter Earnings of $0.89 per Diluted Share
Ethanol Group Leads Earnings Results

MAUMEE, OHIO, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) today announces financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014.

Highlights
Record full-year earnings of $3.84 per diluted share, unadjusted.
The Ethanol Group delivered full-year operating income of $92.3 million, far exceeding its prior best year of $50.6 million in 2013.
Continued growth in the fourth quarter highlighted by the acquisition of Auburn Bean & Grain.

“We are pleased with our results in 2014. The company’s earnings this year have clearly been led by the exceptionally strong performance of our ethanol business in a very supportive market,” said CEO Mike Anderson. “After excluding the one-time pre-tax gain of $17.1 million from the partial redemption of our investment in Lansing Trade Group, our full year adjusted results of $3.46 per share were the highest in the company’s history. The company will begin to report adjusted earnings in the future, as we do for the first time below.

“During the quarter we continued to grow. This is highlighted by the purchase of Auburn Bean & Grain (AB&G), which added six grain and four agronomy locations throughout central Michigan and serves as a nice geographic fit between our other Michigan assets and our Thompsons joint venture in Ontario,” added Mr. Anderson. “The integration of AB&G is proceeding well, and its locations were additive to income in the fourth quarter. AB&G added grain storage capacity of about 18.1 million bushels, and 16,000 tons of dry and 3.7 million gallons of liquid nutrient capacity.”

Financial and Operating Highlights

Net income for 2014 attributable to the company was a record $109.7 million, or $3.84 per diluted share, on revenues of $4.5 billion. Last year earnings were $89.9 million, or $3.18 per diluted share on revenues of $5.6 billion. Full-year 2014 adjusted earnings were $99.1 million, or $3.46 per diluted share, when the Lansing Trade Group gain was excluded. (See the Reconciliation to Adjusted Net Income Table for a discussion and reconciliation of income and adjusted income.)

The company earned $25.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, or $0.89 per diluted share, on revenues of $1.3 billion. In the same three month period of 2013, the company reported net income of $30.7 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, on revenues of $1.6 billion.

Revenues were down this year within the company’s agricultural businesses due to lower commodity prices. The majority of the decrease was within the Grain Group where the





average price per bushel sold decreased by 28 percent, which more than offset the slight increase in bushels sold.
The harvest was protracted in a number of states in which the company does business, primarily due to weather conditions.
The ethanol plants benefitted from operational improvements made the past three years, with records being achieved for ethanol production, ethanol yields, and corn oil yields.
The Ethanol Group realized solid margins in 2014, however, fourth quarter margins were lower than the same period of the prior year.
The Andersons received $89.5 million in net cash distributions from its non-consolidated ethanol investments in 2014.
The distillers dried grain market, which was negatively impacted by a decline in the Chinese import market in the third quarter, rebounded late in the fourth quarter and it is again selling at levels significantly above 100 percent of corn value.
Fourth quarter volume for the Plant Nutrient Group was down approximately 19 percent due to a late harvest and poor weather conditions.
The Rail Group’s income was down in 2014 due primarily to gains on railcar sales declining by $3.6 million, one-time gains in 2013 of $4.3 million from legal settlements, and an increase in freight and maintenance expense to move idle railcars into service, the benefits of which will be seen in future periods.
The Rail Group’s utilization rate has increased for eight consecutive quarters and ended the year at 91.0 percent.

2015 Outlook

There are solid fundamentals supporting the company’s core businesses going into 2015, although results will likely be below 2014 records, in part because the $17.1 million dollar pre-tax gain on the partial sale of Lansing Trade Group will not be repeated.
Corn acres to be planted in 2015 are estimated to be 88 to 89 million acres, which is down 2 to 3 percent from 2014. Bean acres to be planted are estimated to be roughly 85 million acres, which is very similar to or slightly higher than 2014.  Assuming trend yields, this should create a good base for the company’s grain business in 2015. Further, continued strong performance from the Grain Group’s equity investments is anticipated.
Early 2015 ethanol margins are well below 2014 margins, and are expected to average lower for the full year.  Factors impacting current margins include lower crude price, greater ethanol production and marginally rising ethanol stocks.  On a positive note, higher gasoline demand, improved demand and prices for distillers dried grains in relation to corn price, an ample corn supply, and the potential for improved export demand as the year progresses could contribute to improved ethanol margins later in the year.
The anticipated acres to be planted creates a good environment for the Plant Nutrient Group to participate in as well. Additionally, if there is normal spring weather some of the volume lost in the fourth quarter of 2014 is expected to be regained in the first half of 2015.
The Rail Group is expected to have improved financial results as it will benefit from increased lease and utilization rates.


