DuPont Shares Surge After Forecast, Q3 Profit
DuPont forecast 2010 earnings well above expectations on Tuesday and said its second-quarter profit nearly tripled as the rebounding global economy continued to fuel the company's recovery, sending it shares up 4.6%.
The results from the third-largest chemical maker in the U.S. offer a positive read on global economic health and come as many companies have been reporting a better-than-expected quarterly profit.
"This is as good a quarter as I've seen DuPont report in a long time," said Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter. "The fact that they're raising guidance ... and noting some signs of recovery, is evidence that there hasn't been a marked slowdown of macroeconomic activity yet."
DuPont said the new 2010 profit forecast reflects its confidence after the second-quarter performance and expectation for higher sales moving forward.
"We continue to hit our productivity and cost-control targets, and remain highly disciplined in creating operating leverage to further grow the company," Chief Executive Officer Ellen Kullman said in a press release.
Sales in emerging markets jumped 33%, with sales in Asia alone up 47%. The U.S. and Europe, which have lagged amid the economic recovery for DuPont, saw sales increase 18% and 24%, respectively.
The agricultural and nutrition unit, which sells hybrid seeds under the Pioneer brand and is by far the company's breadwinner, saw sales jump 16% to $3 billion.
Pioneer rival Monsanto posted a 45% drop in fiscal third-quarter income last month, though the factors that affected that company do not appear to have harmed DuPont.
"Pioneer has taken advantage of what the marketplace has to offer right now," Deutsche Bank's Begleiter said. "They're executing very well."
The performance coatings unit, which makes paint for automobiles and is seen as a growth area for the company, experienced a 15% gain in sales.
Elsewhere, the company's safety and protection unit, which makes Kevlar bulletproof vests, had a 27% jump in sales and volume. DuPont has said the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have little impact on this unit's sales.
The electronics and communications unit, which makes parts for televisions and semiconductors, saw sales rise 53%. And the performance materials unit, which makes packaging materials, reported sales rose 45%.
By The Numbers
For the second quarter that ended June 30, the company said net income rose to $1.17 billion, or $1.26 per share, from $417 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding one-time items, the company posted a profit on Tuesday of $1.17 per share. Analysts expected earnings of 94 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. If was not immediately clear if the numbers were comparable.
Revenue rose 25.6% to $8.62 billion. Analysts expected $8.27 billion.
DuPont raised its 2010 earnings forecast to a range of $2.90 to $3.05 per share, excluding one-time items. It had previously forecast $2.50 to $2.70.
Analysts expect 2010 earnings of $2.64 per share.
Total costs rose 14%, a marked change from the recession when companies were slashing costs to bolster profit.
Bank of America named Charlie Holliday, DuPont's former chair and chief executive, as its chairman in April.
