Archer Daniels Midland Q4 Profit Surges, Boosts Dividend 17% - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Grain processor Archer Daniels Midland Co.(ADM) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $701 million or $1.08 per share, sharply higher than $374 million or $0.56 per share in the prior-year quarter.

Excluding certain items, adjusted net earnings for the quarter was $1.00 per share, compared to $0.95 per share in the year-ago quarter.

On average, 14 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.94 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues for the quarter declined to $20.89 billion from $24.14 billion in the same quarter last year, while Wall Street analysts' estimate stood at $23.95 billion.

Further, the company's board of directors has declared a 17 percent higher quarterly cash dividend of 28.0 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable on March 10 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2015.