Nutrien Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

• Nine-month results supported by record Potash sales volumes, lower Potash operating costs and higher Retail product margins in North America.
• Commenced share repurchases late in the third quarter and have continued activity in the fourth quarter. 

All amounts are in US dollars, except as otherwise noted

Nutrien Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: NTR) announced today its third quarter 2024 results, with net earnings of $25 million ($0.04 diluted net earnings per share). Third quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA1 was $1.0 billion and adjusted net earnings per share1 was $0.39.

“Nutrien delivered higher Potash sales volumes and lower operating costs through the first nine months of 2024, utilizing the strengths of our six-mine network and global distribution capabilities to respond to increased customer demand. We are seeing strong crop nutrient demand in North America for the fall application season following a period of lower field activity in the third quarter,” commented Ken Seitz, Nutrien’s President and CEO.

“We remain focused on strategic priorities that strengthen the advantages of our business across the ag value chain. This includes accelerating the timeline for achieving our annual consolidated cost savings target, further optimizing capital expenditures, delivering upstream fertilizer sales volume growth and advancing high-return downstream Retail growth opportunities. These initiatives provide a pathway for delivering structural improvements to our earnings and free cash flow through the cycle,” added Mr. Seitz.

Highlights2:

• Generated net earnings of $582 million and adjusted EBITDA of $4.3 billion in the first nine months of 2024.

• Retail adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.4 billion in the first nine months of 2024 supported by higher product margins in North America. Lowered full-year 2024 Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.5 to $1.6 billion as favorable growing conditions in North America resulted in reduced pest pressure and lower field activity in the third quarter.

• Potash adjusted EBITDA decreased to $1.6 billion in the first nine months of 2024 due to lower net selling prices, partially offset by record sales volumes of 11.1 million tonnes. Raised full-year 2024 Potash sales volumes guidance to 13.5 to 13.9 million tonnes due to the continued strength of global demand.

• Nitrogen adjusted EBITDA decreased to $1.4 billion in the first nine months of 2024 as lower net selling prices more than offset lower natural gas costs and higher sales volumes. Total ammonia production increased in the first nine months of 2024, driven by improved natural gas utilization and reliability at our operations in Trinidad.

• Accelerated operational efficiency and cost savings initiatives and expect to achieve approximately $200 million of annual consolidated savings by 2025, ahead of our initial target of 2026.

• Maintained total capital expenditures guidance of $2.2 to $2.3 billion for 2024 and expect capital expenditures in a range of $2.0 to $2.1 billion in 2025 to sustain our assets and deliver on our growth initiatives.

• Repurchased 1.5 million shares for a total of approximately $75 million in the second half of 2024 as of November 5, 2024.

1. This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.
2. Our discussion of highlights set out on this page is a comparison of the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The following management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) is the responsibility of management and is dated as of November 6, 2024. The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Nutrien carries out its responsibility for review of this disclosure principally through its Audit Committee, composed entirely of independent directors. The Audit Committee reviews and, prior to its publication, approves this disclosure pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board. The term “Nutrien” refers to Nutrien Ltd. and the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “Nutrien” and “the Company” refer to Nutrien and, as applicable, Nutrien and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Additional information relating to Nutrien (which, except as otherwise noted, is not incorporated by reference herein), including our annual report dated February 22, 2024 (“2023 Annual Report”), which includes our annual audited consolidated financial statements (“annual financial statements”) and MD&A, and our annual information form dated February 22, 2024, each for the year ended December 31, 2023, can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. No update is provided to the disclosure in our 2023 annual MD&A except for material information since the date of our annual MD&A. The Company is a foreign private issuer under the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

This MD&A is based on, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as at and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (“interim financial statements”) based on International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 34 “Interim Financial Reporting”, unless otherwise noted. This MD&A contains certain non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and forward-looking statements, which are described in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the “Forward-Looking Statements” sections, respectively.

Market Outlook and Guidance

Agriculture and Retail Markets

• Favorable growing conditions in the US have supported expectations for record US corn and soybean yields and significant soil nutrient removal in 2024. Prospective crop margins have declined compared to the historically high levels in recent years, however we believe most growers in the US Midwest remain in a healthy financial position. Global grain stocks remain below historical average levels, supporting export demand for North American crops and firm prices for key agriculture commodities such as rice, sugar and palm oil.

• Fertilizer demand in North America for the fall application season has been supported by a relatively early harvest and the need to replenish soil nutrients, following a period of lower field activity in the third quarter.

• Soybean planting in Brazil was delayed by dryness; however, the pace of planting picked up in the second half of October and soybean crop area is expected to increase by one to three percent. Brazilian fertilizer demand is projected to be approximately 46 million tonnes in 2024, in line with historical record levels.

• Australian growing conditions for winter crops have been favorable with timely rains received in key areas, supporting crop production prospects and expected grower returns.

Crop Nutrient Markets

• We raised our 2024 global potash shipment forecast to 70 to 72 million tonnes primarily driven by stronger expected demand in Brazil and Southeast Asia. We believe the increase in global shipments in 2024 has been driven by an underlying increase in consumption in key markets.

• We forecast global potash shipments between 71 and 74 million tonnes in 2025 supported by the need to replenish soil nutrient levels and the relative affordability of potash. We anticipate limited new capacity in 2025 and the potential for incremental supply tightness with demand growth.

• Global ammonia prices have been supported by supply outages, project delays and higher European natural gas values. Chinese urea export restrictions, production challenges from major exporters and strong demand from India and Brazil have tightened the global urea market. US nitrogen inventory was estimated to be well below average levels at the end of the third quarter, which we expect will support demand in the fourth quarter of 2024 and early 2025.

• Global phosphate markets remain tight supported by Chinese export restrictions and production outages in the US. We anticipate some impact on global demand due to tight supply and weaker affordability relative to potash and nitrogen.

Financial and Operational Guidance

• Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance was lowered to $1.5 to $1.6 billion as favorable growing conditions in North America resulted in reduced pest pressure and lower field activity in the third quarter.

• Potash sales volume guidance was raised to 13.5 to 13.9 million tonnes due to the continued strength of global demand. The range reflects our scheduled maintenance downtime in the fourth quarter and the assumption of a relatively short duration labor disruption at the Port of Vancouver.

• Nitrogen sales volume guidance was lowered to 10.6 to 10.8 million tonnes due to extended turnarounds and unplanned outages in the third quarter, including the impact of weather-related events.

• Phosphate sales volume guidance was lowered to 2.4 to 2.5 million tonnes due to weather-related production impacts in the second half of 2024.

• Effective tax rate on adjusted net earnings guidance was lowered primarily due to a change in our expected geographic mix of earnings.

All guidance numbers, including those noted above, are outlined in the table below. Refer to page 65 of Nutrien’s 2023 Annual Report for related assumptions and sensitivities.

 

2024 Guidance Ranges 1 as of

 

November 6, 2024

 

August 7, 2024

(billions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

High

Retail adjusted EBITDA

1.5

 

1.6

 

1.5

 

1.7

Potash sales volumes (million tonnes) 2

13.5

 

13.9

 

13.2

 

13.8

Nitrogen sales volumes (million tonnes) 2

10.6

 

10.8

 

10.7

 

11.1

Phosphate sales volumes (million tonnes) 2

2.4

 

2.5

 

2.5

 

2.6

Depreciation and amortization

2.30

 

2.35

 

2.2

 

2.3

Finance costs

0.70

 

0.75

 

0.7

 

0.8

Effective tax rate on adjusted net earnings (%) 3

21.5

 

22.5

 

23.0

 

25.0

Capital expenditures 4

2.2

 

2.3

 

2.2

 

2.3

1 See the “Forward-Looking Statements” section.

2 Manufactured product only.

3 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

4 Comprised of sustaining capital expenditures, investing capital expenditures and mine development and pre-stripping capital expenditures, which are supplementary financial measures. See the “Other Financial Measures” section.

Consolidated Results

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Sales

5,348

 

5,631

 

(5)

 

20,893

 

23,392

 

(11)

Gross margin

1,500

 

1,627

 

(8)

 

5,949

 

6,706

 

(11)

Expenses

1,304

 

1,242

 

5

 

4,490

 

4,254

 

6

Net earnings

25

 

82

 

(70)

 

582

 

1,106

 

(47)

Adjusted EBITDA 1

1,010

 

1,084

 

(7)

 

4,300

 

4,983

 

(14)

Diluted net earnings per share

0.04

 

0.15

 

(73)

 

1.13

 

2.18

 

(48)

Adjusted net earnings per share 1

0.39

 

0.35

 

11

 

3.18

 

4.01

 

(21)

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

Net earnings and adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to lower Potash net selling prices and Retail earnings, partially offset by higher Nitrogen net selling prices and record Potash sales volumes. Net earnings were impacted over the same period due to higher expense for asset retirement obligations at non-operating sites. For the first nine months of the year, net earnings and adjusted EBITDA decreased due to lower fertilizer net selling prices, partially offset by increased Retail earnings, higher Potash sales volumes and lower natural gas costs. Net earnings were also impacted over the same period due to a loss on foreign currency derivatives.

