GC Mays

Fertilizer market data shows mixed results in potash and phosphate operations through the first two months of the second quarter for North American fertilizer producers

An abnormally cold winter boosted the sales and earnings of Compass Minerals following two sub-par snow years. With the polar vortex now in the rearview mirror, where does the company go from here?

While being proficient in a firm’s core competency is an essential element of a successful business, successfully expanding a firm’s core abilities adds diversity that can reduce risk.

The time may have come to take profits or even to consider shorting soybeans as persistently high futures prices created by the 2012/13 drought have caused producers to increase production to record levels.

Will any reunion between Russian and Belarusian potash producers actually raise prices?

In the last eight months, Mosaic has bought businesses and brokered deals with both CF Industries, and Archer Daniels Midland in a way that should benefit each firm.

Even if corn acres planted drop to a still historically high 92 million, the opportunity to sell nitrogen will be strong. However, what price will maximize revenues and profits? Going forward, that is the question.

Salt is Compass Minerals' main business, and after two mostly mild winters, the company is hoping that Jack Frost brings some snow with him this year.

Just when you think things are beginning to settle down in the fertilizer space, another transaction between the major producers shakes up the space again. Mosaic is purchasing the phosphate business of CF industries for $1.4 billion.

Scotts Miracle-Gro soared in 2013, rising just under 30%, much to shareholders' satisfaction. What is curious about the stock's mysterious growth spurt is that revenues have been flat since the company's fiscal 2008 while earnings have been erratic with no discernible pattern.

With corn and soybean prices trending lower, one concern on investors' minds is Monsanto's ability to execute its plan to expand profit margins through price increases.