Canadian Fertilizer Play Smells Good

Nicholas Vardy

Nicholas Vardy has a unique background that has proven his knack for making money in different markets around the world.

… focuses on the boom in soft commodities that I discussed in last week’s Global Guru. Thanks to a combination of government-mandated ethanol production and an expanding global middle class with an ever larger appetite, I expect that the second half of the commodities boom will be dominated by soft commodities like corn, wheat and soybeans. This week’s pick, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (POT), is my #1 way to profit from this big-picture shift.

Advertisement.

Canadian-based Potash is the world’s largest fertilizer company in terms of capacity. Its three main products are potash, nitrogen and phosphate which are used in the agriculture, animal nutrition and industrial markets. And here’s why I expect Potash to generate double-digit percentage profits into the summer months of 2007.

First, U.S. farmers are ramping up corn production to meet growing demand for ethanol. Without enough fertilizer to help corn crops grow, farmers will be unable to meet that demand. So far, rising demand for ethanol has led to a 15% jump in planned U.S. corn plantings, which have hit their highest levels in 60 years. But with farmers planting on half the land they did in the 1950s, demand for fertilizers has exploded as farmers need to be ever more productive.

Second, ethanol-induced corn planting is only part of the story. Demand for soft commodities such as wheat and rice will continue to grow as the world’s population swells by 40% to 9.2 billion by 2050. Record prices for major crops like corn and wheat mean high-earnings potential and lower downside risks for Potash. Potash’s senior management is convinced that we are at the beginning of a period of significant consumption growth and strong prices for all its products. No wonder that Potash’s main facility is undergoing a $775-million expansion project that will more than double its production from 800,000 tons of potash in 2006 to 2 million tons by 2010.

Advertisement.

Potash has been harvesting bigger than expected profits from all of its businesses. In first quarter 2007, sales jumped by 34% to $1.15 billion and earnings leapt 56% to $1.85 a share. That earnings per share number handily beat expectations of $1.71. Looking ahead, annual earnings are projected to grow at 46% and Potash raised its full-year outlook by $1.25 a share to $7.50-$8.50 a share. With Potash recording five consecutive quarters of earnings growth and a return on equity of 25%, the company is firing on all cylinders.

Exclusive  Day Trading Uses Three Strategies of Andrews’ Pitchfork

So buy Potash (POT) at market today and place your stop at $172. Note that Potash’s board of directors just approved a 3-for-1 stock split that takes effect tomorrow, May 22. This should improve liquidity and make shares more attractive and accessible to new investors. The board also doubled the company’s quarterly cash dividend to 30 cents per share on a pre-split basis. Our short-term target price for Potash is a (pre-split) $225.

PORTFOLIO UPDATE

To make room for Potash (POT), let’s move German insurance play Allianz (AZ) out of the Global Bull Market Alert portfolio. Having gained 7.66% since our initial recommendation — an annualized gain of just under 46.2% — Allianz is still a solid play on the overall recovery of the German stock market.

Advertisement.

Hold on to last week’s short-term trade in China Aluminum (ACH) for now. We’ll be looking for a bounce in that stock over the next week or so.

share on:

Like This Article?
Now Get Our FREE Special Report:
Alternative Investing: Investing in Timber

Stock Investor editor Paul Dykewicz reveals why investing in timber may be one of the best long-term portfolio strategies you'll find today.

Get Access to the Report, 100% FREE


img
share on:

PREMIUM SERVICES FOR INVESTORS

Dr. Mark Skousen

Named one of the "Top 20 Living Economists," Dr. Skousen is a professional economist, investment expert, university professor, and author of more than 25 books.

Product Details

  • Forecasts & Strategies
  • Home Run Trader
  • Fast Money Alert
  • Five Star Trader
  • TNT Trader
LEARN MORE HERE

Bryan Perry

A former Wall Street financial advisor with three decades' experience, Bryan Perry focuses his efforts on high-yield income investing and quick-hitting options plays.

Product Details

  • Cash Machine
  • Premium Income PRO (exclusively for subscribers of Cash Machine)
  • Quick Income Trader
  • Breakout Options Alert
  • Hi-Tech Trader
LEARN MORE HERE

Jim Woods

Jim Woods has over 20 years of experience in the markets from working as a stockbroker,
financial journalist, and money manager. As well as a book author and regular contributor to
numerous investment websites, Jim is the editor of:

Product Details

  • Successful Investing
  • High Velocity Options
  • Intelligence Report
  • Bullseye Stock Trader
  • Eagle Eye Opener
LEARN MORE HERE

Bob Carlson

Bob Carlson provides independent, objective research covering all the financial issues of retirement and retirement planning. In addition, Bob serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fairfax County (VA) Employees’ Retirement System, which has over $2.8 billion in assets.

Product Details

  • Retirement Watch
  • Retirement Watch Spotlight Series
  • Lifetime Retirement Protection Program
LEARN MORE HERE

Jon Johnson

Jon Johnson's philosophy in investing and trading is to take what the market gives you regardless if that is to the upside or downside. For the past 21 years, Jon has helped thousands of clients gain success in the financial markets through his newsletters and education services:

Product Details

  • Investment House Daily
  • Stock of the Week
  • Technical Traders Alert
  • Rapid Profits Stock Trader
LEARN MORE HERE

DividendInvestor.com

Used by financial advisors and individual investors all over the world, DividendInvestor.com is the premier provider and one-stop shop for dividend information and research.

Product Details

Popular tools include our proprietary Dividend Calendar, Dividend Calculator, Dividend Score Card, and many more.

  • Dividend Investor
LEARN MORE HERE

George Gilder

George Gilder is the most knowledgeable man in America when it comes to the future of technology and its impact on our lives.  He’s an established investor, bestselling author, and economist with an uncanny ability to foresee how new breakthroughs will play out, years in advance.

Product Details

  • Technology Report
  • Technology Report PRO
  • Moonshots
  • Private Reserve
  • Millionaire Circle
LEARN MORE HERE

DayTradeSPY

DayTradeSPY was founded by head trader Hugh Grossman, a retired internal auditor for a Fortune 500 company. After years of first-hand experience trying out one trading strategy after another, Hugh instead developed his own trading system centered around day trading SPY options. That’s it... Nothing else.

Product Details

  • Trading Room
  • Pick of the Day
  • Inner Circle
  • Online Workshops
LEARN MORE HERE