Segment Results

Our discussion of segment results set out on the following pages is a comparison of the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

Nutrien Ag Solutions (“Retail”)

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Sales

3,271

 

3,490

 

(6)

 

14,653

 

16,040

 

(9)

Cost of goods sold

2,412

 

2,595

 

(7)

 

11,018

 

12,599

 

(13)

Gross margin

859

 

895

 

(4)

 

3,635

 

3,441

 

6

Adjusted EBITDA 1

151

 

197

 

(23)

 

1,356

 

1,230

 

10

1 See Note 2 to the interim financial statements.

• Retail adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter of 2024 due primarily to lower crop nutrient sales volumes in North America and lower seed margins in Brazil. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months increased, supported by higher product margins in North America.

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

Sales

 

Gross Margin

 

Sales

 

Gross Margin

(millions of US dollars)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Crop nutrients

1,093

 

1,250

 

210

 

262

 

5,683

 

6,571

 

1,150

 

1,032

Crop protection products

1,518

 

1,566

 

360

 

339

 

5,365

 

5,790

 

1,271

 

1,220

Seed

132

 

158

 

24

 

54

 

2,051

 

2,093

 

379

 

391

Services and other

242

 

235

 

164

 

150

 

690

 

691

 

528

 

522

Merchandise

222

 

231

 

37

 

40

 

667

 

750

 

110

 

131

Nutrien Financial

85

 

73

 

85

 

73

 

284

 

252

 

284

 

252

Nutrien Financial elimination 1

(21)

 

(23)

 

(21)

 

(23)

 

(87)

 

(107)

 

(87)

 

(107)

Total

3,271

 

3,490

 

859

 

895

 

14,653

 

16,040

 

3,635

 

3,441

1 Represents elimination of the interest and service fees charged by Nutrien Financial to Retail branches.

• Crop nutrients sales decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 due to lower sales volumes and selling prices. Gross margin decreased in the third quarter due to reduced field activity in North America that contributed to lower sales volumes and lower international per-tonne margins compared to the historically high levels in the same period last year that were supported by foreign exchange benefits in Argentina. For the first nine months, gross margin increased due to higher per-tonne margins, including growth in our proprietary crop nutritional and biostimulant product lines.

• Crop protection products sales were lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower selling prices and favorable growing conditions that resulted in reduced pest pressure and lower field activity. Gross margin for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 were supported by the timing of supplier programs and the selling through of lower cost inventory compared to the same periods in 2023.

• Seed sales and gross margin decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 mainly due to the impact of dry weather and delayed planting on our proprietary seed business in Brazil.

• Nutrien Financial sales and gross margin increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 due to higher financing rates offered.

Supplemental Data

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

Gross Margin

 

% of Product Line 1

 

Gross Margin

 

% of Product Line 1

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Proprietary products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crop nutrients

71

 

79

 

38

 

31

 

361

 

347

 

31

 

34

Crop protection products

119

 

107

 

32

 

31

 

429

 

434

 

34

 

36

Seed

4

 

28

 

22

 

54

 

148

 

171

 

39

 

44

Merchandise

4

 

2

 

11

 

6

 

11

 

8

 

10

 

7

Total

198

 

216

 

24

 

24

 

949

 

960

 

26

 

28

1 Represents percentage of proprietary product margins over total product line gross margin.

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

Sales Volumes

(tonnes - thousands)

 

Gross Margin / Tonne

(US dollars)

 

Sales Volumes

(tonnes - thousands)

 

Gross Margin / Tonne

(US dollars)

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Crop nutrients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

931

 

1,118

 

165

 

165

 

6,693

 

6,912

 

147

 

130

International

956

 

880

 

59

 

88

 

2,999

 

2,857

 

56

 

47

Total

1,887

 

1,998

 

111

 

131

 

9,692

 

9,769

 

119

 

106

(percentages)

September 30, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Financial performance measures 1, 2

 

 

 

Cash operating coverage ratio

66

 

68

Adjusted average working capital to sales

20

 

19

Adjusted average working capital to sales excluding Nutrien Financial

-

 

1

Nutrien Financial adjusted net interest margin

5.3

 

5.2

1 Rolling four quarters.

2 These are non-GAAP financial measures. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

Potash

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Net sales

884

 

972

 

(9)

 

2,453

 

2,983

 

(18)

Cost of goods sold

422

 

389

 

8

 

1,139

 

1,047

 

9

Gross margin

462

 

583

 

(21)

 

1,314

 

1,936

 

(32)

Adjusted EBITDA 1

555

 

611

 

(9)

 

1,557

 

1,941

 

(20)

1 See Note 2 to the interim financial statements.

• Potash adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 due to lower net selling prices, partially offset by record sales volumes. Higher potash production and the continued advancement of mine automation contributed to our lower controllable cash cost of product manufactured in the first nine months of 2024.

Manufactured Product

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

($ / tonne, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Sales volumes (tonnes - thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

1,733

 

1,674

 

3,954

 

3,754

Offshore

2,419

 

2,221

 

7,174

 

6,159

Total sales volumes

4,152

 

3,895

 

11,128

 

9,913

Net selling price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

264

 

298

 

287

 

349

Offshore

177

 

213

 

183

 

271

Average net selling price

213

 

250

 

220

 

301

Cost of goods sold

102

 

100

 

102

 

106

Gross margin

111

 

150

 

118

 

195

Depreciation and amortization

43

 

34

 

43

 

35

Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization 1

154

 

184

 

161

 

230

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

• Sales volumes for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 were the highest on record, supported by low channel inventories and strong potash affordability in North America and key offshore markets.

• Net selling price per tonne decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 due to a decline in benchmark prices compared to the same periods in 2023.

• Cost of goods sold per tonne increased in the third quarter of 2024 as higher depreciation more than offset lower royalties and the favorable impact of higher production volumes. For the first nine months of the year, cost of goods sold per tonne decreased mainly due to higher production volumes and lower royalties.

Supplemental Data

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Production volumes (tonnes – thousands)

3,696

 

3,287

 

10,836

 

9,612

Potash controllable cash cost of product manufactured per tonne 1

52

 

56

 

52

 

59

Canpotex sales by market (percentage of sales volumes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latin America

46

 

49

 

41

 

47

Other Asian markets 2

27

 

28

 

29

 

28

China

9

 

10

 

12

 

9

India

4

 

3

 

5

 

5

Other markets

14

 

10

 

13

 

11

Total

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

2 All Asian markets except China and India.

Nitrogen

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

 % Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

 % Change

Net sales

793

 

723

 

10

 

2,732

 

3,251

 

(16)

Cost of goods sold

581

 

569

 

2

 

1,835

 

2,157

 

(15)

Gross margin

212

 

154

 

38

 

897

 

1,094

 

(18)

Adjusted EBITDA 1

355

 

294

 

21

 

1,413

 

1,539

 

(8)

1 See Note 2 to the interim financial statements.

• Nitrogen adjusted EBITDA increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to higher net selling prices. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months decreased as lower net selling prices more than offset lower natural gas costs and higher sales volumes. Our total ammonia production was flat for the third quarter and increased in the first nine months of the year supported by improved natural gas utilization and reliability at our operations in Trinidad.

Manufactured Product

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

($ / tonne, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Sales volumes (tonnes - thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonia

567

 

570

 

1,782

 

1,785

Urea and ESN®

661

 

687

 

2,300

 

2,386

Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

1,227

 

1,130

 

3,698

 

3,518

Total sales volumes

2,455

 

2,387

 

7,780

 

7,689

Net selling price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonia

375

 

272

 

395

 

489

Urea and ESN®

400

 

396

 

427

 

496

Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

207

 

205

 

224

 

255

Average net selling price

298

 

276

 

323

 

384

Cost of goods sold

215

 

208

 

210

 

239

Gross margin

83

 

68

 

113

 

145

Depreciation and amortization

54

 

54

 

54

 

55

Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization 1

137

 

122

 

167

 

200

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

• Sales volumes were higher in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 primarily due to higher production and strong demand for solutions, nitrates, and sulfates.

• Net selling price per tonne was higher in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to stronger ammonia benchmark prices. For the first nine months of the year, net selling price per tonne was lower for all major nitrogen products due to weaker benchmark prices in key nitrogen producing regions in the first half of the year.

• Cost of goods sold per tonne increased in the third quarter of 2024 mainly due to higher natural gas costs in Trinidad, partially offset by lower natural gas costs in North America. For the first nine months of the year, cost of goods sold per tonne decreased primarily due to lower natural gas costs across all operating regions.

Supplemental Data

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Sales volumes (tonnes – thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fertilizer

1,319

 

1,305

 

4,458

 

4,419

Industrial and feed

1,136

 

1,082

 

3,322

 

3,270

Production volumes (tonnes – thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonia production – total 1

1,322

 

1,315

 

4,157

 

3,995

Ammonia production – adjusted 1, 2

895

 

912

 

2,912

 

2,880

Ammonia operating rate (%) 2

79

 

82

 

87

 

88

Natural gas costs (US dollars per MMBtu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall natural gas cost excluding realized derivative impact

3.13

 

2.96

 

2.98

 

3.56

Realized derivative impact 3

0.15

 

(0.01)

 

0.09

 

(0.01)

Overall natural gas cost

3.28

 

2.95

 

3.07

 

3.55

1 All figures are provided on a gross production basis in thousands of product tonnes.

2 Excludes Trinidad and Joffre.

3 Includes realized derivative impacts recorded as part of cost of goods sold or other income and expenses. Refer to Note 4 to the interim financial statements.

