We recently compiled a list of the 13 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks To Invest In According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) stands against the other farmland and agriculture stocks.

Revolutionizing Agriculture: Technology in Modern Farming

The farmland and agriculture sector is crucial for global food security and economic stability. As the world population continues to grow, the demand for food increases, necessitating innovative practices in agriculture and farming. Recent trends indicate a significant shift towards technology-driven agriculture, which aims to enhance productivity while promoting sustainability.

In the first quarter of 2024, McKinsey surveyed around 4,400 farmers across Europe, India, Latin America, and North America to understand the factors influencing their profitability and technology adoption. The firm conducted a similar survey in 2022. The findings indicate that while farmers are increasingly adopting technology, the pace remains slow, with a three-percentage-point rise since 2022 in those using or willing to use at least one new digital tool to improve operations.

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North American farmers lead in technology adoption. In the US, 61% of farmers are using or willing to adopt digital agronomy. Additionally, 51% are using or willing to adopt precision agriculture hardware, and 38% are adopting remote-sensing technologies. Latin America showed the most significant growth in technology adoption, with a remarkable ten-percentage-point increase from 2022 to 2024. Farmers around the world are more inclined to adopt new technologies that directly improve operations. According to the data, digital agronomy and precision agriculture hardware are the most popular technologies around the world.

The survey highlights that in the US, larger farms are 45% more likely to adopt agricultural technology compared to smaller farms. This trend can be attributed to the greater scale needed for a favorable return on investment (ROI) in agtech. Despite the challenges posed by rising input costs and extreme weather conditions, farmers are looking towards sustainable practices and innovative technologies to enhance their productivity and profitability. Organizations that provide technology and services have a unique opportunity to cater to farmers’ diverse needs across different regions.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the 13 best farmland and agriculture stocks to invest in according to hedge funds, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest farmland and agriculture companies. We also reviewed our own rankings and consulted various online resources.

From an initial pool of more than 30 farmland and agriculture stocks, we focused on the top 13 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 database of 900 elite hedge funds. The 13 best farmland and agriculture stocks to invest in are ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them, as of Q3 2024.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) is a prominent player in the agribusiness sector, connecting farmers with consumers by providing essential food, feed, and fuel. The company specializes in oilseed processing and supplies specialty plant-based oils and fats used in various products, from animal feed to cooking oils.

On October 5, 2023, Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) announced that the company’s shareholders approved its merger with Viterra. This acquisition will create a more robust global agribusiness entity, enhancing Bunge’s (NYSE:BG) operational capabilities and expanding its market reach. The integration process is progressing well, with expectations to finalize the merger by late 2024 or early 2025. Viterra Limited is a major marketer and handler of grains and oilseeds with a strategic network of agricultural storage, processing and transport assets. This combination will diversify Bunge’s (NYSE:BG) operations across different geographies and crops.

Financially, Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) reported a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.56 for Q3 2024, down from $2.47 the previous year. While Agribusiness and Refined and Specialty Oils showed strong performance, the overall results were impacted by a difficult global margin situation. The company remains focused on its core operations, as evidenced by its recent sale of a 50% stake in BP Bunge Bioenergia on October 1, 2024. This decision allows Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) to concentrate on its primary business areas while offloading non-core ventures.

Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG) is also investing in new facilities, such as a palm and specialty oils facility in Avondale, Louisiana, which will enhance its service capabilities in North America. These strategic initiatives position Bunge as a compelling investment opportunity in the farmland and agriculture sector, particularly as it navigates current market challenges and prepares for future growth.

Overall, BG ranks 8th on our list of the best farmland and agriculture stocks to invest in according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of BG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.