Nutrien beats profit estimates, lowers full-year forecast

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An entry to the tunnels is seen at Nutrien's Cory potash mine near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Nayan Sthankiya/File Photo

By Ruhi Soni

(Reuters) - Canada's Nutrien (NYSE:NTR) Ltd beat second-quarter profit estimates on Wednesday, fueled by soaring prices of crop nutrients which more than offset higher natural gas costs and lower sales volumes.

However, the world's largest fertilizer producer lowered its full-year adjusted profit forecast as it expects higher natural gas costs to hurt its nitrogen business.

Nutrien is the latest company to post strong quarterly profits after sanctions on Russia and Belarus, the world's second- and third-largest fertilizer suppliers.

The sanctions have crimped an already tight supply of crucial crop nutrients like potash and nitrogen, and sent their prices soaring. During the reported quarter, prices approached levels not seen since the all-time highs of the 2008 food crisis.

Fertilizer shortages stoke surging food inflation - https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-ECONOMY/FERTILIZERS-PRICES/gdvzylzampw/chart.png

On the other hand, high prices of natural gas, used as feedstock to make nitrogen fertilizers, threaten to take the shine off profits. Prices have jumped after sanctions on Russia dented supply.

Nutrien said it expects fertilizer demand to remain strong, as high crop prices and low grain stocks are expected to incentivize farmers to apply more plant nutrients to boost yields.

"We expect supply challenges across global energy, agriculture and fertilizer markets to persist well beyond 2022," interim Chief Executive Ken Seitz said in a statement.

The comment echoes those of rivals CF Industries Holdings Inc (NYSE:CF) and Mosaic Co (NYSE:MOS) which also posted higher quarterly profits this week.

Saskatoon, Canada-based Nutrien said it now expects 2022 adjusted earnings between $15.80 and $17.80 per share, compared with its previous expectation of $16.20 to $18.70.

Net earnings for the reported quarter more than tripled to a record $3.60 billion, or $6.51 a share.

Excluding items, the company earned $5.85 a share, beating analysts' consensus of $5.76 per share.

Nutrien's Canada-listed stock has gained 10.7% this year, compared with a 7.9% decline in the benchmark Canadian share index.