Phosphate

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

 % Change

Net sales

412

 

444

 

(7)

 

1,243

 

1,460

 

(15)

Cost of goods sold

383

 

417

 

(8)

 

1,116

 

1,297

 

(14)

Gross margin

29

 

27

 

7

 

127

 

163

 

(22)

Adjusted EBITDA 1

89

 

90

 

(1)

 

298

 

340

 

(12)

1 See Note 2 to the interim financial statements.

• Phosphate adjusted EBITDA was flat in the third quarter of 2024 as higher net selling prices were offset by lower sales volumes and higher input costs. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months decreased as lower net selling prices more than offset higher sales volumes and lower costs.

Manufactured Product

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

($ / tonne, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Sales volumes (tonnes - thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fertilizer

454

 

519

 

1,316

 

1,333

Industrial and feed

168

 

145

 

510

 

465

Total sales volumes

622

 

664

 

1,826

 

1,798

Net selling price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fertilizer

605

 

472

 

611

 

572

Industrial and feed

797

 

946

 

826

 

1,064

Average net selling price

657

 

575

 

671

 

700

Cost of goods sold

601

 

528

 

594

 

604

Gross margin

56

 

47

 

77

 

96

Depreciation and amortization

121

 

113

 

117

 

118

Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization 1

177

 

160

 

194

 

214

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

• Sales volumes were lower in the third quarter of 2024 as weather-related events impacted production volumes. Sales volumes for the first nine months were higher than the same period in 2023 due to stronger industrial and feed demand.

• Net selling price per tonne increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to the strength of fertilizer benchmark prices. For the first nine months of 2024, net selling price per tonne decreased due to lower industrial and feed net selling prices which reflect the typical lag in price realizations relative to benchmark prices.

• Cost of goods sold per tonne increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to higher water treatment costs related to weather-related events, higher ammonia input costs and lower production volumes. Cost of goods sold per tonne for the first nine months was lower mainly due to lower ammonia and sulfur input costs.

Supplemental Data

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Production volumes (P2O5 tonnes – thousands)

330

 

354

 

1,008

 

1,026

P2O5 operating rate (%)

77

 

83

 

79

 

81

Corporate and Others and Eliminations

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Corporate and Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling expenses (recovery)

(2)

 

(3)

 

(33)

 

(7)

 

(7)

 

‐

General and administrative expenses

90

 

88

 

2

 

277

 

260

 

7

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

1

 

42

 

(98)

 

17

 

(7)

 

n/m

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

31

 

87

 

(64)

 

359

 

105

 

242

Other expenses

194

 

30

 

547

 

274

 

82

 

234

Adjusted EBITDA 1

(74)

 

(77)

 

(4)

 

(296)

 

(150)

 

97

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

(62)

 

(32)

 

94

 

(24)

 

72

 

n/m

Adjusted EBITDA 1

(66)

 

(31)

 

113

 

(28)

 

83

 

n/m

1 See Note 2 to the interim financial statements.

• Share-based compensation expense decreased in the third quarter of 2024 due to a lower increase in the fair value of our share-based awards compared to the same period in 2023. We had an expense in the first nine months of 2024 due to an increase in the fair value of our share-based awards compared to a recovery in the same period in 2023 due to a decrease in the fair value of our share-based awards. The fair value of our share-based awards takes into consideration several factors such as our share price movement, our performance relative to our peer group and our return on invested capital.

• Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives was lower in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 due to lower foreign exchange losses in South America. The loss was higher in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 as it included a previously reported $220 million loss on foreign currency derivatives in Brazil. For further detail regarding the impact of the loss and our remediation efforts, see the Controls and Procedures section of this MD&A and Note 6 to the interim financial statements.

• Other expenses were higher in the third quarter and in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same periods in 2023 mainly due to a $185 million increase in expense for asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs recorded in the third quarter of 2024 related to changes in closure cost estimates at certain non-operating sites. The first nine months of 2023 included a $92 million loss on Blue Chip Swaps. Refer to Note 4 for additional information. This was partially offset by an $80 million gain in the first nine months of 2023 from our other post-retirement benefit plan amendments.

• Eliminations of gross margin between operating segments increased in the third quarter of 2024 mainly due to higher sales volumes at higher average margins compared to the same period in 2023. Eliminations of gross margin between operating segments in the first nine months of 2024 was an elimination due to higher sales volumes at lower average margins compared to a recovery in the same period in 2023.

Finance Costs, Income Taxes and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Finance costs

184

 

206

 

(11)

 

525

 

580

 

(9)

Income tax (recovery) expense

(13)

 

97

 

n/m

 

352

 

766

 

(54)

Actual effective tax rate including discrete items (%)

(112)

 

54

 

n/m

 

38

 

41

 

(7)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

122

 

(86)

 

n/m

 

64

 

(16)

 

n/m

• Finance costs were lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower short-term debt average balances partially offset by higher interest rates on long-term debt.

• Income tax was a recovery in the third quarter of 2024 compared to an expense in the same period in 2023 mainly due to a tax recovery in higher tax jurisdictions, which more than offset tax expense in lower tax jurisdictions. The tax recovery resulted in a negative effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The lower income tax expense in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 was due to lower earnings and lower discrete tax adjustments. The discrete tax adjustments in 2023 were related to a change in recognition of deferred tax assets in South America as they no longer met the asset recognition criteria and Canadian audit assessments. These factors resulted in a lower effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

• Other comprehensive income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 compared to a loss for the same periods in 2023 was mainly due to the appreciation of the Australian currency in the third quarter of 2024, and mainly due to appreciation of Australian and Argentinian currencies partially offset by the depreciation of the Brazilian currency in the first nine months of 2024, relative to the US dollar.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Liquidity

We continued to manage our capital in accordance with our capital allocation strategy. We believe that our internally generated cash flow, supplemented by available borrowings under new or existing financing sources, if necessary, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated capital expenditures, planned growth and development activities, and other cash requirements for the foreseeable future. Refer to the “Capital Structure and Management” section for details on our existing long-term debt and credit facilities.

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Change

Cash (used in) provided by operating activities

(908)

 

(469)

 

94

 

412

 

916

 

(55)

Cash used in investing activities

(506)

 

(673)

 

(25)

 

(1,614)

 

(2,225)

 

(27)

Cash provided by financing activities

922

 

976

 

(6)

 

786

 

981

 

(20)

Cash used for dividends and share repurchases 1

(318)

 

(261)

 

22

 

(845)

 

(1,817)

 

(53)

1 This is a supplementary financial measure. See the “Other Financial Measures” section.

Cash (used in) provided by operating activities

• Cash (used in) provided by operating activities in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 was lower compared to the same periods in 2023 primarily due to lower sales across all segments. This was partially offset by lower cash paid for income taxes and cash paid to our suppliers primarily due to lower cost to purchase inventory for resale and other costs such as royalties and sulfur costs.

Cash used in investing activities

• Cash used in investing activities was lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 compared to the same periods in 2023 due to lower capital expenditures and fewer business acquisitions.

Cash provided by financing activities

• Cash provided by financing activities in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 was lower compared to the same periods in 2023 due to lower proceeds from debt. For the first nine months of 2024, we had lower share repurchases compared to the same period in 2023.

Cash used for dividends and share repurchases

• Cash used for dividends and share repurchases was higher in the third quarter of 2024 as we repurchased shares in the third quarter of 2024 with no similar share repurchases in the same period in 2023.
• Cash used for dividends and share repurchases was lower in the first nine months of 2024 from lower share repurchases compared to the same period in 2023.

Financial Condition Review

The following is a comparison of balance sheet categories that are considered material:

 

As at

 

 

 

 

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

September 30, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

$ Change

 

% Change

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

520

 

941

 

(421)

 

(45)

Receivables

7,786

 

5,398

 

2,388

 

44

Inventories

4,890

 

6,336

 

(1,446)

 

(23)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

678

 

1,495

 

(817)

 

(55)

Property, plant and equipment

22,329

 

22,461

 

(132)

 

(1)

Intangible assets

1,877

 

2,217

 

(340)

 

(15)

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt

2,967

 

1,815

 

1,152

 

63

Current portion of long-term debt

1,013

 

512

 

501

 

98

Payables and accrued charges

6,613

 

9,467

 

(2,854)

 

(30)

Long-term debt

9,383

 

8,913

 

470

 

5

Retained earnings

11,291

 

11,531

 

(240)

 

(2)

• Explanations for changes in Cash and cash equivalents are in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Sources and Uses of Cash” section.

• Receivables increased primarily due to the seasonality of Retail sales, resulting in higher receivables with customers and vendor rebates.

• Inventories decreased due to Retail's seasonal sales and lower-value inventories on hand as related benchmark prices decreased. Generally, we build up our inventory levels in North America near year-end in preparation for the next year’s upcoming planting and application seasons.

• Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased due to the seasonal drawdown of prepaid inventories where Retail typically prepays for products during the fourth quarter and takes possession of inventory throughout the following year.

• Property, plant and equipment decreased due to the impairments related to our Retail – Brazil assets and Geismar Clean Ammonia project in the second quarter of 2024.