Conference Call

The company will host a webcast on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. ET, to discuss its performance. To dial-in to the call, the number is 866-825-3209 (participant passcode is 28990476). It is recommended that you call 10 minutes before the conference call begins.






To access the webcast: Click on the link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/dwpegcgm/lan/en. Log on. Click on the phone icon at the bottom of the “webcast window” on the left side of the screen. Then, you will be provided with the conference call number and passcode. Click the gear set icon (left of the telephone icon) and select ‘Live Phone’ to synchronize the presentation with the audio on your phone. A replay of the call can also be accessed under the heading “Investor” on the company 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, 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.

Company Description

The Andersons, Inc. is a diversified company rooted in agriculture. Founded in Maumee, Ohio, in 1947, the company conducts business across North America in the grain, ethanol, and plant nutrient sectors, railcar leasing, turf and cob products, and consumer retailing. The Andersons, Inc. is located on the Internet at www.andersonsinc.com.

Investor Relations Contact    
                    
Jim Burmeister    
Phone: 419-891-5848
E-mail: Jim_Burmeister@andersonsinc.com










The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
 
Three months ended December 31,
 
Twelve months ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Sales and merchandising revenues
$
1,271,768

 
$
1,584,266

 
$
4,540,071

 
$
5,604,574

Cost of sales and merchandising revenues
1,157,817

 
1,474,689

 
4,142,932

 
5,239,349

Gross profit
113,951

 
109,577

 
397,139

 
365,225

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating, administrative and general expenses
94,884

 
85,768

 
318,881

 
278,433

Interest expense
5,359

 
4,253

 
21,760

 
20,860

Other income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Equity in earnings of affiliates
19,892

 
28,714

 
96,523

 
68,705

  Other income, net
6,031

 
3,253

 
31,125

 
14,876

Income before income taxes
39,631

 
51,523

 
184,146

 
149,513

Income tax provision
11,664

 
16,904

 
61,501

 
53,811

Net income
27,967

 
34,619

 
122,645

 
95,702

  Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests
2,075

 
3,958

 
12,919

 
5,763

Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.
$
25,892

 
$
30,661

 
$
109,726

 
$
89,939

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders
$
0.89

 
$
1.09

 
$
3.85

 
$
3.20

Diluted earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders
$
0.89

 
$
1.08

 
$
3.84

 
$
3.18

Dividends paid
$
0.14

 
$
0.11

 
$
0.47

 
$
0.43










The Andersons, Inc.
Reconciliation to Adjusted Net Income (unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three months ended December 31,
 
Twelve months ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.
$
25,892

 
$
30,661

 
$
109,726

 
$
89,939

Items impacting other income, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partial redemption of investment in Lansing Trade Group

 

 
(10,656
)
 

Total adjusting items

 

 
(10,656
)
 

Adjusted net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.
$
25,892

 
$
30,661

 
$
99,070

 
$
89,939

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders
$
0.89

 
$
1.08

 
$
3.84

 
$
3.18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on diluted earnings per share

 

 
(0.38
)
 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
0.89

 
$
1.08


$
3.46


$
3.18







The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
(in thousands)
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
  Cash and cash equivalents
$
114,704

 
$
309,085

  Restricted cash
429

 
408

  Accounts receivable, net
183,059

 
173,930

  Inventories
795,655

 
614,923

  Commodity derivative assets - current
92,771

 
71,319

  Deferred income taxes
7,337

 
4,931

  Other current assets
60,492

 
47,188

Total current assets
1,254,447

 
1,221,784

 
 
 
 
Other assets:
 
 
 
  Commodity derivative assets - noncurrent
507

 
246

  Other assets, net
131,527

 
118,010

  Pension assets

 
14,328

  Equity method investments
232,513

 
291,109

 
364,547

 
423,693

Rail Group assets leased to others, net
297,747

 
240,621

Property, plant and equipment, net
453,607

 
387,458

Total assets
$
2,370,348

 
$
2,273,556

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
  Short-term debt
$
2,166

 
$

  Accounts payable for grain
535,974

 
592,183

  Other accounts payable
170,849

 
154,599

  Customer prepayments and deferred revenue
99,617

 
59,304

  Commodity derivative liabilities – current
64,075

 
63,954

  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
78,610

 
70,295

  Current maturities of long-term debt
76,415

 
51,998

Total current liabilities
1,027,706

 
992,333

 
 
 
 
