10 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy Today

In this article, we will look at the 10 best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy today. If you want to explore similar stocks, you can also take a look at the 5 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy Today.

According to the Agriculture Global Market Report 2022, the global agriculture industry was valued at $11.28 trillion in 2021 and is expected to be worth $12.54 trillion in 2022. The industry is on pace to grow by a compound annual growth rate of 10.7% through 2026 and reach a value of $18.81 trillion. The world’s population is expected to grow to 10 billion by 2050 from its current count of roughly 8 billion. As the number of people in the world increases, demand for food is expected to skyrocket.

The Impact of The Ukraine War

The Ukraine-Russia conflict has boosted shares of agriculture stocks in the United States. In 2021, Russia held the largest dollar value of exported fertilizers and exported roughly $12.5 billion worth of fertilizer, which accounted for 15.1% of the world’s exported fertilizer for the year. Russia was also the largest exporter of wheat in 2021, accounting for a 17% share in the world’s wheat exports for the year. Ukraine was the fifth-largest exporter of wheat in 2021, with a 10% share in total world exports of the grain. With Russia wreaking havoc in Ukraine and cutting off its water supply and the European Union sticking to its ban on Russian fertilizers, U.S. agriculture stocks and ETFs are getting a boost. The S&P GSCI Agriculture Index has gained 2.37% year-to-date as of August 22.

Investors are racking up shares of agriculture stocks and making hefty investments in farmland, as the sector is an effective hedge against inflation, which we all know to be skyrocketing in 2022. As of August 2022, Billionaire tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bill Gates, owns roughly 270,000 acres of farmland across the United States and is among the largest private farmland owners in the country. Some of the top agriculture plays to hedge against inflation include Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF), and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE).

Our Methodology

To determine the best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy today, we reviewed major players operating in the agriculture industry. We narrowed down our selection to profitable companies that have the potential to drive outperformance in the second-half of 2022 and beyond. Along with each stock, we have mentioned analyst ratings, potential growth catalysts, and hedge fund sentiment. We have ranked our picks in ascending order based on the number of hedge fund shareholders of each stock as of June 30, from among the select group of funds that are tracked by Insider Monkey’s database.

10 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy Today

10. CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) designs, produces, markets, sells, and finances agricultural & construction equipment, trucks, commercial vehicles, buses, and specialty vehicles in North America, Europe, South America, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Agriculture, Construction, Commercial & Specialty Vehicles, Powertrain, and Financial.

On July 29, CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) announced that its board of directors has approved a share buyback program of $300 million. The share repurchase program will commence upon the completion of the company’s existing share repurchase program of $100 million. As of August 22, CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) has a trailing twelve-month PE ratio of 9.74x and its shares offer a forward dividend yield of 2.35%.

On July 29, CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) announced its second quarter 2022 financial results. The company reported earnings per share of $0.43, beating estimates by $0.06. The company’s revenue for the quarter amounted to $6.08 billion, ahead of Wall Street’s expectations by $516 million.

On August 1, Deutsche Bank analyst Nicole DeBlase raised her price target on CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) to $17 from $16 and reiterated a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. DeBlase noted that the company reported a strong Q2 and that its revised guidance signals further upside.

At the close of Q2 2022, 25 hedge funds were long CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) and held stakes worth $606 million in the company. Of those, Harris Associates was the largest shareholder in the company. As of June 30, Harris Associates owned roughly 96.5 million shares of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI).

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) is on investors’ radars as they seek agriculture plays to hedge against inflation. Other agriculture stocks that investors and analysts are bullish on include Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF), and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE).

9. FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) is an agricultural sciences company that provides crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management products. The company develops, markets, and sells crop protection chemicals which include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, biologicals, crop nutrition, and seed treatment products, which are used in agriculture to enhance crop yield and quality.

As of August 22, FMC Corporation (NYSEFMC) has gained 23.10% over the past 12 months and its shares have a forward dividend yield of 1.90%, which the company backs with free cash flow of $332 million.

On June 29, FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire BioPhero ApS, a Denmark-based pheromone research & production company, for $200 million. The company expects this acquisition to further accelerate the expansion of its portfolio and promote sustainable agriculture. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2022.

