Nutrien's Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Record Potash Volumes

Core Insights - Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) reported profits of $1,229 million or $2.50 per share for Q2 2025, a significant increase from $392 million or 78 cents in the same quarter last year, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.65, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.40 [1] - Sales rose approximately 2.8% year over year to $10,438 million, although this figure fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10,610.1 million [1] Segment Highlights - The Nutrien Ag Solutions (Retail) segment saw a 1% decline in sales year over year, totaling $7,959 million, missing the estimate of $8,591.6 million [2] - The Potash division experienced a 31% year-over-year sales increase, reaching $991 million, exceeding the estimate of $677.8 million, with record sales volumes driven by strong demand in North America and major offshore markets [3] - The Nitrogen segment reported sales of $1,260 million, up approximately 23% year over year, surpassing the estimate of $996.5 million, supported by strong demand and higher production [4] - The Phosphate segment generated sales of $396 million, a 1% increase year over year, exceeding the estimate of $362.9 million, despite lower production volumes earlier in the year [5] Financial Overview - At the end of the quarter, NTR had cash and cash equivalents of $1,387 million, a 38% increase year over year, while long-term debt rose nearly 10.7% to $10,405 million [6] - Cash provided by operating activities was reported at $2,538 million for the quarter [6] Guidance and Outlook - The company projects retail adjusted EBITDA for 2025 to be between $1.65 billion and $1.85 billion, anticipating stronger sales in North America and improved conditions in Australia and Brazil [7] - Potash sales volume guidance has been raised to 13.9–14.5 million tons, while nitrogen sales volumes are forecasted at 10.7–11.2 million tons, considering planned turnarounds [8] - Phosphate sales volumes are expected to be between 2.35–2.55 million tons, supported by improved operating rates [9] - Capital expenditures are projected at $2–$2.1 billion, which is below last year's level [9] Price Performance - Nutrien's shares have increased by 22.2% over the past year, outperforming the industry average rise of 15.6% [11]