AGCO Reports Second Quarter Results

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE: AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and solutions, reported its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. Net sales for the second quarter were approximately $2.9 billion, an increase of approximately 2.3% compared to the second quarter of 2021. Excluding unfavorable currency translation impacts of approximately 7.5%, net sales in the second quarter of 2022 increased approximately 9.8% compared to the second quarter of 2021. Reported net income was $2.37 per share for the second quarter of 2022, and adjusted net income ⁽³⁾ , which excludes restructuring expenses, was $2.38 per share. These results compare to reported net income of $3.73 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses and the reversal of a valuation allowance previously established against the Company’s deferred tax assets in the United States, of $2.88 per share for the second quarter of 2021.

Net sales for the first six months of 2022 were approximately $5.6 billion, an increase of approximately 7.1% compared to the same period in 2021. Excluding unfavorable currency translation impacts of approximately 6.4%, net sales for the first six months of 2022 increased approximately 13.5% compared to the same period in 2021. For the first six months of 2022, reported net income was $4.40 per share, and adjusted net income ⁽³⁾ , excluding impairment charges, restructuring expenses and other related items, was $4.77 per share. These results compare to reported net income of $5.71 per share, and adjusted net income, excluding restructuring expenses and the aforementioned reversal of a valuation allowance of $4.89 per share, for the first six months of 2021.

Second Quarter Highlights

• Reported regional sales results ⁽¹⁾ : Europe/Middle East (“EME”) (10.3)%, North America +0.7%, South America +86.6%, Asia/Pacific/Africa (“APA”) (5.5)%
• Constant currency regional sales results ^(1)(2)(3) : EME +3.2%, North America +1.4%, South America +77.2%, APA +1.7%
• Regional operating margin performance: EME 11.0%, North America 6.9%, South America 16.5%, APA 14.1%
• Fully operational within approximately two weeks of May 2022 cyberattack
  • Q2 production, sales and net income were negatively impacted
• Paid a variable special dividend of $4.50 per share as compared to $4.00 in 2021
• Maintained full-year outlook for adjusted earnings per share

“AGCO delivered solid results in the second quarter by remaining focused on our farmer-first strategy, while effectively managing the challenges associated with the cyberattack, currency headwinds and ongoing supply chain constraints,” stated Eric Hansotia, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our results reflect substantial price increases to combat rising material costs, higher logistics expenses, and other manufacturing inefficiencies. Farm fundamentals remain favorable and are supporting healthy order boards that remain ahead of last year’s level. Our farmer-first approach and expanding precision ag portfolio are contributing to strong end-market demand and robust growth in our margin-rich businesses.”

Mr. Hansotia continued, “Our team’s ability to execute and adapt to the challenging environment along with the robust market conditions gives us confidence in delivering our 2022 outlook, which includes record sales, margin expansion and record earnings. These results reinforce our plan to continue investing in our smart farming solutions and enhanced digital capabilities to support further growth and margin expansion.”

Market Update

“Healthy grain production is forecasted for the major agricultural production regions. Although crop prices have declined from record levels earlier in 2022, they remain supportive and are helping farmers offset inflationary pressures from higher fuel, fertilizer and other input costs. Farm income estimates remain elevated and are expected to extend the strong end-market demand,” stated Mr. Hansotia.

Global industry production and retail sales were down modestly in the first 6 months of 2022 compared to last year’s elevated levels due primarily to supply chain limitations. Industry retail sales in North America were down approximately 7% in the first half of 2022 compared to last year. The decline was driven by weaker sales in smaller tractors partially offset by improved sales of high horsepower tractors which increased approximately 6% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

Western European industry retail tractors decreased approximately 10% in the first six months of 2022 compared to strong levels in the first half of 2021. Farmer sentiment has been negatively impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, as well as input cost inflation, but forecasts for healthy farm income in Western Europe are expected to support improved retail demand for equipment in the second half of 2022.

In South America, industry retail sales increased during the first six months of 2022 in both Brazil and Argentina compared to 2021 levels. Healthy crop production levels and favorable margins for the farmer are supporting investments to replace an aged fleet.

“While dependent on supply chain performance, we continue to expect strong demand in the second half to support full year 2022 industry retail sales that are expected to be above 2021 levels in North and South America and approximately flat in Western Europe,” continued Mr. Hansotia.

