ADM Reports Q4 Earnings Decline Amid Market Challenges
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) experienced a significant price drop of 6.02%, hitting a 5-day low, as the company reported disappointing Q4 earnings results.
In its Q4 2025 earnings report, ADM revealed a 13.7% revenue decline to $18.56 billion, missing expectations by $2.5 billion, and adjusted profits fell 24% to $0.87 per share. This performance reflects ongoing challenges in the market, particularly related to global trade policy uncertainties and U.S. biofuel policy deferrals. Despite these setbacks, ADM announced a 2% increase in its quarterly dividend, marking the 53rd consecutive year of growth, which underscores the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
The implications of these results suggest that while ADM is facing significant operational challenges, its commitment to maintaining dividends may help sustain investor confidence. The cautious outlook for FY26, with profit guidance between $3.60 and $4.25 per share, indicates a focus on navigating the current market landscape.
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- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.84%, the Dow Jones by 0.34%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.55%, indicating a sharp sell-off after reaching record highs, which negatively impacted investor sentiment.
- Tech Sector Retreat: Data service and software stocks plummeted following the release of an automation tool by AI firm Anthropic, with Thomson Reuters and EPAM Systems down over 15% and 13% respectively, reflecting a loss of confidence in tech stocks.
- Precious Metals Rally: Gold prices surged over 6% and silver over 8%, leading to gains in mining stocks, with Hecla Mining and Freeport McMoRan rising more than 8% and 6% respectively, indicating increased demand for safe-haven assets.
- Economic Outlook Improvement: Richmond Fed President noted an improving US economic outlook despite ongoing risks, with markets focusing on upcoming economic data and the passage of a spending bill to gauge future economic trends.
- Financial Performance: ADM reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.87 for Q4 2025 and $3.43 for the full year, demonstrating robust performance with a total segment operating profit of $821 million, reflecting strong cash flow management amid market challenges.
- Cost-Saving Initiatives: The company executed over 20 projects as part of portfolio optimization, resulting in approximately $200 million in cost savings, while also restoring Decatur East operations and achieving the lowest injury rate in its history, highlighting a dual focus on safety and efficiency.
- Future Outlook: ADM's outlook for adjusted EPS in 2026 is projected between $3.60 and $4.25, indicating confidence in future growth despite ongoing market fluidity and policy uncertainties, emphasizing disciplined capital allocation strategies.
- Strategic Focus: The company is concentrating on five key areas including enhanced nutrition, biosolutions, precision fermentation, and decarbonization, introducing innovations like allergen-free pea protein, aiming to capture market opportunities and drive long-term growth through sustained investment.
- Divergent Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.35% today while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.13%, indicating a split in market sentiment, particularly as weakness in tech stocks weighed on overall performance.
- Tech Stock Retreat: Following the release of an automation tool for lawyers by AI firm Anthropic, data service and software stocks retreated, with Thomson Reuters down over 17% and Intuit and FactSet both down more than 9%, reflecting a decline in investor confidence in the tech sector.
- Mining Stocks Surge: Gold prices rose by over 6% and silver prices soared by more than 13%, driving mining stocks higher, with Freeport McMoRan and Hecla Mining both up over 6%, indicating a rebound in investor demand for precious metals.
- Economic Data Impact: Despite strong US manufacturing data, the 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 1.5-week high of 4.30%, dampening expectations for further Fed rate cuts and leading to cautious investor sentiment that pressured some stocks.
- Divergence in Tech Stocks: Despite strong earnings from Palantir Technologies and Teradyne boosting tech stocks, Palantir's shares rose over 5% after forecasting 2026 revenue significantly above expectations at $7.18 to $7.20 billion, well above the consensus of $6.27 billion.
- Precious Metals Rebound: Gold prices increased by more than 6% and silver surged over 13%, leading mining stocks like Freeport McMoRan and Hecla Mining to rise by more than 5% and 4% respectively, indicating a recovery in market demand for precious metals.
- PayPal's Stock Plunge: PayPal Holdings saw its stock drop over 18%, significantly weighing on the Nasdaq 100, as its Q4 net revenue of $8.68 billion fell short of the $8.79 billion consensus, coupled with a CEO change that may impact investor confidence.
- Economic Data Impacting Market Sentiment: While signs of an improving US economic outlook coexist with risks from concentrated hiring in a few sectors and inflation above the Fed's target, the market's expectations for future rate hikes have diminished, with the 10-year T-note yield rising to 4.3%, heightening investor unease.
- Earnings Highlight: Archer-Daniels-Midland reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 87 cents, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 80 cents, indicating resilience in profitability despite challenges.
- Revenue Decline: Despite the earnings beat, quarterly sales of $18.556 billion fell short of the market expectation of $21.120 billion, reflecting a volatile demand backdrop.
- Segment Performance: The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment saw revenues drop from $16.874 billion last year to $14.012 billion, with operating profit down 31%, highlighting the impact of trade turbulence on business operations.
- Future Outlook: The company forecasts fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings between $3.60 and $4.25 per share, below the consensus estimate of $4.24, indicating ongoing uncertainty in the operating environment.










