Hedge Funds Split on Agricultural Chemical Stocks

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3. Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (USA) (NYSE:POT)

– Investors with Long Positions (as of March 31): 23

– Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of March 31): $793.78 Million

The number of investors from our database long Potash Corporation declined by three during the March quarter. the stock has inched down by more than 5% since the beginning of the year, as a lower global potash demand, particularly from China, has depressed prices, causing Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan to miss EPS and revenue estimates for the second quarter. In addition, the company reduced its third-quarter and full-year earnings outlooks to below the consensus estimates and reduced slashed its dividend to $0.10, after having cut it to $0.25 from $0.38 earlier this year.

2. Syngenta AG (ADR) (NYSE:SYT)

– Investors with Long Positions (as of March 31): 32

– Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of March 31): $524.36 Million

Among the investors we track, the number of funds holding shares Syngenta AG (ADR) (NYSE:SYT) increased by six during the January-March period. The stock of the Swiss seed and pesticide maker is down by 1% so far this year. The company is currently being pursued by the state-owned ChemChina, which in July said it extended its takeover agreement worth $43 billion until at least September 13 and added that extensions to tender offers might appear until all the conditions are met. In July, Syngenta said it was conducting “constructive” discussions with the regulators and the deal was on track to be completed by the end of 2016.

 

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1. Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON)

– Investors with Long Positions (as of March 31): 51

– Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of March 31): $2.45 Billion

The popularity of Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) among investors in our database increased during the first quarter, as the number of investors bullish on the stock surged by 13. The stock has gained over 6% since the beginning of 2016, as Monsanto has been receiving takeover bids from German Bayer AG. Earlier this month, it was reported that Bayer was analyzing Monsanto’s financial accounts and might raise its offer of $55 billion, which Monsanto rejected, having said it was “financially inadequate”. Bayer’s due diligence on Monsanto is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks after which Bayer will make a decision whether or not to sweeten the offer. Meanwhile, analysts are trying to estimate a potential offer that would result in a deal between Bayer and Monsanto, with predictions ranging from $130 to $135 per share.

 

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Disclosure: None

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