• Intangible assets decreased due to an impairment of our Retail – Brazil assets in the second quarter of 2024.

• Short-term debt increased due to drawdowns on our commercial paper program based on our working capital requirements driven by the seasonality of our business.

• Payables and accrued charges decreased primarily due to seasonality of our Retail segment. We generally receive higher customer prepayments in North America near year-end and customers draw down on the balance throughout the year. We also had lower trade and other payables as we settled our obligations with suppliers compared to the buildup of trade and other payables near year-end as we purchase inventory for the upcoming spring and planting seasons.

• Long-term debt including current portion increased due to the issuance of $1,000 million of notes in the first nine months of 2024.

• Retained earnings decreased as dividends declared and share repurchases exceeded net earnings in the first nine months of 2024.

Capital Structure and Management

Principal Debt Instruments

As part of the normal course of business, we closely monitor our liquidity position. We use a combination of cash generated from operations and short-term and long-term debt to finance our operations. We continually evaluate various financing arrangements and may seek to engage in transactions from time to time when market and other conditions are favorable. We were in compliance with our debt covenants and did not have any changes to our credit ratings for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Capital Structure (Debt and Equity)

(millions of US dollars)

September 30, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Short-term debt

2,967

 

1,815

Current portion of long-term debt

1,013

 

512

Current portion of lease liabilities

364

 

327

Long-term debt

9,383

 

8,913

Lease liabilities

1,029

 

999

Shareholders' equity

25,006

 

25,201

Commercial Paper, Credit Facilities and Other Debt

We have a total facility limit of approximately $8,200 million comprised of several credit facilities available in the jurisdictions where we operate. Our total facility limit decreased in the third quarter of 2024 due to a reduction in our unsecured revolving term facility limit from $1,500 million to $750 million. In North America, we have a commercial paper program, which is limited to the undrawn amount under our $4,500 million unsecured revolving term credit facility and excess cash invested in highly liquid securities.

As at September 30, 2024, we have utilized $2,895 million of our total facility limit, which includes $2,383 million of commercial paper outstanding. In the third quarter of 2024, we extended the maturities on our $4,500 million unsecured revolving term credit facility to September 4, 2029 and our $750 million unsecured revolving term credit facility to September 3, 2025.

As at September 30, 2024, $231 million in letters of credit were outstanding and committed, with $80 million of remaining credit available under our letter of credit facilities.

Our long-term debt consists primarily of notes and debentures. See the “Capital Structure and Management” section of our 2023 Annual Report for information on balances, rates and maturities for our notes and debentures. On June 21, 2024, we issued $400 million of 5.2 percent senior notes due June 21, 2027 and $600 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due June 21, 2034.

In March 2024, we filed a base shelf prospectus in Canada and the US qualifying the issuance of common shares, debt securities, and other securities during a period of 25 months from March 22, 2024.

See Notes 7, 8 and 9 to the interim financial statements for additional information.

Outstanding Share Data

 

As at November 5, 2024

Common shares

493,432,198

Options to purchase common shares

3,111,221

For more information on our capital structure and management, see Note 24 to the annual financial statements in our 2023 Annual Report.

Quarterly Results

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q3 2024

Q2 2024

Q1 2024

Q4 2023

Q3 2023

Q2 2023

Q1 2023

Q4 2022

Sales

5,348

 

10,156

 

5,389

 

5,664

 

5,631

 

11,654

 

6,107

 

7,533

Net earnings

25

 

392

 

165

 

176

 

82

 

448

 

576

 

1,118

Net earnings attributable to equity holders of Nutrien

18

 

385

 

158

 

172

 

75

 

440

 

571

 

1,112

Net earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Nutrien

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

0.04

 

0.78

 

0.32

 

0.35

 

0.15

 

0.89

 

1.14

 

2.15

Diluted

0.04

 

0.78

 

0.32

 

0.35

 

0.15

 

0.89

 

1.14

 

2.15

Our quarterly earnings are significantly affected by the seasonality of our business, fertilizer benchmark prices, which have been volatile over the last two years and are affected by demand-supply conditions, grower affordability and weather. See Note 10 to the interim financial statements.

The following table describes certain items that impacted our quarterly earnings:

Quarter

Transaction or Event

Q2 2024

$530 million non-cash impairment of assets comprised of a $335 million non-cash impairment of the Retail – Brazil intangible assets and property plant and equipment due to the ongoing market instability and more moderate margin expectations, and a $195 million non-cash impairment of our Geismar Clean Ammonia project property, plant and equipment as we are no longer pursuing the project. We also recorded a foreign exchange loss of $220 million on foreign currency derivatives in Brazil for the second quarter of 2024.

Q2 2023

$698 million non-cash impairment of assets comprised of a $233 million non-cash impairment of our Phosphate White Springs property, plant and equipment due to a decrease in our forecasted phosphate margins and a $465 million non-cash impairment of our Retail – South America assets primarily related to goodwill mainly due to the impact of crop input price volatility, more moderate long-term growth assumptions and higher interest rates, which lowered our forecasted earnings.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in our 2023 Annual Report. We have discussed the development, selection and application of our key accounting policies, and the critical accounting estimates and assumptions they involve, with the Audit Committee of the Board. Our critical accounting estimates are discussed on pages 72 to 74 of our 2023 Annual Report. There were no material changes to our critical accounting estimates for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Controls and Procedures

We are required to maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and National Instrument 52-109 – “Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings” ("NI 52-109") designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Nutrien in its annual filings, interim filings (as these terms are defined in NI 52-109), and other reports filed or submitted by us under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods. As at September 30, 2024, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weakness described below.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting ("ICFR"), as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, as amended, and NI 52-109. ICFR is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Any system of ICFR, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have designed ICFR based on the framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013). A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in ICFR, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual financial statements, or interim financial statements, will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

As at September 30, 2024, we have a material weakness related to our controls over derivative contract authorization in Brazil, which was identified by our management in late June 2024 and which resulted in unauthorized execution of derivative contracts in the second quarter of 2024. This material weakness did not result in any errors or a material misstatement in our interim or annual financial statements.

In the second quarter of 2024, changes were introduced to our derivative contract authorization and execution process in Brazil. As a result of these changes, our controls were not designed effectively to ensure that segregation of duties was maintained, and checks of authorization were performed in a timely manner and that derivative contracts entered into were recorded in our treasury reporting systems on a timely basis.

Notwithstanding this identified material weakness, we believe that our interim financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, our business, financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented.

Remediation Plan

The control deficiency described above was identified by our management in late June 2024, prior to the preparation and filing of our interim financial statements as at June 30, 2024 and for the three and six months then ended. We have prioritized the remediation of the material weakness described above and are working to complete certain remediation activities under the oversight of the Audit Committee to resolve the issue.

Specific actions that are being taken to remediate this material weakness include the following:

• redesigning certain processes and controls relating to derivative contract authorization and execution in Brazil, including with respect to segregation of duties, compliance and confirmation, accounting and reconciliation activities, authority limits, and systems controls; and,
• enhancing the supervision and review activities related to trading in derivative contracts in Brazil.

As of September 30, 2024, we have taken steps to implement our remediation plan; however, the material weakness will not be considered remediated until the enhanced controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are designed and operating effectively. We will continue to monitor our remediation plan in relation to the material weakness with the intention of such being remediated by the end of 2024.

Other than the remediation steps relating to the material weakness described above, there has been no change in our ICFR during the three months ended September 30, 2024 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our ICFR.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and other information included in this document, including within the “Market Outlook and Guidance” section, constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) under applicable securities laws (such statements are often accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “forecast”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend” or other similar words). All statements in this document, other than those relating to historical information or current conditions, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

Nutrien's business strategies, plans, prospects and opportunities; Nutrien's 2024 full-year guidance, including expectations regarding Retail adjusted EBITDA, Potash sales volumes, Nitrogen sales volumes, Phosphate sales volumes, depreciation and amortization, finance costs, effective tax rate and capital expenditures; expectations regarding certain targets, including our targeted $200 million in annual consolidated cost savings, expected capital expenditures in 2025, delivering upstream fertilizer sales volume growth and advancing high-return downstream Retail growth opportunities, and the anticipated benefits thereof, including with respect to earnings and cash flow; expectations regarding our capital allocation intentions and strategies; our ability to advance strategic initiatives and high value growth investments; capital spending expectations for 2024 and beyond; expectations regarding performance of our operating segments in 2024 and beyond, including increased potash shipment forecasts; expectations regarding a strong fall fertilizer application season in North America; our operating segment market outlooks and our expectations for market conditions and fundamentals, and the anticipated supply and demand for our products and services, expected market, industry and growing conditions with respect to crop nutrient application rates, planted acres, grower crop investment, crop mix, including the need to replenish soil nutrient levels, production volumes and expenses, shipments, natural gas costs and availability, consumption, prices, operating rates and the impact of seasonality, import and export volumes, economic sanctions and restrictions, operating rates, inventories, crop development and natural gas curtailments; the negotiation of sales contracts; acquisitions and divestitures and the anticipated benefits thereof; expectations in connection with our ability to deliver long-term returns to shareholders, and expectations related to the timing and outcome of remediation efforts for the material weakness in ICFR related to derivative contract authorization.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.

