The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price has come flying out of the gates on Monday morning.
In early trade, the agribusiness company's shares jumped 9% to a multi-year high of $14.98.
Elders share price jumps amid strong first-half profit growth
- Sales revenue up 38% to $1,514.8 million
- Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up 80% to $132.8 million
- Net profit after tax up 34% to $91.2 million
- Interim dividend increased 40% to 28 cents per share
What happened during the first half?
For the six months ended 31 March, Elders reported a 38% increase in revenue to $1,514.8 million.
This was driven by growth across all product areas and geographies. The star of the show, though, was the Rural Products business, which reported a 47% jump in sales to $312.9 million. This reflects strong demand for fertiliser and crop protection products following favourable seasonal conditions across key cropping regions.
As for earnings, the company delivered an 80% jump in EBIT to $132.8 million and 34% increase in net profit after tax to $91.2 million. This was underpinned by its strong sales growth and the early success of its Eight Point Plan.
This strong profit growth allowed the Elders board to declare a 30% franked 28 cents per share interim dividend, which is up 40% year on year.
How does this compare to expectations?
As you might have guessed from the Elders share price performance today, this result outperformed expectations.
According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts were expecting Elders to report a 13% increase in sales revenue to $1,245.2 million and a 27% lift in EBIT to $93.7 million.
Elders has smashed both estimates with its sales revenue of $1,514.8 million and EBIT of $132.8 million.
Outlook
In light of the company's performance during the first half and strong start to the second half, management has upgraded its earnings guidance for FY 2022.
Instead of underlying EBIT growth of 20% to 30%, it is now forecasting EBIT growth of 30% to 40% for the 12 months.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Allison, said:
The strong first half performance has continued in April and we now expect to deliver full year 2022 Underlying EBIT in the range of 30% to 40% above full year 2021 Underlying EBIT. This expectation replaces the guidance we gave to the market on 14 March 2022.
Though, the company warned that its guidance could be impacted by potential supply chain disruptions as a result of COVID-19 and geopolitical events, unexpected changes to seasonal conditions and severe weather events, and unexpected changes in commodity prices.
