Volume Spike Investor » IPI

Fertilizer begins to fly as Russian miners demonstrate pricing power (POT, IPI, MON, AGU, MOS)

247admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:32:10 +0000

Fertilizer stocks are gaining ground, with stocks including Potash CP (NYSE: POT) trading rising 4 percent, above $94, with nearly half its average volume changing hands in the first hour of Thursday trading.

The company could be benefit from a Bloomberg.com’s report that Russia’s two largest potash miners plan to raise prices for domestic fertilizer producers by about 20%. It suggests potential pricing power for companies like Potash, which produces potash from six mines in Saskatchewan and one in New Brunswick.

Other fertilizer stocks are on the move including Intrepid Potash Inc. (NYSE: IPI), rising about 3 percent above $28 a share, on volume of about 550,000. Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU) and Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) also are trending higher on relatively strong volume a day before a 3-day weekend. — Mike Tarsala

Premarket Alert: Farmers' spending habits hit fertilizer stocks (POT, MON, IPI, CF, AGU)

247admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:08:53 +0000

Agriculture stocks are seeing early premarket selling as of 9 a.m. Eastern, after Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT) cut its second-quarter earnings guidance citing lower prices for phosphate fertilizers and deferrals of purchases by farmers seeking to save costs.

The company warned that its second-quarter earnings will be about 70 cents a share, down from expectations that it would post earnings in a range of $1.10 to $1.50 a share. Potash shares are down about 3% in heavy premarket trading.

One direct Potash competitor that also is seeing share weakness, although in light early trading, is Intrepid Potash Inc. (NYSE: IPI). Others on the watch list may include CF Industries Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CF). Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU), and Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON). — Mike Tarsala

The agriculture stocks that could benefit from Monsanto results (MON, POT, IPI, AGU, MOS)

247admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:49:31 +0000

Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) shares are up about 2% after the company beat earnings expectations by 8 cents a share, reaffirmed guidance for fiscal 2009, and said it remains committed to doubling its gross profit over the next three years.

The company’s revenue was weak, but that was somewhat expected, due to its revised guidance in late May.

The report didn’t have anything negative to say about underlying demand of agricultural products, which is helping to boost shares of other agricultural stocks such as Potash Corp (NYSE: POT), Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI), Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU) and Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) slightly in the early going, on light to moderate premarket volumes.

The agriculture group hasn’t enjoyed positive analyst sentiment in recent months. If Monsanto happens to inspire a rally in those names, names to watch will be Intrepid Potash and Mosaic, two with a rather harsh string of negative analyst revisions. — Mike Tarsala