All of the forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions referred to below and elsewhere in this document. Although we believe that these assumptions are reasonable, having regard to our experience and our perception of historical trends, this list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements and the reader should not place undue reliance on these assumptions and such forward-looking statements. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty.

The additional key assumptions that have been made in relation to the operation of our business as currently planned and our ability to achieve our business objectives include, among other things, assumptions with respect to: our ability to successfully implement our business strategies, growth and capital allocation investments and initiatives that we will conduct our operations and achieve results of operations as anticipated; our ability to successfully complete, integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of our already completed and future acquisitions and divestitures, and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies in respect of any acquired businesses and to realize the expected synergies on the anticipated timeline or at all; that future business, regulatory and industry conditions will be within the parameters expected by us, including with respect to prices, expenses, margins, demand, supply, product availability, shipments, consumption, weather conditions, including the current El Niño weather pattern, supplier agreements, product distribution agreements, inventory levels, exports, crop development and cost of labor and interest, exchange and effective tax rates; potash demand growth in offshore markets and normalization of Canpotex port operations; global economic conditions and the accuracy of our market outlook expectations for 2024 and in the future; assumptions related to our assessment of recoverable amount estimates of our assets, including in relation to our Retail - Brazil business asset impairments; our intention to complete share repurchases under our normal course issuer bid programs, the funding of such share repurchases, existing and future market conditions, including with respect to the price of our common shares, capital allocation priorities and compliance with respect to applicable limitations under securities laws and regulations and stock exchange policies and assumptions related to our ability to fund our dividends at the current level; our expectations regarding the impacts, direct and indirect, of certain geopolitical conflicts, including the war in Eastern Europe and the conflict in the Middle East on, among other things, global supply and demand, including for crop nutrients, energy and commodity prices, global interest rates, supply chains and the global macroeconomic environment, including inflation; assumptions regarding future markets for clean ammonia; the adequacy of our cash generated from operations and our ability to access our credit facilities or capital markets for additional sources of financing; our ability to identify suitable candidates for acquisitions and divestitures and negotiate acceptable terms; our ability to maintain investment grade ratings and achieve our performance targets; our ability to successfully negotiate sales and other contracts and our ability to successfully implement new initiatives and programs; and our ability to successfully remediate the material weakness in our ICFR related to derivative contract authorization.

Events or circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general global economic, market and business conditions; failure to achieve expected results of our business strategy, capital allocation initiatives, results of operations or targets, such as our targeted $200 million in annual consolidated cost savings, expected capital expenditures in 2025, delivering upstream fertilizer sales volume growth and advancing high-return downstream Retail growth opportunities; failure to complete announced and future acquisitions or divestitures at all or on the expected terms and within the expected timeline; seasonality; climate change and weather conditions, including the current El Niño weather pattern (and transition to La Niña weather pattern), including impacts from regional flooding and/or drought conditions; crop planted acreage, yield and prices; the supply and demand and price levels for our products; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy (including tariffs, trade restrictions and climate change initiatives), government ownership requirements, changes in environmental, tax, antitrust and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof; political or military risks, including civil unrest, actions by armed groups or conflict and malicious acts including terrorism and industrial espionage; our ability to access sufficient, cost-effective and timely transportation, distribution and storage of products (including potential rail transportation and port disruptions due to labor strikes and/or work stoppages or other similar actions); the occurrence of a major environmental or safety incident or becoming subject to legal or regulatory proceedings; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; counterparty and sovereign risk; delays in completion of turnarounds at our major facilities or challenges related to our major facilities that are out of our control; interruptions of or constraints in availability of key inputs, including natural gas and sulfur; any significant impairment of the carrying amount of certain assets; the risk that rising interest rates and/or deteriorated business operating results may result in the further impairment of assets or goodwill attributed to certain of our cash generating units; risks related to reputational loss; certain complications that may arise in our mining processes; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees and strikes or other forms of work stoppages; geopolitical conflicts, including the war in Eastern Europe and the conflict in the Middle East, and their potential impact on, among other things, global market conditions and supply and demand, including for crop nutrients, energy and commodity prices, interest rates, supply chains and the global economy generally; our ability to execute on our strategies related to environmental, social and governance matters, and achieve related expectations, targets and commitments, including risks associated with disclosure thereof; failure to remediate the material weakness in our ICFR related to derivative contract authorization; and other risk factors detailed from time to time in Nutrien reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC.

The purpose of our revised Retail adjusted EBITDA and our depreciation and amortization, finance costs, effective tax rate and capital expenditures guidance ranges are to assist readers in understanding our expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof and Nutrien disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this document as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable Canadian securities legislation or applicable US federal securities laws.

Terms and Definitions

For the definitions of certain financial and non-financial terms used in this document, as well as a list of abbreviated company names and sources, see the “Terms & Definitions” section of our 2023 Annual Report. All references to per share amounts pertain to diluted net earnings (loss) per share, “n/m” indicates information that is not meaningful, and all financial amounts are stated in millions of US dollars, unless otherwise noted.

About Nutrien

Nutrien is a leading global provider of crop inputs and services. We operate a world-class network of production, distribution and ag retail facilities that positions us to efficiently serve the needs of growers. We focus on creating long-term value by prioritizing investments that strengthen the advantages of our business across the ag value chain and by maintaining access to the resources and the relationships with stakeholders needed to achieve our goals.

More information about Nutrien can be found at www.nutrien.com.

Selected financial data for download can be found in our data tool at www.nutrien.com/investors/interactive-datatool Such data is not incorporated by reference herein.

Nutrien will host a Conference Call on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Telephone conference dial-in numbers:

• From Canada and the US 1-888-870-4559
• International 647-931-1822
• No access code required. Please dial in 15 minutes prior to ensure you are placed on the call in a timely manner.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use both IFRS measures and certain non-GAAP financial measures to assess performance. Non-GAAP financial measures are financial measures disclosed by the Company that: (a) depict historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of the Company; (b) with respect to their composition, exclude amounts that are included in, or include amounts that are excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the Company; (c) are not disclosed in the financial statements of the Company; and (d) are not a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation. Non-GAAP ratios are financial measures disclosed by the Company that are in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation that has a non-GAAP financial measure as one or more of its components, and that are not disclosed in the financial statements of the Company.

These non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios are not standardized financial measures under IFRS and, therefore, are unlikely to be comparable to similar financial measures presented by other companies. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios provide transparent and useful supplemental information to help investors evaluate our financial performance, financial condition and liquidity using the same measures as management. These non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following section outlines our non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, their compositions, and why management uses each measure. It also includes reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures. Except as otherwise described herein, our non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios are calculated on a consistent basis from period to period and are adjusted for specific items in each period, as applicable. As additional non-recurring or unusual items arise in the future, we generally exclude these items in our calculations.

Adjusted EBITDA (Consolidated)

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Net earnings (loss).

Definition: Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and certain foreign exchange gain/loss (net of related derivatives). We also adjust this measure for the following other income and expenses that are excluded when management evaluates the performance of our day-to-day operations: integration and restructuring related costs, impairment or reversal of impairment of assets, gain or loss on disposal of certain businesses and investments, asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) and accrued environmental costs (“ERL”) related to our non-operating sites, and loss related to financial instruments in Argentina.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: It is not impacted by long-term investment and financing decisions, but rather focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations. It provides a measure of our ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations and as a component of employee remuneration calculations.

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Net earnings

25

 

82

 

582

 

1,106

Finance costs

184

 

206

 

525

 

580

Income tax (recovery) expense

(13)

 

97

 

352

 

766

Depreciation and amortization

598

 

552

 

1,749

 

1,604

EBITDA 1

794

 

937

 

3,208

 

4,056

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

1

 

42

 

17

 

(7)

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

31

 

87

 

359

 

105

ARO/ERL related expenses for non-operating sites

184

 

4

 

152

 

10

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

34

 

92

Integration and restructuring related costs

‐

 

14

 

‐

 

29

Impairment of assets

‐

 

‐

 

530

 

698

Adjusted EBITDA

1,010

 

1,084

 

4,300

 

4,983

1 EBITDA is calculated as net earnings before finance costs, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings Per Share

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Net earnings (loss) and diluted net earnings (loss) per share.

Definition: Adjusted net earnings and related per share information are calculated as net earnings (loss) before share-based compensation and certain foreign exchange gain/loss (net of related derivatives), net of tax. We also adjust this measure for the following other income and expenses (net of tax) that are excluded when management evaluates the performance of our day-to-day operations: certain integration and restructuring related costs, impairment or reversal of impairment of assets, gain or loss on disposal of certain businesses and investments, gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt or on settlement of derivatives due to discontinuance of hedge accounting, asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs related to our non-operating sites, loss related to financial instruments in Argentina, change in recognition of tax losses and deductible temporary differences related to impairments and certain changes to tax declarations. We generally apply the annual forecasted effective tax rate to specific adjustments during the year, and at year-end, we apply the actual effective tax rate.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations and is used as a component of employee remuneration calculations.

