Bunge Limited (BG): An agriculture play

Dealing with agriculture on an international basis requires that a firm understand global trends in demographics, economics and cultural development. A White Plains, New York firm is one of the most highly respected practitioners of the art.

Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) is an integrated agribusiness, fertilizer and food products concern. The company is a leading global processor of soybeans and other grains, a leading provider of products and services to the South American farming community and a major U.S. food processor. Some of Bunge's agribusiness products are used for industrial purposes, including renewable fuels like biodiesel. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE: ADM) is a major competitor.

The stock has been a solid performer over the past six weeks, rising 27% on word of such developments as a big upward revision in the 2007 USDA farm income estimate, a BG "buy" initiation at Matrix, and Bunge's acquisition of the Agroindustrial Santa Juliana ethanol production facility in Brazil. The news has kept BG shares cycling through a positive trading channel. Further definition of the upside move is expected to coincide with the run-up in key agricultural commodity prices.

Brokers recommend the stock with four "buys" and five "holds." The BG P/E ratio (21.63), Price to Sales ratio (0.38), Price to Book ratio (2.28), Price to Cash Flow ratio (12.13), Sales Growth rate (65.22%), EPS Growth rate (394.17%) and Revenue per Employee ($1.454M) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 77% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $56.71 and $105.82. A stop-loss of $90 looks good here. Note that the firm is expected to release third quarter results in late October.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.