Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Upgraded Bunge Limited to a ‘Buy’
Bunge Limited (BG) has a market cap of $8.8 billion. It rose by 0.48% to close at $63.33 per share on August 2, 2016.
Aug. 4 2016, Published 12:52 p.m. ET
Price movement
Bunge Limited (BG) has a market cap of $8.8 billion. It rose by 0.48% to close at $63.33 per share on August 2, 2016. The stock’s weekly, monthly, and year-to-date (or YTD) price movements were 3.5%, 8.2%, and -5.9%, respectively, on the same day.
BG is trading 3.8% above its 20-day moving average, 1.5% above its 50-day moving average, and 2.8% above its 200-day moving average.
Related ETFs and peers
The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) invests 0.31% of its holdings in Bunge Limited. The ETF tracks an index of US mid-cap value stocks. The index selects from the bottom 80% of the Russell 1000, screening on value factors. The YTD price movement of IWS was 11.5% on August 2.
The iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) invests 0.81% of its holdings in Bunge Limited. The ETF tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities. Stocks are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics (earnings, revenue, book value and cash earnings), aiming for exposure to undervalued stocks in each sector.
The market cap of Bunge’s competitors are as follows:
Bunge’s rating
Bank of America/Merrill Lynch has upgraded Bunge Limited rating to a “buy” from “neutral.”
Performance of Bunge in 2Q16
Bunge Limited reported 2Q16 net sales of $10.5 billion, a fall of 2.8% compared to net sales of $10.8 billion in 2Q15. Sales from Agribusiness and Sugar & Bioenergy fell by 2.8% and 8.2%, respectively. Sales from Edible Oil Products and Milling Products rose by 2.3% and 3.2%, respectively, in 2Q16 compared to 2Q15.
The company’s gross profit margin and total segment EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) rose by 1.3% and 22.8%, respectively, in 2Q16 compared to 2Q15.
Its net income and EPS (earnings per share) rose to $109.0 million and $0.78, respectively, in 2Q16 compared to $72.0 million and $0.50, respectively, in 2Q15.
Bunge’s cash and cash equivalents and inventories rose by 33.3% and 33.6%, respectively, in 2Q16 compared to 4Q15. Its current ratio fell to 1.3x, and its debt-to-equity ratio rose to 2.0x in 2Q16 compared to a current ratio and debt-to-equity ratio of 1.5x and 1.7x, respectively, in 4Q15.
Projections
Bunge has made the following projections for fiscal 2016:
- EBIT for Food & Ingredients to be $10 million to $30 million higher compared to fiscal 2015
- EBIT for Fertilizer to be ~$30 million higher compared to fiscal 2015
- EBIT for Sugar & Bioenergy to increase by $70 million to $80 million
Quarterly dividend
Bunge has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share on its common stock. The dividend will be paid on September 2, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2016.
The company has also declared a quarterly cash dividend of ~$1.22 per share on its ~4.9% cumulative perpetual preference shares. The dividend will be paid on September 1, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2016.
In the next part, we’ll take a look at Honda Motor Company (HMC).