Wall Street is bullish on FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC). On July 20, KeyBanc analyst Aleksey Yefremov upgraded FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) to ‘Overweight’ from ‘Sector Weight’ with a $122 price target. On July 29, Mizuho analyst Christopher Parkinson revised his price target on FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) to $149 from $155 and reiterated a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares.

Hedge fund sentiment towards FMC is positive. At the end of the second quarter of 2022, FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) was spotted in 29 hedge funds’ portfolios. The total stakes of those hedge funds amounted to $361 million. That is compared to 26 positions in Q1, with stakes worth $310 million.  In the second quarter, Glenview Capital raised its stake in FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) by 113%, bringing it to $81.2 million. The investment covers 2.03% of Larry Robbins’ 13F portfolio.

Here is what Aristotle Capital Management had to say about FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) in its “Global Equity Fund” first-quarter 2022 investor letter:

“FMC is an agricultural sciences company providing solutions for the protection of crops from different pests. Its products are used by farmers to ensure bugs, weeds and fungi do not negatively impact their harvest. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company has a rich history dating back to 1883 when inventor John Bean set out to build a better insecticide spray pump. Over the decades, through acquisitions, FMC became a disparate collection of chemical companies. FMC has transformed itself to solely focus on crop chemicals, having acquired DuPont’s crop chemicals portfolio in 2017, and completed the separation of its lithium business in 2019. FMC is now one of the largest patented crop protection companies globally.

Its presence is balanced both geographically around the world, as well as from a crop exposure standpoint, with soybeans being the largest at roughly 20% of total revenue. In terms of products, FMC’s portfolio skews toward insecticides, which account for over 60% of its revenue. The remainder are herbicides (~25%), as well as fungicides and other crop chemicals (~15%).

High-Quality Business

Some of the quality characteristics we have identified for FMC include:

• Strong portfolio of brands allowing for differentiation outside of price, as many customers refer to the brand name, not the active ingredient;
• Strong competitive position with many products being either protected by patents or niche products, perhaps unlikely to be targeted by generics;
• Oligopolistic industry, as FMC is one of just five companies that collectively contribute the majority of research and development performed on crop protection chemicals; and
• Capable management team with operational experience and ability to commercialize new products.

Attractive Valuation

We believe FMC’s current stock price is offered at a discount to our determination of the company’s intrinsic value given our estimates of both enhanced margins and higher earnings on a normalized basis.

Compelling Catalysts

Catalysts we have identified for FMC, which we believe will cause its stock price to appreciate over our three- to five-year investment horizon, include:

• FMC is poised to benefit from its focus on crop chemicals, as yield gains are needed to support rising food consumption in emerging markets;

• Continued margin improvements from its product pipeline. These new products should be particularly effective against insects, weeds and fungi that have grown resistant to traditional crop chemicals; and

• Further cross-selling of FMC products to DuPont customers. For example, in Argentina, 78% of the customers it gained from the DuPont acquisition were unique to FMC, providing cross-selling opportunities.”

8. Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) operates as a rural lifestyle retailer in the United States. The company offers a selection of merchandise, including equine, livestock, pet, and small animal products necessary for their health, care, growth, and containment. The company also offers hardware, trucks, towing, tools, and maintenance products for agricultural and rural use. As of August 19, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) has gained 3.87% over the past 12 months.

On August 4, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) declared a quarterly cash dividend of  $0.92 per share of the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on September 7 to investors of record on August 22. As of August 19, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) shares have a forward dividend yield of 1.81%, which is supported by the company’s trailing twelve-month free cash flow of $278 million.

Wall Street analysts are bullish on Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO). On July 27, MKM Partners analyst David Bellinger initiated coverage of Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $230 price target. The analyst views the stock’s underlying momentum to be sustainable and notes that the stock is presenting an attractive entry point for investors due to recent share price weakness. On August 19, Oppenheimer analyst Brian Nagel reiterated his ‘Outperform’ rating and $270 price target on Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO).

Hedge funds are also raising their stakes in Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO). At the close of Q2, 41 hedge funds were long Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) with stakes worth $1.27 billion, compared to 43 positions in Q1 worth $1.01 billion. As of June 30, Select Equity Group owns roughly 2.26 million shares of Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) and is the most prominent shareholder in the company. The fund’s stake was valued at $439 million.

7. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. As of August 22, the stock has surged by 45.73% over the past 12 months.

On August 3, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable on September 7 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 17. As of August 22, the stock has a PE ratio of 13.64 and a forward dividend yield of 1.83%. The company has been growing its dividends for the past 28 years and boasts a 5-year dividend CAGR of 4.50%.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) is making strides in the plant-based foods space. On August 17, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) announced a strategic collaboration with New Culture, a leading provider of animal-free dairy products, to accelerate the development and commercialization of alternative dairy products.

On August 12, Wolfe Research analyst Sam Margolin initiated coverage of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) with an ‘Outperform’ rating and a $117 price target. The analyst noted that the company has “highly competitive dividend growth”.

At the end of Q2, 42 hedge funds held stakes in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) worth $659 million, compared to 42 positions in the preceding quarter worth $626 million. As of June 30, Markel Gayner Asset Management owns over 1.46 million shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM), giving it a $114 million stake in the company and ranking it as the firm’s top shareholder.

Here is what Diamond Hill Capital had to say about Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) in its “Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund” first-quarter 2022 investor letter:

“ADM is a leading agricultural processor that also operates a global nutrition business focused on the development of ingredients and flavors for food and beverages, supplements and more. The company’s recent operating results have benefited (unfortunately) from the war in Ukraine as grain prices and agricultural markets globally experienced strong price increases. ADM is positioned well to benefit from the volatility due to its stable North American agricultural base.”

6. Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) operates in the agriculture business through two segments: Seed and Crop Protection. The Seed segment develops and supplies advanced germplasm and traits that produce optimum yield for farms. The Crop Protection segment offers products that protect against weeds, insects, and other pests, and diseases, as well as enhances crop health above and below ground through nitrogen management and seed-applied technologies. As of August 22, Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) has gained 45.84% over the past 12 months.

On July 22, Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) raised its quarterly cash dividend by 7.1% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable on September 15 to shareholders of record on August 12. As of August 22, the stock has a forward dividend yield of 0.97%, which the company supports with free cash flow of $1.13 billion.

On August 4, Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) released market-beating earnings for the second quarter of 2022. The company reported earnings per share of $1.64, which outperformed estimates by $0.18. The company’s revenue amounted to $6.25 billion, up 11.11% year-over-year, and ahead of expectations by $163 million.

On August 8, Morgan Stanley analyst Vincent Andrews raised his price target on Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) to $70 from $60 and reiterated an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. On August 9, RBC Capital analyst Arun Viswanathan raised his price target on Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) to $72 from $67 and maintained an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares.

At the end of Q2, 42 hedge funds were bullish on Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) with stakes worth $955 million, compared to 39 positions in the previous quarter worth $1.35 billion. Arrowstreet Capital raised its stake in Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) by 23% during Q2, ending the quarter with a $141 million position. As of June 30, Arrowstreet Capital owns roughly 2.61 million shares of Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) and is the largest shareholder in the company.

Aristotle Capital Management mentioned Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA) in its “Aristotle Capital Management Value Equity Fund” first-quarter 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm had to say:

“Corteva Agriscience, one of the world’s largest seed and crop protection companies, was a primary contributor for the quarter. Due to its respected brand and the value-added benefits of its patented seeds and crop protection solutions for farmers, Corteva has been able to more than offset input cost inflation with sustainable price increases. In addition, the company’s ongoing mix shift to higher-margin, premium products, a catalyst we previously identified, is aiding both sales and profit growth. Shares were likely also buoyed by the rise in crop prices. Market participants, perhaps eager to chase short-term trends, poured into the sector. At Aristotle Capital, we look past such gyrations and, as long-term investors, do not attempt to predict short-term changes in commodity prices. We remain excited about what we view to be high-quality characteristics and fundamental improvements that permeate Corteva’s business, not the least of which include its pricing power.”

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA), along with Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF), and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), is well-positioned to capture more market share in the agriculture sector, as input costs in Europe rise and economies turn to the U.S. for imports.

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Disclosure. None. 10 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy Today is originally published on Insider Monkey.