It's pretty clear that the share price of food processing giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) is closely tied to corn prices. Must be good news for ADM then that corn prices are up as demand for ethanol is at an all time high, and corn syrup seems to be in everything these days. Of course, things are never that clear cut.

It seems the high price of corn syrup may have beverage makers and others reconsidering their choice of sweeteners. And the high price of corn appears to be leading to a surplus in the supply of corn, which of course is bound to drive prices back down.

So where does that leave ADM when it reports Q1 2007 earnings next week? According to Thomson Financial, the current consensus estimates are for revenue of $9.45 billion, or 62 cents per share. Last quarter the actual EPS was 67 cents; a year ago, 46 cents. The analysts' consensus recommendations is buy, with seven out of nine of them rating ADM a buy or strong buy. That's a change from the consensus recommendation of hold, just a month ago. The mean price target is $41.25. ADM closed Thursday at $39.03.

The share price has been trending upward this past quarter from a 52-week low of $30.20 in early January, and after slumping in 2006 after the 52-week high of $46.71 last May. The five-year growth rate is 34.2%, and the current PE is 14.68.

Cramer likes ADM, listing it as one of his ethanol picks. What's not to like? Thomson Financial also points out that ADM has offered upside surprises of more than 10% in its last four quarters, and the average return one month after ADM's positive surprises is 2.6%.

The question is, will the self-proclaimed Supermarket to the World offer up another positive surprise on Tuesday?

ADM earnings preview: What will Q1 2007 have to offer? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:KO) has been running a television ad recently that features a senior citizen who has somehow gone his whole life without ever tasting a Coke. Just one sip of Coke sends him off on a frantic quest to experience everything he's overlooked during his lifetime. But the most incredible part of that ad may be the notion that someone could have never heard of Coke, let alone not had one. Coke surely ranks right up there with such American icons as baseball and apple pie.

It's not only hard to imagine someone never trying a Coke, but also that there are any unconquered markets left for the world's largest soft-drink company, at least as far as its traditional beverage offerings. That's no doubt why, like Pepsico Inc. (NYSE:PEP) and its other rivals, Coke is focusing so much of its energy these days on alternative beverages: teas, juices, energy drinks, and coffee.

Continue reading Coca-Cola earnings -- still the real thing?

Coca-Cola earnings -- still the real thing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Of sugar, Jones Soda, health, and a really happy writer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.