ADM Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ADM (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• Third quarter earnings of $108 million, with adjusted net earnings ¹ of $448 million
• Third quarter EPS ² of $0.22, with adjusted EPS ^1,2 of $0.92
• Year-to-date cash flows provided by operating activities were $5.8 billion, with cash flows from operations before working capital ^1,3 of $2.1 billion

Outlook⁴:

• Outlook based on performance throughout first nine months of 2025 and current expectations with respect to the timing of anticipated benefits from favorable biofuel policy and global trade evolution
• Revised previously provided adjusted EPS ^1,2 guidance for full-year 2025 to $3.25 - $3.50 per share from approximately $4.00 per share

“During the third quarter, we made solid progress in areas within our control, as we navigated a highly dynamic global environment. We advanced our portfolio optimization initiatives, accomplished cost savings through targeted streamlining, efficiently ran our plants, and generated robust cash flow,” said Chair of the Board and CEO Juan Luciano.

“In AS&O, we achieved several volume records and sharpened our inventory management, both contributing to our overall cash flow. In Carbohydrate Solutions, we delivered another sequentially steady quarter, with uplift from improved ethanol margins. In Nutrition, we achieved sequential growth in operating profit, with record revenue achieved in Flavors North America.

Looking forward, we expect biofuel policy clarity and trade policy evolution to provide demand signals for our industry. However, based on the environment since our last earnings call, we are revising our 2025 full-year expectations primarily to reflect lower crush margins. We are a company built to endure cycles, and our asset network, combined with our skilled workforce, will remain a source of reliable strength for our farmers, customers, partners and investors.”

Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2025 Results

Summary of Third Quarter 2025 and Year-to-Date

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, earnings before income taxes were $147 million, as compared to prior year quarter of $108 million. EPS² on a GAAP basis was $0.22, as compared to prior year quarter of $0.04. Adjusted EPS^1,2 was $0.92, down 16% versus the prior year quarter of $1.09.

Total segment operating profit¹ was $845 million, down 19% versus the prior year quarter. This excludes specified items of $220 million, which were primarily comprised of portfolio optimization and impairment charges, as well as ADM’s portion of a penalty imposed on Wilmar International Limited (“Wilmar”), a company in which ADM has an equity investment.

Earnings before income taxes were $779 million year-to-date in 2025, down 51% versus the prior year period. EPS² on a GAAP basis was $1.29, down 48% versus the prior year period, and adjusted EPS^1,2 was $2.56, down 29% versus the prior year period. Total segment operating profit¹ was $2,422 million year-to-date in 2025, down 23% versus the prior year period.

Agriculture Services and Oilseeds Summary (AS&O)

AS&O segment operating profit was $379 million during the third quarter of 2025, down 21% compared to the prior year quarter.

Ag Services subsegment operating profit was 78% higher versus the prior year quarter, driven primarily by higher export activity in North America. In addition, results for South America improved as the prior year quarter was negatively impacted by higher costs related to industry-wide logistics take-or-pay contracts. There were approximately $4 million of net positive mark-to-market timing impacts during the quarter, compared to approximately $50 million of net negative impacts in the prior year quarter.

Crushing subsegment operating profit was 93% lower versus the prior year quarter, driven by lower margins as a result of muted demand due to the deferral of U.S. biofuel policy and challenges with international trade flows. The company has focused on optimizing its operations, and as a result, global crush volumes increased by 2.6% sequentially and 2.2% as compared to the prior year quarter. There were approximately $41 million of net positive mark-to-market timing impacts during the quarter, compared to approximately zero of net impacts in the prior year quarter. Additionally, the prior year quarter benefited from $24 million of insurance proceeds.

Refined Products and Other subsegment operating profit was 3% lower versus the prior year quarter, primarily due to biodiesel and refining margins being negatively impacted by deferred biofuel policy, which has restrained North American demand. There were approximately $8 million of net negative mark-to-market timing impacts during the quarter, compared to approximately $20 million of net negative impacts in the prior year quarter.

Equity earnings from the company’s investment in Wilmar were approximately 10% lower versus the prior year quarter and exclude the $163 million penalty charge, which has been treated as a specified item.

Carbohydrate Solutions Summary

Carbohydrate Solutions segment operating profit was $336 million during the third quarter of 2025, down 26% compared to the prior year quarter.

Starches and Sweeteners (S&S) subsegment operating profit decreased by 36% versus the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower global S&S demand, which impacted both volumes and margins. S&S margins continued to be impacted by persisting higher corn costs in EMEA related to corn quality issues. Global wheat milling margins and volumes were fairly stable relative to the prior year quarter. Additionally, the prior year quarter benefited from $47 million of insurance proceeds.

Vantage Corn Processors subsegment operating profit increased by $46 million versus the prior year quarter. Strong export flows during the quarter, coupled with industry inventory dropping as a result of plant downtime related to annual maintenance programs, supported elevated pricing.

Nutrition Summary

Nutrition segment operating profit was $130 million during the third quarter of 2025, a 24% increase compared to the prior year quarter.

Human Nutrition subsegment operating profit was 12% higher versus the prior year quarter. In Flavors, operating profit increased, driven largely by higher margins, primarily in North America. In Health & Wellness, operating profit was higher due to increased demand in biotics.