 

Three Months Ended

September 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Increases (Decreases)

 

Post-Tax

 

Per Diluted Share

Increases (Decreases)

 

Post-Tax

 

Per Diluted Share

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to equity holders of Nutrien

 

 

18

 

0.04

 

 

561

 

1.13

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense

1

 

1

 

‐

17

 

13

 

0.03

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

31

 

38

 

0.08

359

 

361

 

0.73

Impairment of assets

‐

 

‐

 

‐

530

 

491

 

1.00

ARO/ERL related expenses for non-operating sites

184

 

134

 

0.27

152

 

112

 

0.22

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

‐

34

 

34

 

0.07

Adjusted net earnings

 

 

191

 

0.39

 

 

1,572

 

3.18

 

Three Months Ended

September 30, 2023

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2023

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Increases (Decreases)

 

Post-Tax

 

Per Diluted Share

 

Increases (Decreases)

 

Post-Tax

 

Per Diluted Share

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to equity holders of Nutrien

 

 

75

 

0.15

 

 

 

1,086

 

2.18

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

42

 

19

 

0.04

 

(7)

 

(4)

 

(0.01)

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

87

 

71

 

0.14

 

105

 

80

 

0.16

Integration and restructuring related costs

14

 

6

 

0.02

 

29

 

17

 

0.03

Impairment of assets

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

698

 

653

 

1.32

ARO/ERL related expenses for non-operating sites

4

 

2

 

‐

 

10

 

6

 

0.02

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

92

 

92

 

0.18

Change in recognition of deferred tax assets

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

66

 

66

 

0.13

Adjusted net earnings

 

 

173

 

0.35

 

 

 

1,996

 

4.01

Effective Tax Rate on Adjusted Net Earnings Guidance

Effective tax rate on adjusted net earnings guidance is a forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure as it includes adjusted net earnings, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. It is provided to assist readers in understanding our expected financial results. Effective tax rate on adjusted net earnings guidance excludes certain items that management is aware of that permit management to focus on the performance of our operations (see the Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings Per Share section for items generally adjusted). We do not provide a reconciliation of this forward-looking measure to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS because a meaningful or accurate calculation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort due to unknown variables, including the timing and amount of certain reconciling items, and the uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value that may be inherently difficult to determine without unreasonable efforts. The probable significance of such unavailable information, which could be material to future results, cannot be addressed.

Gross Margin Excluding Depreciation and Amortization Per Tonne – Manufactured Product

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Gross margin.

Definition: Gross margin per tonne less depreciation and amortization per tonne for manufactured products. Reconciliations are provided in the “Segment Results” section.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations, which excludes the effects of items that primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions.

Potash Controllable Cash Cost of Product Manufactured (“COPM”) Per Tonne

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Cost of goods sold (“COGS”) for the Potash segment.

Definition: Total Potash COGS excluding depreciation and amortization expense included in COPM, royalties, natural gas costs and carbon taxes, change in inventory, and other adjustments, divided by potash production tonnes.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To assess operational performance. Potash controllable cash COPM excludes the effects of production from other periods and the impacts of our long-term investment decisions, supporting a focus on the performance of our day-to-day operations. Potash controllable cash COPM also excludes royalties and natural gas costs and carbon taxes, which management does not consider controllable, as they are primarily driven by regulatory and market conditions.

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Total COGS – Potash

422

 

389

 

1,139

 

1,047

Change in inventory

(51)

 

(73)

 

(30)

 

(47)

Other adjustments 1

(5)

 

(2)

 

(14)

 

(19)

COPM

366

 

314

 

1,095

 

981

Depreciation and amortization in COPM

(145)

 

(102)

 

(439)

 

(303)

Royalties in COPM

(23)

 

(20)

 

(62)

 

(77)

Natural gas costs and carbon taxes in COPM

(7)

 

(9)

 

(27)

 

(34)

Controllable cash COPM

191

 

183

 

567

 

567

Production tonnes (tonnes – thousands)

3,696

 

3,287

 

10,836

 

9,612

Potash controllable cash COPM per tonne

52

 

56

 

52

 

59

1 Other adjustments include unallocated production overhead that is recognized as part of cost of goods sold but is not included in the measurement of inventory and changes in inventory balances.

Nutrien Financial Adjusted Net Interest Margin

Definition: Nutrien Financial revenue less deemed interest expense divided by average Nutrien Financial net receivables outstanding for the last four rolling quarters.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Used by credit rating agencies and others to evaluate the financial performance of Nutrien Financial.

 

Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q4 2023

 

Q1 2024

 

Q2 2024

 

Q3 2024

 

Total/Average

Nutrien Financial revenue

70

 

66

 

133

 

85

 

 

Deemed interest expense 1

(36)

 

(27)

 

(50)

 

(52)

 

 

Net interest

34

 

39

 

83

 

33

 

189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Nutrien Financial net receivables

2,893

 

2,489

 

4,560

 

4,318

 

3,565

Nutrien Financial adjusted net interest margin (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolling four quarters ended December 31, 2023

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q1 2023

 

Q2 2023

 

Q3 2023

 

Q4 2023

 

Total/Average

Nutrien Financial revenue

57

 

122

 

73

 

70

 

 

Deemed interest expense 1

(20)

 

(39)

 

(41)

 

(36)

 

 

Net interest

37

 

83

 

32

 

34

 

186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Nutrien Financial net receivables

2,283

 

4,716

 

4,353

 

2,893

 

3,561

Nutrien Financial adjusted net interest margin (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.2

1 Average borrowing rate applied to the notional debt required to fund the portfolio of receivables from customers monitored and serviced by Nutrien Financial.

Retail Cash Operating Coverage Ratio

Definition: Retail selling, general and administrative, and other expenses (income), excluding depreciation and amortization expense, divided by Retail gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization expense in cost of goods sold, for the last four rolling quarters.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To understand the costs and underlying economics of our Retail operations and to assess our Retail operating performance and ability to generate free cash flow.

 

Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q4 2023

 

Q1 2024

 

Q2 2024

 

Q3 2024

 

Total

Selling expenses

841

 

790

 

1,005

 

815

 

3,451

General and administrative expenses

55

 

52

 

51

 

51

 

209

Other expenses

77

 

22

 

41

 

32

 

172

Operating expenses

973

 

864

 

1,097

 

898

 

3,832

Depreciation and amortization in operating expenses

(199)

 

(190)

 

(193)

 

(182)

 

(764)

Operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

774

 

674

 

904

 

716

 

3,068

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

989

 

747

 

2,029

 

859

 

4,624

Depreciation and amortization in cost of goods sold

2

 

4

 

3

 

8

 

17

Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization

991

 

751

 

2,032

 

867

 

4,641

Cash operating coverage ratio (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolling four quarters ended December 31, 2023

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q1 2023

 

Q2 2023

 

Q3 2023

 

Q4 2023

 

Total

Selling expenses

765

 

971

 

798

 

841

 

3,375

General and administrative expenses

50

 

55

 

57

 

55

 

217

Other expenses

15

 

29

 

37

 

77

 

158

Operating expenses

830

 

1,055

 

892

 

973

 

3,750

Depreciation and amortization in operating expenses

(179)

 

(185)

 

(186)

 

(199)

 

(749)

Operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

651

 

870

 

706

 

774

 

3,001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

615

 

1,931

 

895

 

989

 

4,430

Depreciation and amortization in cost of goods sold

2

 

3

 

3

 

2

 

10

Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization

617

 

1,934

 

898

 

991

 

4,440

Cash operating coverage ratio (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

68

Retail Adjusted Average Working Capital to Sales and Retail Adjusted Average Working Capital to Sales Excluding Nutrien Financial

Definition: Retail adjusted average working capital divided by Retail adjusted sales for the last four rolling quarters. We exclude in our calculations the sales and working capital of certain acquisitions during the first year following the acquisition. We also look at this metric excluding Nutrien Financial revenue and working capital.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To evaluate operational efficiency. A lower or higher percentage represents increased or decreased efficiency, respectively. The metric excluding Nutrien Financial shows the impact that the working capital of Nutrien Financial has on the ratio.

 

Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q4 2023

 

Q1 2024

 

Q2 2024

 

Q3 2024

 

Average/Total

Current assets

10,498

 

11,821

 

11,181

 

10,559

 

 

Current liabilities

(8,210)

 

(8,401)

 

(8,002)

 

(5,263)

 

 

Working capital

2,288

 

3,420

 

3,179

 

5,296

 

3,546

Working capital from certain recent acquisitions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

 

Adjusted working capital

2,288

 

3,420

 

3,179

 

5,296

 

3,546

Nutrien Financial working capital

(2,893)

 

(2,489)

 

(4,560)

 

(4,318)

 

 

Adjusted working capital excluding Nutrien Financial

(605)

 

931

 

(1,381)

 

978

 

(19)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

3,502

 

3,308

 

8,074

 

3,271

 

 

Sales from certain recent acquisitions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

 

Adjusted sales

3,502

 

3,308

 

8,074

 

3,271

 

18,155

Nutrien Financial revenue

(70)

 

(66)

 

(133)

 

(85)

 

 

Adjusted sales excluding Nutrien Financial

3,432

 

3,242

 

7,941

 

3,186

 

17,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted average working capital to sales (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Adjusted average working capital to sales excluding Nutrien Financial (%)

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolling four quarters ended December 31, 2023

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Q1 2023

 

Q2 2023

 

Q3 2023

 

Q4 2023

 

Average/Total

Current assets

13,000

 

