Agrium Inc. (AGU) reported adjusted net earnings of 29 cents per share in the third quarter of 2009, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents. Year over year, earnings declined a significant 87% on lower volumes and prices. Revenues were down 41% year over year to $1.9 billion on weak corn prices and lower consumption of crop protection products at retail level.  Retail segment: Retail segment revenues plunged 25% to $1.2 billion in the quarter on a 41% decline in crop nutrient sales to $345 million due to a significant decline in crop nutrient prices. Crop nutrient volumes in the quarter remained flat. Gross profit from the crop nutrients business almost halved to $31 million. Crop protection sales were $768 million in the quarter, down 12% from the same period last year. The decline was driven by lower volumes for fungicides and lower pricing for glyphosate products. ...

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Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ: PEGA), the leader in Business Process Management (BPM) software solutions, announced August 4, 2009 financial results for the second quarter and first six months of 2009. Total revenue for the second quarter of 2009 increased 25% to $63.9 million compared to the second quarter of 2008. Net income for the second quarter of 2009 was $11.2 million compared to $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2008. Total revenue for the first six months of 2009 increased 27% to $126.2 million compared to the same period last year. Net income for the first six months of 2009 was $19.9

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Agrium's stock has been getting beaten up recently in the commodities sell-off but its earnings have been shining. Agrium has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 57.04% as fertilizer prices have soared.

Fertilizer prices continue to remain high making Agrium, with a forward P/E of only 5.82, an attractive value stock.

Company Description

Agrium Inc. (AGU) produces and sells agriculture products in North and South America.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company is the largest direct-to-grower agricultural retailer in the United States. AGU also supplies materials to the industrial sector which produces goods such as mining explosives, household products, pulp and paper and fiberboard.

Agrium has three segments. The Wholesale segment produces and distributes fertilizers, including nitrogen, phosphate and potash, as well as micronutrients from 12 production facilities in North America and Argentina.

The company produces ten million

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