Animal Nutrition subsegment operating profit was up 79% versus the prior year quarter, driven by improved margins as a result of focusing on higher-margin product lines and on-going portfolio streamlining and cost optimization efforts.

Corporate and Other Business Summary

For the third quarter of 2025, Corporate and Other Business achieved lower costs versus the prior year quarter, driven by both lower net interest expense and select corporate function costs. This excludes specified items of $174 million related to an impairment charge for previously capitalized software costs.

Conference Call Information

ADM will host a webcast today, November 4, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss financial results and outlook. To listen to the webcast, go to www.adm.com/webcast. A replay of the webcast will also be available for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.

About ADM

ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. We’re an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. We’re a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of ingredients and solutions from nature. We’re a trailblazer in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of products for consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives. We’re a cutting-edge innovator, guiding the way to a future of new bio-based consumer and industrial solutions. And we're leading in business-driven sustainability efforts that support a strong agricultural sector, resilient supply chains, and a vast and growing bioeconomy. Around the globe, our expertise and innovation are meeting critical needs from harvest to home. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical or current fact included in this release, are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely,” “forecasted,” “goals,” “guidance,” “objectives,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements the Company makes relating to its 2025 outlook as well as other future results and operations, growth opportunities, operational improvements, changes to the margin environment, future demand, policy changes, global trade clarity and pending litigation and investigations are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, (1) operational risks related to equipment failure, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, severe weather conditions, accidents, explosions, fires, cybersecurity incidents or other unexpected outages; (2) risks related to the availability and prices of agricultural commodities, agricultural commodity products, other raw materials and energy, including impacts from factors outside the Company’s control such as changes in market conditions, weather conditions, crop disease, plantings, climate change, competition and changes in global demand; (3) risks related to compliance with, and changes in, government programs, policies, laws, and regulations, including trade policies, tariffs, the U.S. federal government shutdown, sustainability regulatory compliance and reporting requirements, environmental regulations, tax laws and regulations, financial market regulations and biofuels policies and rules; (4) risks related to international conflicts, acts of terrorism or war, sanctions, maritime piracy and other geopolitical events or economic disruptions; (5) the outcome of pending, threatened and future legal proceedings, investigations and other contingencies, including the previously disclosed ongoing government investigations by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice; (6) risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, integrations, divestitures, and other transactions; and (7) other risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as may be updated in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, ADM does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses certain “Non-GAAP” financial measures as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are measures of performance not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), and should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, GAAP reported measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in this press release.

Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted earnings per share (EPS). Adjusted net earnings reflects ADM’s reported net earnings after removal of the effect on net earnings of specified items as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Adjusted EPS reflects ADM’s diluted EPS after removal of the effect on EPS as reported of specified items as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Management believes that Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted EPS are useful measures of ADM’s performance because they provide investors additional information about ADM’s operations allowing better evaluation of underlying business performance and better period-to-period comparability. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace or be alternatives to net earnings and EPS as reported, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, or any other measures of operating results under GAAP. Earnings amounts described above have been divided by the company’s diluted shares outstanding for each respective period in order to arrive at an adjusted EPS amount for each specified item.

Total segment operating profit. Total segment operating profit is ADM’s consolidated earnings before income taxes adjusted for Other Business, Corporate, and specified items as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Management believes that total segment operating profit is a useful measure of ADM’s performance because it provides investors information about ADM’s reportable segment performance excluding Other Business, Corporate overhead costs as well as specified items. Total segment operating profit is not a measure of consolidated operating results under GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to earnings before income taxes, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, or any other measure of consolidated operating results under GAAP.

Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). Adjusted ROIC is Adjusted ROIC earnings divided by adjusted invested capital. Adjusted ROIC earnings is ADM’s net earnings adjusted for the after-tax effects of interest expense on borrowings and specified items. Adjusted invested capital is the sum of ADM’s equity (excluding redeemable and non-redeemable non-controlling interests) and interest-bearing liabilities (which totals invested capital), adjusted for specified items. Management believes Adjusted ROIC is a useful financial measure because it provides investors information about ADM’s returns excluding the impacts of specified items and increases period-to-period comparability of underlying business performance. Management uses Adjusted ROIC to measure ADM’s performance by comparing Adjusted ROIC to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Adjusted ROIC, Adjusted ROIC earnings and Adjusted invested capital are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace or be alternatives to GAAP financial measures.

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest on borrowings, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest on borrowings, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted for specified items. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA by removing the impact of specified items and adding back the amounts of income tax expense, interest expense on borrowings, and depreciation and amortization to net earnings. Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful measures of the Company’s performance because they provide investors additional information about the Company’s operations allowing better evaluation of underlying business performance and better period-to-period comparability. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace or be an alternative to net earnings, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Cash flows from operations before working capital is defined as cash flows from operating activities adjusted for changes in operating assets and liabilities as presented in the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows. Management believes that cash flows from operations before working capital is a useful measure of the Company’s cash generation. Cash flows from operations before working capital is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not intended to replace or be an alternative to cash from operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Financial Tables Follow

Source: Corporate Release
Source: ADM