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. ...

Bayer (BAYRY) announced its third quarter results yesterday. Revenues of the group recorded a 7% decline to €7.39 billion from €7.94 billion. The company’s earnings per share from continued operations were €0.78, compared to €0.85 in year-ago period.

Bayer operates through three major segments: Healthcare, accounting for 53.24% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2009; CropScience (15.4%), and Material Science (27.5%) with the remaining 4% coming from other items. While Healthcare segment revenues improved marginally by 3.5%, both cropscience and Material Science fell 8.6% and 20%, respectively.

The Healthcare segment recorded revenues of €3.9 billion compared to €3.8 billion in the corresponding period last year. Both the divisions of Healthcare – pharmaceuticals and consumer health contributed to the growth of the Healthcare segment. Bayer’s primary market, Europe – accounting for 39% of its Healthcare revenues – declined 3%, compared to the year-ago period. The other markets of North America,

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DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Friday August 28, 2009

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Muscle Flex Inc. (PINKSHEETS: MFLI) announced today that Danny Alex, CEO of Muscle Flex Inc. (www.MuscleFlexInc.com), has been exclusively invited to the WWDMAGIC (www.MagicOnline.com) fashion tradeshow in Las Vegas by Houston PAD (www.HoustonProjects.com), Master Distributor of VATA Brasil Active Wear (www.VataBrasil.com). The invitation to attend WWDMAGIC comes as Muscle Flex Inc. is preparing to add its Muscle Flex® sports and active wear product line as one of its flagship products. Additional details are expected in the coming days.

Legend International Holdings, Inc (OTCBB:LGDI) is pleased to announce that the Queensland Government has granted the Exploration Permit for Paradise

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Today, Delaware-based chemical giant DuPont (DD) released results for the second quarter of 2009. The company yielded positive results, strongly influenced by the solid performance in the Agricultural and Nutrition segment. In the quarter, total segment pre-tax operating income (PTOI) was $872 million, a 49% decline versus the prior year. However, PTOI in the Agriculture and Nutrition segment increased 15% to $580 million, driven by a 21% rise in seed sales, reflecting price increases and market share gains in North America. DuPont generated a net income of $417 million or $0.46 per diluted share in the quarter, compared to $1.08 billion or $1.18 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2008. The decline is attributed to lower sales volume, restructuring charges and adverse currency impact. Consolidated net sales in the quarter declined 22% to $6.9 billion. The decline primarily followed 19% lower sales volume ...

Demand for food never wavers, says Chris Mayer.  And that’s one reason why Canadian agri-business Viterra (TSE:VT) is a good buy right now. The company is well-financed and well-managed, and is trading at attractive levels. Chris says the stock should gain over 50% by the end of next year.

This from The Rude Awakening:

Demand for food never wavers, even when times are tough. This fact is only one of the reasons to like Viterra (TSE:VT), a Canadian agri-business company. Viterra, an amalgamation of “vital” and “terra,” meaning “life from the land,” is the new name for a very old business new. The old name, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, better reflects the company’s raison d’etre.

Viterra is in the grain-moving, storing, processing and cleaning business. You would think, based on the recent sell-off, that Viterra was selling the stuff. But Viterra is not a

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