Agrium Inc. (AGU)

Agrium Inc. produces and markets agricultural nutrients, industrial products, and specialty products worldwide, as well as involves in the retail supply of agricultural products and services in North and South America. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Advanced Technologies. The Retail segment markets crop nutrient products, including nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulphur, and micronutrients; crop protection products, such as herbicides, fungicides, adjuvants, and insecticides; seeds; and a range of custom application and agronomic consulting services, as well as other services, including crop input product application, soil and leaf tissue testing and analysis, and crop scouting. As of December 31, 2008, this segment operated approximately 800 retail farm centers in the U.S., Argentina, and Chile. The Wholesale segment manufactures, purchases, and markets a range of nutrients, including nitrogen-based, potash, and phosphate-based crop nutrient products. It also owns and operates facilities that upgrade ammonia and urea to other products, such as nitrogen solutions and nitric acid. In addition, this segment operates fertilizer granulation and blending plants in the United States. The Advanced Technologies segment produces and sells controlled-release crop nutrient and professional products to the agriculture, specialty agriculture, professional turf, horticulture, and consumer lawn and garden markets. This segment also offers pest control products to the structural pest control industry, including pest control in residential and commercial structures. It was formerly known as Cominco Fertilizers Ltd. and changed its name to Agrium Inc. in 1995. The company was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

For the nine months ended 30 September 2006, Agrium Inc.'s revenues rose 31% to $3.29B. Net income fell 59% to $95M. Revenues reflect an increase in sales from Retail and North American wholesale business segments. Net income was offset by lower gross margins, higher selling expenses, increased general & administrative expenses, higher depreciation & amortization expense, a decrease in interest income and higher stock based compensation expense.