Agrium Inc. (AGU, AGU.TO) reported that its second quarter net earnings attributable to equity holders grew to $860 million or $5.44 per share from $718 million or $4.54 per share a year ago.Excluding items, net earnings would have been $864-million or $5.47 per share for the recent quarter.
On average, 22 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $5.22 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
Sales rose to $6.83 billion from $6.20 billion in the prior-year quarter. Seventeen analysts estimated revenues of $6.60 billion.
Separately, the announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the making of a Dutch auction substantial issuer bid to repurchase $900-million of its outstanding shares. Agrium anticipates that the Bid will commence in early September 2012 and be scheduled to be completed in mid-October 2012.
Agrium also reached an agreement for Glencore International plcGLEN.L, GLNCY.PK, GLCNF.PK) to sell Viterra's(VT.TO, VTA.AX), minority position in a nitrogen facility located in Medicine Hat, Alberta to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. for $915-million. The resulting net purchase price for the portion related to the retail business is estimated to be about $175-million plus about $400-million in retail working capital.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.