Regional Results

AGCO Regional Net Sales (in millions)

North America

AGCO’s North American net sales grew 7.6% in the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021, excluding the negative impact of currency translation. The increase resulted from the effects of pricing to mitigate inflationary cost pressures, along with increased sales of tractors. Income from operations for the first six months of 2022 decreased approximately $73.1 million compared to the same period in 2021. First half 2022 operating income was negatively impacted by a weaker sales mix, material and logistics cost inflation, higher production costs and increased operating expenses, including the effects of the recent cyberattack.

South America

Net sales in the South American region increased 60.8% in the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021, excluding the impact of favorable currency translation. Sales grew strongly across all markets, driven by robust industry demand and favorable pricing impacts. Income from operations in the first six months of 2022 increased by approximately $92.3 million compared to the same period in 2021 and operating margins reached approximately 15.0%. The improved South America results reflect the benefit of higher sales and production, a favorable sales mix, and pricing that offset material cost inflation.

Europe/Middle East

Europe/Middle East net sales increased 8.5% in the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, excluding unfavorable currency translation. The improvement was driven by higher sales of tractors and replacement parts along with favorable pricing actions. Sales growth in France and Scandinavia was partially offset by significantly lower sales in Russia and the Ukraine. Income from operations decreased approximately $22.3 million in the first six months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. The decline was the result of foreign currency translation, weaker sales mix, higher production costs as well as increased operating expenses, which were magnified by the recent cyberattack.

Asia/Pacific/Africa

Net sales in Asia/Pacific/Africa increased 9.0%, excluding the negative impact of currency translation, in the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Higher sales in Australia, Japan and Africa were partially offset by lower sales in China. Income from operations improved by approximately $17.1 million in the first six months of 2022 and operating margins expanded by approximately 3.5% compared to the same period in 2021 due to higher sales and a richer sales mix.

Outlook

The ability of the Company’s supply chain to deliver parts and components on schedule is currently difficult to predict. The following outlook is based on AGCO’s current estimates of component deliveries. AGCO’s results will be impacted if the actual supply chain delivery performance differs from these estimates.

• Net sales for 2022 of $12.4 billion to $12.6 billion
• Gross and operating margins are projected to improve from 2021 levels, reflecting the impact of higher sales and production volumes as well as favorable pricing to offset material and labor cost inflation
• Increased investments in engineering and other technology investments to support AGCO’s precision ag and digital initiatives
• Full year adjusted earnings per share of $11.70 to $11.90

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AGCO will host a conference call with respect to this earnings announcement at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 28, 2022. The Company will refer to slides on its conference call. Interested persons can access the conference call and slide presentation via AGCO’s website at www.agcocorp.com in the “Events” section on the “Company/Investors” page of our website. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call for twelve months following the call. A copy of this press release will be available on AGCO’s website for at least twelve months following the call.

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Safe Harbor Statement

Statements that are not historical facts, including the projections of earnings per share, production levels, sales, industry demand, market conditions, commodity prices, currency translation, farm income levels, margin levels, strategy, investments in product and technology development, new product introductions, restructuring and other cost reduction initiatives, production volumes, tax rates and general economic conditions, are forward-looking and subject to risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the statements. The following are among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

