Bioceres Crop Solutions (BIOX) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for Q1 2026 were $77.5 million, a 17% decline compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the transition towards a more scalable seed business model and lower-margin sales [8][9] - Gross profit remained almost equal at $36 million, with a gross margin expansion of 650 basis points, reflecting improved product mix and margin expansion [4][11] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $13.6 million, a 61% increase compared to $8.5 million in the same period last year, driven by a significant reduction in operating costs [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Crop protection revenues were $39.9 million, a 16% decline year-over-year, attributed to sluggish demand in Argentina and lower sales in the US and Brazil [8][9] - Seed and integrated products revenues were $12.6 million, a 37% decline compared to last year, expected to continue for at least two more quarters due to the unwinding of the HB4 downstream program [9][10] - Crop nutrition revenues were $25.1 million, broadly in line with last year, with higher biostimulant sales offset by weaker fertilizer dynamics [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for microbe-based fertilizers improved in Argentina, particularly in terms of volume, supported by strong corn planting intentions, although delayed purchases in Paraguay and Uruguay offset these gains [10] - The company noted sluggish demand in Argentina for crop protection products, with tight credit conditions and uncertainty ahead of midterm elections impacting sales [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on improving the quality of revenues, protecting margins, and operating with discipline while pursuing its core purpose of enabling better agriculture [5][6] - A target was set to operate above a 40% gross margin level, achieve profitability above 20% of adjusted EBITDA over sales, and reduce annual SG&A costs by $10-$12 million [6][12] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the complex operating environment but emphasized a disciplined approach to profitability, liquidity, and capital efficiency [16] - The company is actively managing liquidity and debt maturities while maintaining constructive dialogue with lenders [16] Other Important Information - Total financial debt as of September 30, 2026, was $242.5 million, down from $260.2 million, primarily due to the repayment of working capital loans in Argentina [14] - Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $16.6 million, resulting in a net financial debt of $225.9 million, essentially flat versus the prior quarter [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Potential for imports from Argentina to the US post-election - Management noted that beef production and profitability in Argentina are high, and the low tariff classification could benefit the company in serving the US market with Argentine-manufactured ag input products [18] Question: Status of Corteva sales of biopesticides into Europe - Management indicated that there are currently no bioprotection products registered in Europe, but biostimulant sales have improved in Argentina and Latin America, with Corteva Europe sales expected later in the year [19]