11,983

 

10,398

 

10,498

 

 

Current liabilities

(8,980)

 

(8,246)

 

(5,228)

 

(8,210)

 

 

Working capital

4,020

 

3,737

 

5,170

 

2,288

 

3,804

Working capital from certain recent acquisitions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

 

Adjusted working capital

4,020

 

3,737

 

5,170

 

2,288

 

3,804

Nutrien Financial working capital

(2,283)

 

(4,716)

 

(4,353)

 

(2,893)

 

 

Adjusted working capital excluding Nutrien Financial

1,737

 

(979)

 

817

 

(605)

 

243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

3,422

 

9,128

 

3,490

 

3,502

 

 

Sales from certain recent acquisitions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

 

Adjusted sales

3,422

 

9,128

 

3,490

 

3,502

 

19,542

Nutrien Financial revenue

(57)

 

(122)

 

(73)

 

(70)

 

 

Adjusted sales excluding Nutrien Financial

3,365

 

9,006

 

3,417

 

3,432

 

19,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted average working capital to sales (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Adjusted average working capital to sales excluding Nutrien Financial (%)

 

 

 

1

Other Financial Measures

Selected Additional Financial Data

Nutrien Financial

As at September 30, 2024

As at

December

31, 2023

(millions of US dollars)

Current

<31 Days

Past Due

31–90 Days

Past Due

>90 Days

Past Due

Gross Receivables

Allowance 1

Net

Receivables

Net

Receivables

North America

3,213

105

79

191

3,588

(61)

3,527

2,206

International

646

62

25

69

802

(11)

791

687

Nutrien Financial receivables

3,859

167

104

260

4,390

(72)

4,318

2,893

1 Bad debt expense on the above receivables for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $44 million and $36 million, respectively, in the Retail segment.

Supplementary Financial Measures

Supplementary financial measures are financial measures disclosed by the Company that (a) are, or are intended to be, disclosed on a periodic basis to depict the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of the Company, (b) are not disclosed in the financial statements of the Company, (c) are not non-GAAP financial measures, and (d) are not non-GAAP ratios.

The following section provides an explanation of the composition of those supplementary financial measures, if not previously provided.

Sustaining capital expenditures: Represents capital expenditures that are required to sustain operations at existing levels and include major repairs and maintenance and plant turnarounds.

Investing capital expenditures: Represents capital expenditures related to significant expansions of current operations or to create cost savings (synergies). Investing capital expenditures excludes capital outlays for business acquisitions and equity-accounted investees.

Mine development and pre-stripping capital expenditures: Represents capital expenditures that are required for activities to open new areas underground and/or develop a mine or ore body to allow for future production mining and activities required to prepare and/or access the ore, i.e., removal of an overburden that allows access to the ore.

Cash used for dividends and share repurchases: Calculated as dividends paid to Nutrien’s shareholders plus repurchase of common shares as reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. This measure is useful as it represents return of capital to shareholders.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Note

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

SALES

2, 11

5,348

 

5,631

 

20,893

 

23,392

Freight, transportation and distribution

 

263

 

263

 

741

 

714

Cost of goods sold

 

3,585

 

3,741

 

14,203

 

15,972

GROSS MARGIN

 

1,500

 

1,627

 

5,949

 

6,706

Selling expenses

 

820

 

799

 

2,622

 

2,548

General and administrative expenses

 

156

 

151

 

468

 

453

Provincial mining taxes

 

74

 

96

 

210

 

319

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

 

1

 

42

 

17

 

(7)

Impairment of assets

3

‐

 

‐

 

530

 

698

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

6

31

 

87

 

359

 

105

Other expenses

4

222

 

67

 

284

 

138

EARNINGS BEFORE FINANCE COSTS AND INCOME TAXES

196

 

385

 

1,459

 

2,452

Finance costs

 

184

 

206

 

525

 

580

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

12

 

179

 

934

 

1,872

Income tax (recovery) expense

5

(13)

 

97

 

352

 

766

NET EARNINGS

 

25

 

82

 

582

 

1,106

Attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity holders of Nutrien

 

18

 

75

 

561

 

1,086

Non-controlling interest

 

7

 

7

 

21

 

20

NET EARNINGS

 

25

 

82

 

582

 

1,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF NUTRIEN ("EPS")

Basic

 

0.04

 

0.15

 

1.13

 

2.18

Diluted

 

0.04

 

0.15

 

1.13

 

2.18

Weighted average shares outstanding for basic EPS

 

494,743,000

 

494,517,000

 

494,653,000

 

496,999,000

Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted EPS

 

494,857,000

 

495,056,000

 

494,851,000

 

497,708,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars, net of related income taxes)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

NET EARNINGS

25

 

82

 

582

 

1,106

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items that will not be reclassified to net earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(3)

Net fair value gain (loss) on investments

35

 

(6)

 

53

 

5

Items that have been or may be subsequently reclassified to net earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on currency translation of foreign operations

85

 

(64)

 

28

 

(14)

Other

2

 

(16)

 

(17)

 

(4)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

122

 

(86)

 

64

 

(16)

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

147

 

(4)

 

646

 

1,090

Attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity holders of Nutrien

139

 

(11)

 

625

 

1,070

Non-controlling interest

8

 

7

 

21

 

20

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

147

 

(4)

 

646

 

1,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars)

Note

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

 

Note 1

 

 

 

Note 1

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

25

 

82

 

582

 

1,106

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

598

 

552

 

1,749

 

1,604

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

 

1

 

42

 

17

 

(7)

Impairment of assets

3

‐

 

‐

 

530

 

698

(Recovery of) provision for deferred income tax

 

(36)

 

55

 

15

 

176

Net (undistributed) distributed earnings of equity-accounted investees

 

(24)

 

(28)

 

14

 

112

Fair value adjustment to derivatives

6

(180)

 

(27)

 

6

 

5

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

4

‐

 

‐

 

34

 

92

Long-term income tax receivables and payables

 

9

 

1

 

17

 

(89)

Other long-term assets, liabilities and miscellaneous

 

251

 

53

 

321

 

39

Cash from operations before working capital changes

 

644

 

730

 

3,285

 

3,736

Changes in non-cash operating working capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

418

 

627

 

(2,394)

 

(1,491)

Inventories and prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

373

 

794

 

2,265

 

3,366

Payables and accrued charges

 

(2,343)

 

(2,620)

 

(2,744)

 

(4,695)

CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

(908)

 

(469)

 

412

 

916

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures 1

 

(529)

 

(634)

 

(1,449)

 

(1,890)

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(2)

 

‐

 

(6)

 

(116)

(Purchase of) proceeds from investments, held within three months, net

 

(15)

 

(36)

 

(30)

 

(134)

Purchase of investments

 

(1)

 

(12)

 

(112)

 

(12)

Net changes in non-cash working capital

 

30

 

36

 

(55)

 

(68)

Other

 

11

 

(27)

 

38

 

(5)

CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(506)

 

(673)

 

(1,614)

 

(2,225)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from (repayment of) debt, maturing within three months, net

 

1,378

 

1,445

 

1,089

 

2,213

Proceeds from debt

8

‐

 

‐

 

998

 

1,500

Repayment of debt

 

(43)

 

(118)

 

(132)

 

(635)

Repayment of principal portion of lease liabilities

 

(98)

 

(91)

 

(300)

 

(278)

Dividends paid to Nutrien's shareholders

 

(268)

 

(261)

 

(795)

 

(770)

Repurchase of common shares

9

(50)

 

‐

 

(50)

 

(1,047)

Issuance of common shares

 

7

 

1

 

16

 

32

Other

 

(4)

 

‐

 

(40)

 

(34)

CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

922

 

976

 

786

 

981

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

8

 

(17)

 

(5)

 

(19)

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(484)

 

(183)

 

(421)

 

(347)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

1,004

 

737

 

941

 

901

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – END OF PERIOD

 

520

 

554

 

520

 

554

Cash and cash equivalents is composed of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

472

 

508

 

472

 

508

Short-term investments

 

48

 

46

 

48

 

46

 

 

520

 

554

 

520

 

554

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

148

 

137

 

496

 

462

Income taxes paid

 

127

 

133

 

260

 

1,722

Total cash outflow for leases

 

134

 

125

 

418

 

373

1 Includes additions to property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2024 of $489 million and $40 million (2023 – $580 million and $54 million), respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $1,333 million and $116 million (2023 – $1,734 million and $156 million), respectively.

