Syngenta AG (ADR) (NYSE:SYT)

Atrazine

133% return in one year based on 67% analyst ratings from Reuters...street.com

Play in Swiss and ag. PE a litte high buy on dips

overpriced

food prices going up world wide. global growth equals more seed is needed to feed the world.

Even Cancun committed to the developed world giving the developing world the tools it will need to deal with the now inevitable climate changes. This company makes the tools many of them will need. And us too, as they just inked a deal to utilize a product that grows the enzymes for digesting cellulose into biofuel in the grass itself. (http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/12/agrivida-20101212.html#tp)

Agriculture will be huge for 2011. Should be considered as a safe and strong option in any portfolio. I already own AGU and will be adding MOS soon to my portfolio.

The world needs food and Syngenta is in good place to help growing the demand.

Not expecting a smashing success or bubble, but i believe I can ride this to some minor earnings through the seasonal trend.

Agribusiness megatrend for next few years

I expect this won't fall as much as the overall market. Still appears to be a solid long-term buy under $32

Very good technology, and excellent story. Agricultural needs of the world at as their market.

Sygenta is the European answer to Monsanto. It is better value and does not have the bad reputation that Monsanto has been developing.

This is an alternative to Monsanto, which is the real big dog in the agricultural genomics biz. Syngenta isn't as well known and doesn't seem as agressive a company as MON, but pays a higher dividend. But this is a growth business and SYT is the European play on that market. In an ideal portfolio I'd hold some shares of both SYT and MON.

Part of a pair with Monsanto and perhaps duPont as a runner up. I can see the point of people that don't like the manipulation of genes in order to allow these crops to withstand poison in the sense that you might wonder whether such a thing is something you should be consuming. However, on a scientific basis, I can see the companies point that whether a trait is created by man or by nature, the benefit is that you can have increase the yield with a minimum of pesticide application..
Naturally it would be nice if organic crops produced at the same rate as those that use pesticides and fertilizer but this just isn't the case and unless you put a one child limit on the planet, more food is required and this is currently the best method.

Also of interest for MON/SYT is the current development of drought resistant strains as that will expand the food growing areas to parts of the world that are or have become too arid.

SYT is a primary customer and supplier of, and a strategic partner of Monsanto.

Beyond the speculation in agriculture there is truly organic demand for more food and new seeds to enhance crop yields. As commodity prices find their lows this year, money will come back to SYT for its long term growth that will be driven by rising living standards in developing economies.

SYT is a very broad based ag supplier, with its feet in genetics, seed production, and ag chemicals. This type of company seems to have pricing power. They are a eurpean based company, with a VERY large presence in the US, and over the world.

Very large / diversified Agriculture business...with multiples that are more attractive than plays like IPI, MOS, POT.

Based in Switzerland. 21,000 employees. $25 billion cap.

Forward PE = 15 (ttm pe = 18)
Dividend = 3%

2.3 x sales
Qtrly Revenue Growth (yoy): 28.20%

Profit Margin (ttm): 12.99%
Operating Margin (ttm): 18.37%
Return on Assets (ttm): 8.22%
Return on Equity (ttm): 21.29%

Hard to argue with these numbers. They are also set to continue to benefit from the global growth in agriculture. Regardless of spot potash prices etc.. (they are not independent of them...but are very diverse compared to a company like POT which I am short due to extreme valuation)