Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)

ADM's stock price has declined by 15.21% between July 22, 2024, and July 18, 2025, and shares have lost 19% over the past year. This decline is attributed to challenges such as a dynamic landscape, weak market conditions, tariffs, and trade policy uncertainty. The Ag Services and Oilseeds unit has faced headwinds such as lower margins, competitive meal exports, increased manufacturing costs, and depressed vegetable oil demand. Market expectations for ADM's FY2025 revenue have been revised downward by 3.24%, and EPS estimates have dropped by 5.05%. As of July 18, 2025, the share price was $54.39, and investigations into Archer-Daniels-Midland Company on behalf of long-term stockholders have been issued in July and June 2025.

Demand seasonality for ADM's products and services is influenced by agricultural cycles and specific product categories. The company's grain merchandising business is seasonal, with a lag between buying and selling crops, which can lead to volatile cash flows and working capital requirements. For its Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients business, seasonality generally has a negative effect on third-quarter results, while second-quarter results are typically better due to increased beverage activity in the summer. The company's overall financial performance can be affected by swings in crop prices.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is a global leader in human and animal nutrition and a premier agricultural origination and processing company. Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, ADM operates in the Consumer Staples sector, specifically within the Food Processing and Commodities industries. The company's business is divided into three main segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. ADM processes cereal grains and oilseeds into a wide array of products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial, and animal feed markets worldwide. Major products include vegetable oils and protein meals, sweeteners and starches, agricultural commodities, and a range of ingredients and solutions for human and animal nutrition.

ADM has a significant global presence, connecting crops to markets on six continents and operating in over 170 countries. The company has more than 270 plants and 420 crop procurement facilities worldwide. Its operations span the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. ADM's logistics capabilities include over 9,000 miles of river transportation, more than 2,500 railcars, approximately 1,200 trucks, and 7 major ocean-going vessels.

ADM has generally maintained a strong brand reputation, being named one of the world's most admired companies in the food production industry by Fortune magazine for the 15th consecutive year as of February 2023. However, in the past year, ADM's brand reputation has been impacted by an accounting scandal within its nutrition unit, which led to the departure of the company's CFO and a significant downsizing of its nutrition offerings. Despite this, the CEO stated in May 2025 that the ingredients business is "on the path to recovery."

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is primarily owned by institutional shareholders (approximately 80.98% to 82.53%), with a smaller percentage held by insiders (around 0.65% to 5.07%) and retail investors (approximately 13.95% to 33.38%). Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., and BlackRock, Inc. Mollie H. Carter is noted as the largest individual shareholder, owning 11.42 million shares, representing 2.38% of the company.