Other long-term liabilities
15,507

 
15,386

Commodity derivative liabilities – noncurrent
3,318

 
6,644

Employee benefit plan obligations
59,308

 
39,477

Long-term debt, less current maturities
298,638

 
375,213

Deferred income taxes
137,113

 
120,082

Total liabilities
1,541,590

 
1,549,135

Total equity
828,758

 
724,421

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,370,348

 
$
2,273,556








The Andersons, Inc.
Segment Data (unaudited)
 
Grain
 
Ethanol
 
Plant Nutrient
 
Rail
 
Turf & Specialty
 
Retail
 
Other
 
Total
Three months ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from external customers
$
867,521

 
$
171,326

 
$
137,790

 
$
31,221

 
$
24,940

 
$
38,970

 
$

 
$
1,271,768

Gross profit
53,464

 
9,284

 
18,877

 
13,193

 
7,734

 
11,399

 

 
113,951

Equity in earnings of affiliates
7,102

 
12,790

 

 

 

 

 

 
19,892

Other income, net
4,483

 
22

 
69

 
805

 
92

 
235

 
325

 
6,031

Income (loss) before income taxes
24,024

 
19,353

 
381

 
5,556

 
181

 
1,046

 
(10,910
)
 
39,631

Income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests
(2
)
 
2,077

 

 

 

 

 

 
2,075

Operating income (loss) (a)
$
24,026

 
$
17,276

 
$
381

 
$
5,556

 
$
181

 
$
1,046

 
$
(10,910
)
 
$
37,556

Three months ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from external customers
$
1,124,265

 
$
197,032

 
$
170,732

 
$
32,306

 
$
22,557

 
$
37,374

 
$

 
$
1,584,266

Gross profit
44,570

 
13,323

 
21,979

 
12,328

 
6,542

 
10,835

 

 
109,577

Equity in earnings of affiliates
8,182

 
20,532

 

 

 

 

 

 
28,714

Other income (expense), net
682

 
(66
)
 
634

 
987

 
105

 
185

 
726

 
3,253

Income (loss) before income taxes
22,127

 
30,577

 
6,240

 
6,171

 
(1,369
)
 
(3,861
)
 
(8,362
)
 
51,523

Income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(3
)
 
3,961

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,958

Operating income (loss) (a)
$
22,130

 
$
26,616

 
$
6,240

 
$
6,171

 
$
(1,369
)
 
$
(3,861
)
 
$
(8,362
)
 
$
47,565

Twelve months ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from external customers
$
2,682,038

 
$
765,939

 
$
668,124

 
$
148,954

 
$
134,209

 
$
140,807

 
$

 
$
4,540,071

Gross profit
131,129

 
48,057

 
87,619

 
59,762

 
29,320

 
41,252

 

 
397,139

Equity in earnings of affiliates
27,643

 
68,880

 

 

 

 

 

 
96,523

Other income, net
21,450

 
223

 
3,262

 
3,094

 
1,110

 
955

 
1,031

 
31,125

Income (loss) before income taxes
58,126

 
105,186

 
23,845

 
31,445

 
669

 
(620
)
 
(34,505
)
 
184,146

Income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests
(10
)
 
12,929

 

 

 

 

 

 
12,919

Operating income (loss) (a)
$
58,136

 
$
92,257

 
$
23,845

 
$
31,445

 
$
669

 
$
(620
)
 
$
(34,505
)
 
$
171,227

Twelve months ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from external customers
$
3,617,943

 
$
831,965

 
$
708,654

 
$
164,794

 
$
140,512

 
$
140,706

 
$

 
$
5,604,574

Gross profit
118,517

 
32,512

 
86,682

 
58,864

 
29,289

 
39,361

 

 
365,225

Equity in earnings of affiliates
33,122

 
35,583

 

 

 

 

 

 
68,705

Other income, net
2,120

 
399

 
1,093

 
7,666

 
690

 
501

 
2,407

 
14,876

Income (loss) before income taxes
46,794

 
56,374

 
27,275

 
42,785

 
4,744

 
(7,534
)
 
(20,925
)
 
149,513

Income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(11
)
 
5,774

 

 

 

 

 

 
5,763

Operating income (loss) (a)
$
46,805

 
$
50,600

 
$
27,275

 
$
42,785

 
$
4,744

 
$
(7,534
)
 
$
(20,925
)
 
$
143,750

(a) Operating income (loss) for each operating segment is defined as net sales and merchandising revenues plus identifiable other income less all identifiable operating expenses, including interest expense for carrying working capital and long-term assets and is reported net of the noncontrolling interest share of income.