What Monsanto's Earnings Mean for Mutual Fund Investors (MON)

Monsanto released its first quarter financial results on Wednesday morning. Here’s what the results mean for mutual fund investors.

Earnings

The company reported earnings of $243 million, or 47 cents per share, down from $368 million, or 67 cents per share, a year ago. On average, analysts expected to see EPS of 35 cents.

Revenue
Revenue came in at $2.87 billion, down from $3.14 billion last year. Analysts expected to see revenue of $2.8 billion.

Outlook
The company expects to see EPS between $5.78 and $6.03. The company expects to see a 5%-10% decline in EPS due to lower U.S. corn acres.

Firing on All Cylinders

Overall, Monsanto had a positive first quarter report. The company’s soy bean business grew revenue by 48%, which is a very impressive growth rate. We see MON as a great brand, but are concerned with its growing competition and its exposure to foreign currencies.

Mutual Funds to Watch

Investors seeking exposure to Monsanto may also consider a mutual fund investment as an alternative to investing directly in the stock. The funds below currently have the largest stakes in the company.

The Bottom Line

The funds above offer investors a diverse group of holdings. Investors interested in Monsanto may also be interested in Du Pont (DD) and Dow Chemical (DOW).