• COVID-19 has negatively impacted our business, initially through closures, higher absentee rates, and reduced production at both our plants and the plants that supply us with parts and components, and more recently through supply chain challenges, including the inability of some of our suppliers to meet demand and logistics and transportation-related companies to deliver products in a timely manner. In addition, we have had to incur various costs related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, including changes to our factories and other facilities and those related to enabling remote work. We expect COVID-19 to continue to impact our business, although the manner and extent to which it impacts us will depend on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic, the timing, distribution and impact of vaccinations, and possible mutations of the virus that are more contagious or resistant to current vaccines. Measures taken by governments around the world, as well as businesses, including us, and the general public in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 will impact our business as well. These measures have included travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, curfews, business and government office closures, increased border controls or closures, port closures and transportation restrictions. The impacts of COVID-19 and such measures could include decreases in demand for our products, factory closures, increased absentee rates, reduced production, incurrence of additional costs due to the adherence to cleaning requirements and social distancing guidelines and increased costs of labor, parts and components and shipping, incurrence of impairment charges, slower collections and larger write-offs of accounts receivable, among other changes.
• Our financial results depend entirely upon the agricultural industry, and factors that adversely affect the agricultural industry generally, including declines in the general economy, adverse weather, tariffs, increases in farm input costs, lower commodity prices, lower farm income and changes in the availability of credit for our retail customers, will adversely affect us.
• A majority of our sales and manufacturing takes place outside the United States, and, many of our sales involve products that are manufactured in one country and sold in a different country, and as a result, we are exposed to risks related to foreign laws, taxes and tariffs, trade restrictions, economic conditions, labor supply and relations, political conditions and governmental policies. These risks may delay or reduce our realization of value from our international operations. Among these risks are the uncertain consequences of Brexit, Russian sanctions and tariffs imposed on exports to and imports from China.
• Most retail sales of the products that we manufacture are financed, either by our joint ventures with Rabobank or by a bank or other private lender. Our joint ventures with Rabobank, which are controlled by Rabobank and are dependent upon Rabobank for financing as well, finance over 50% of the retail sales of our tractors and combines in the markets where the joint ventures operate. Any difficulty by Rabobank to continue to provide that financing, or any business decision by Rabobank as the controlling member not to fund the business or particular aspects of it (for example, a particular country or region), would require the joint ventures to find other sources of financing (which may be difficult to obtain), or us to find another source of retail financing for our customers, or our customers would be required to utilize other retail financing providers. As a result of the recent economic downturn, financing for capital equipment purchases generally has become more difficult in certain regions and in some cases, can be expensive to obtain. To the extent that financing is not available or available only at unattractive prices, our sales would be negatively impacted.
• Both AGCO and our finance joint ventures have substantial accounts receivable from dealers and end customers, and we would be adversely impacted if the collectability of these receivables was less than optimal; this collectability is dependent upon the financial strength of the farm industry, which in turn is dependent upon the general economy and commodity prices, as well as several of the other factors listed in this section.
• We have experienced substantial and sustained volatility with respect to currency exchange rate and interest rate changes, which can adversely affect our reported results of operations and the competitiveness of our products.
• Our success depends on the introduction of new products, particularly engines that comply with emission requirements and sustainable smart farming technology, which require substantial expenditures; there is no certainty that we can develop the necessary technology or that the technology that we develop will be attractive to farmers or available at competitive prices.
• Our expansion plans in emerging markets, including establishing a greater manufacturing and marketing presence and growing our use of component suppliers, could entail significant risks.
• Our business increasingly is subject to regulations relating to privacy and data protection, and if we violate any of those regulations, or otherwise are the victim of a cyber-attack, we could be subject to significant claims, penalties and damages.
• Attacks through ransomware and other means are rapidly increasing, and in May 2022 we learned that we had been the victim of a cyberattack. We have recently reexamined our safeguards as a result of the cyberattack, and continue to implement and bolster such safeguards that we believe are reasonable. However, there always will be the potential of the risk that a cyberattack will be successful and will disrupt our business, either through shutting down our operations, destroying data, exfiltrating data or otherwise.
• We depend on suppliers for components, parts and raw materials for our products, and any failure by our suppliers to provide products as needed, or by us to promptly address supplier issues, will adversely impact our ability to timely and efficiently manufacture and sell products. Recently suppliers of several key parts and components have not been able to meet our demand and we have had to decrease our production levels. In addition, the potential of natural gas shortages in Europe, as well as predicted overall shortages in other energy sources, could also negatively impact our production and that of our supply chain in the future. It is unclear when these supply chain disruptions will be restored or what the ultimate impact on production, and consequently sales, will be.
• Although as a general proposition our business has not experienced significant inflation in many years, beginning in the second half of 2021 we experienced significant inflation in a range of costs, including for parts and components, shipping, and energy. While we have been able to pass along most of those costs through increased prices, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to do so. If we are not, it will adversely impact our performance.
• We face significant competition, and if we are unable to compete successfully against other agricultural equipment manufacturers, we would lose customers and our net sales and performance would decline.
• We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, and, as a result, we are subject to certain restrictive covenants and payment obligations that may adversely affect our ability to operate and expand our business.

Further information concerning these and other factors is included in AGCO’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. AGCO disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

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About AGCO

AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural solutions and delivers high-tech solutions for farmers feeding the world through its full line of equipment and related services. AGCO products are sold through five core brands, Challenger®, Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson®, Precision Planting® and Valtra®, supported by Fuse® smart farming solutions. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $11.1 billion in 2021. For more information, visit http://www.agcocorp.com . For company news, information and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.