Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) reported Q4 EPS of $1.41, $0.32 worse than the analyst estimate of $1.73. Revenue for the quarter came in at $486.5 million versus the consensus estimate of $503.87 million.

OUTLOOK

“Our company is poised to benefit from good market conditions for both our Salt and Plant Nutrition businesses,” said Grant. “We expect to achieve earnings growth in our Salt business driven by a return to better operating rates at our Goderich mine, as well as strong commercial execution. In North America, we are seeing positive indications for continued growth in SOP as well as more attractive market conditions for other specialty plant nutrients. In Brazil, we continue to focus on expanding our direct-to-grower sales channel, and as global agriculture prices improve, we expect our customers will increase their spending on specialty nutrients. In our Plant Nutrition business, our operations are running well and achieving planned efficiencies. Given these factors, we currently expect to deliver significant EBITDA growth in 2019, as well as in 2020 as we realize more benefits from our stabilized Salt operations.”

Below is a table summarizing Compass Minerals’ first half and full-year expectations for key financial metrics. The company expects Salt segment earnings to be limited in the first quarter of 2019 by a year-over-year decline in North American highway deicing commitment volumes and continued cost pressures. These factors, combined with negative foreign exchange impacts on translated results for the Plant Nutrition South America segment, are expected to result in first-quarter consolidated EBITDA between $40 million and $50 million.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Compass Minerals (CMP) click here.