In This Article:
Release Date: November 19, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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Elders Ltd (EDESY) achieved a strong second half performance, marking the biggest second half in the company's history.
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The company successfully executed 13 bolt-on acquisitions, contributing an annualized EBIT of $14 million.
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Elders Ltd (EDESY) is on track with its backward integration strategy, achieving 58% of the addressable market on a revenue basis.
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The acquisition of Delta Ag aligns with Elders' growth strategy, adding geographical diversification and significant IP and expertise.
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The systems modernization project is progressing well, with technical go-live achieved for Wave 2, promising future benefits.
Negative Points
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Elders Ltd (EDESY) reported a decline in return on capital to 11.3%, below the company's hurdle rate of 15%.
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The company's leverage came in at 3.1 times, exceeding its target range of 1.5 to 2 times.
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Competitive pressures in Western and Southern Australia impacted margins, contributing to a lower-than-expected EBIT.
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The first quarter of FY24 was problematic, leading to a significant impact on leverage and return on capital.
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The transformation projects incurred upfront capital expenditure without delivering significant earnings in FY24.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Did the winter cropping season unfold as expected, given the FY Q4 EBIT guidance? A: Yes, the winter cropping season largely unfolded as expected. Elders ended up just below the midpoint of the EBIT guidance range at $128 million. The first quarter was problematic, but there was recovery in livestock prices and other areas in the second half, despite some competitive pricing pressures in Rural Products.
Q: What second half factors reduced the result from the top end of guidance? A: The second half was strong but not as good as it could have been due to competitive pressures, particularly in Western and South Australia, which had a dry late start to the winter crop. These regions, which are significant for Elders, saw a drop in EBIT contribution from 41% in FY23 to 33% in FY24.
Q: Can you provide an update on current seasonal conditions and the outlook for FY25? A: The outlook for FY25 is positive, with expectations of a return to average conditions in the first quarter. The assumption is for a normal season across rural products and livestock, with some variations like a slight decrease in dry land cotton due to higher planting in Northwest New South Wales.