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) Income ("AOCI")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(millions of US dollars, inclusive of related tax, except as otherwise noted)

Number of Common Shares

 

Share Capital

 

Contributed Surplus

 

(Loss) Gain on Currency Translation of Foreign Operations

 

Other

 

Total AOCI

 

Retained Earnings

 

Equity Holders of Nutrien

 

Non-Controlling Interest

 

Total Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE – DECEMBER 31, 2022

507,246,105

 

14,172

 

109

 

(374)

 

(17)

 

(391)

 

11,928

 

25,818

 

45

 

25,863

Net earnings

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

1,086

 

1,086

 

20

 

1,106

Other comprehensive loss

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(14)

 

(2)

 

(16)

 

‐

 

(16)

 

‐

 

(16)

Shares repurchased (Note 9)

(13,378,189)

 

(374)

 

(26)

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(600)

 

(1,000)

 

‐

 

(1,000)

Dividends declared - $1.59/share

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(789)

 

(789)

 

‐

 

(789)

Non-controlling interest transactions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(14)

 

(14)

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

664,230

 

39

 

(1)

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

38

 

‐

 

38

Transfer of net gain on sale of investment

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(14)

 

(14)

 

14

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

8

 

8

 

‐

 

8

 

‐

 

8

Transfer of net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

3

 

3

 

(3)

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

BALANCE – SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

494,532,146

 

13,837

 

82

 

(388)

 

(22)

 

(410)

 

11,636

 

25,145

 

51

 

25,196

BALANCE – DECEMBER 31, 2023

494,551,730

 

13,838

 

83

 

(286)

 

(10)

 

(296)

 

11,531

 

25,156

 

45

 

25,201

Net earnings

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

561

 

561

 

21

 

582

Other comprehensive income

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

28

 

36

 

64

 

‐

 

64

 

‐

 

64

Shares repurchased (Note 9)

(1,039,185)

 

(29)

 

(21)

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(1)

 

(51)

 

‐

 

(51)

Dividends declared - $1.62/share

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(800)

 

(800)

 

‐

 

(800)

Non-controlling interest transactions

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(26)

 

(26)

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

369,904

 

18

 

5

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

23

 

‐

 

23

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

13

 

13

 

‐

 

13

 

‐

 

13

BALANCE – SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

493,882,449

 

13,827

 

67

 

(258)

 

39

 

(219)

 

11,291

 

24,966

 

40

 

25,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

September 30

 

December 31

As at (millions of US dollars)

Note

2024

 

2023

 

2023

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

520

 

554

 

941

Receivables

6, 7, 11

7,786

 

7,713

 

5,398

Inventories

 

4,890

 

5,169

 

6,336

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

678

 

656

 

1,495

 

 

13,874

 

14,092

 

14,170

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

3

22,329

 

22,150

 

22,461

Goodwill

 

12,122

 

12,078

 

12,114

Intangible assets

3

1,877

 

2,219

 

2,217

Investments

 

739

 

731

 

736

Other assets

 

970

 

959

 

1,051

TOTAL ASSETS

 

51,911

 

52,229

 

52,749

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt

7

2,967

 

4,354

 

1,815

Current portion of long-term debt

8

1,013

 

‐

 

512

Current portion of lease liabilities

 

364

 

305

 

327

Payables and accrued charges

6

6,613

 

6,653

 

9,467

 

 

10,957

 

11,312

 

12,121

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

8

9,383

 

9,427

 

8,913

Lease liabilities

 

1,029

 

901

 

999

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

3,555

 

3,631

 

3,574

Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities

 

245

 

241

 

252

Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs

 

1,564

 

1,353

 

1,489

Other non-current liabilities

 

172

 

168

 

200

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

26,905

 

27,033

 

27,548

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

9

13,827

 

13,837

 

13,838

Contributed surplus

 

67

 

82

 

83

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(219)

 

(410)

 

(296)

Retained earnings

 

11,291

 

11,636

 

11,531

Equity holders of Nutrien

 

24,966

 

25,145

 

25,156

Non-controlling interest

 

40

 

51

 

45

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

25,006

 

25,196

 

25,201

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

51,911

 

52,229

 

52,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

As at and for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

Note 1 Basis of presentation

Nutrien Ltd. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Nutrien”, “we”, “us”, “our” or “the Company”) is a leading global provider of crop inputs and services. Nutrien plays a critical role in helping growers around the globe increase food production.

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (“interim financial statements”) are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”. The accounting policies and methods of computation used in preparing these interim financial statements are materially consistent with those used in the preparation of our 2023 annual audited consolidated financial statements, as well as any amended standards adopted in 2024 that we previously disclosed. These interim financial statements include the accounts of Nutrien and its subsidiaries; however, they do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our 2023 annual audited consolidated financial statements. Certain immaterial 2023 figures have been reclassified in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings, condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and Note 4 Other expenses (income).

In management’s opinion, the interim financial statements include all adjustments necessary to fairly present such information in all material respects. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any other interim period or the fiscal year. These interim financial statements were authorized for issue by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors for issue on November 6, 2024.

Note 2 Segment information

We have four reportable operating segments: Nutrien Ag Solutions (“Retail”), Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate. The Retail segment distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed and merchandise. Retail provides services directly to growers through a network of farm centers in North America, South America and Australia. The Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate segments are differentiated by the chemical nutrient contained in the products that each produces. Potash freight, transportation and distribution costs only apply to our North American potash sales volumes. EBITDA presented in the succeeding tables is calculated as net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

(millions of US dollars)

Retail

 

Potash

 

Nitrogen

 

Phosphate

 

Corporate

and Others

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Assets – as at September 30, 2024

22,585

 

13,686

 

11,303

 

2,412

 

2,443

 

(518)

 

51,911

Assets – as at December 31, 2023

23,056

 

13,571

 

11,466

 

2,438

 

2,818

 

(600)

 

52,749

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars)

Retail

 

Potash

 

Nitrogen

 

Phosphate

 

Corporate

and Others

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Sales

– third party

3,271

 

915

 

753

 

409

 

‐

 

‐

 

5,348

 

– intersegment

‐

 

113

 

163

 

58

 

‐

 

(334)

 

‐

Sales

– total

3,271

 

1,028

 

916

 

467

 

‐

 

(334)

 

5,348

Freight, transportation and distribution

‐

 

144

 

123

 

55

 

‐

 

(59)

 

263

Net sales

3,271

 

884

 

793

 

412

 

‐

 

(275)

 

5,085

Cost of goods sold

2,412

 

422

 

581

 

383

 

‐

 

(213)

 

3,585

Gross margin

859

 

462

 

212

 

29

 

‐

 

(62)

 

1,500

Selling expenses (recovery)

815

 

3

 

8

 

1

 

(2)

 

(5)

 

820

General and administrative expenses

51

 

5

 

6

 

4

 

90

 

‐

 

156

Provincial mining taxes

‐

 

74

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

74

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

1

 

‐

 

1

Impairment of assets

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

31

 

‐

 

31

Other expenses (income)

32

 

2

 

(25)

 

10

 

194

 

9

 

222

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

(39)

 

378

 

223

 

14

 

(314)

 

(66)

 

196

Depreciation and amortization

190

 

177

 

132

 

75

 

24

 

‐

 

598

EBITDA

151

 

555

 

355

 

89

 

(290)

 

(66)

 

794

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

1

 

‐

 

1

ARO/ERL related expense for non-operating sites

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

184

 

‐

 

184

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

31

 

‐

 

31

Adjusted EBITDA

151

 

555

 

355

 

89

 

(74)

 

(66)

 

1,010

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

(millions of US dollars)

Retail

 

Potash

 

Nitrogen

 

Phosphate

 

Corporate

and Others

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Sales

– third party

3,489

 

1,002

 

690

 

450

 

‐

 

‐

 

5,631

 

– intersegment

1

 

108

 

138

 

66

 

‐

 

(313)

 

‐

Sales

– total

3,490

 

1,110

 

828

 

516

 

‐

 

(313)

 

5,631

Freight, transportation and distribution

‐

 

138

 

105

 

72

 

‐

 

(52)

 

263

Net sales

3,490

 

972

 

723

 

444

 

‐

 

(261)

 

5,368

Cost of goods sold

2,595

 

389

 

569

 

417

 

‐

 

(229)

 

3,741

Gross margin

895

 

583

 

154

 

27

 

‐

 

(32)

 

1,627

Selling expenses (recovery)

798

 

3

 

8

 

1

 

(3)

 

(8)

 

799

General and administrative expenses

57

 

2

 

1

 

3

 

88

 

‐

 

151

Provincial mining taxes

‐

 

96

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

96

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

42

 

‐

 

42

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

87

 

‐

 

87

Other expenses (income)

37

 

4

 

(19)

 

8

 

30

 

7

 

67

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

3

 

478

 

164

 

15

 

(244)

 

(31)

 

385

Depreciation and amortization

189

 

133

 

130

 

75

 

25

 

‐

 

552

EBITDA

192

 

611

 

294

 

90

 

(219)

 

(31)

 

937

Integration and restructuring related costs

5

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

9

 

‐

 

14

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

42

 

‐

 

42

ARO/ERL related expense for non-operating sites

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

4

 

‐

 

4

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

87

 

‐

 

87

Adjusted EBITDA

197

 

611

 

294

 

90

 

(77)

 

(31)

 

1,084

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars)

Retail

 

Potash

 

Nitrogen

 

Phosphate

 

Corporate

and Others

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Sales

– third party

14,653

 

2,486

 

2,547

 

1,207

 

‐

 

‐

 

20,893

 

– intersegment

‐

 

305

 

584

 

210

 

‐

 

(1,099)

 

‐

Sales

– total

14,653

 

2,791

 

3,131

 

1,417

 

‐

 

(1,099)

 

20,893

Freight, transportation and distribution

‐

 

338

 

399

 

174

 

‐

 

(170)

 

741

Net sales

14,653

 

2,453

 

2,732

 

1,243

 

‐

 

(929)

 

20,152

Cost of goods sold

11,018

 

1,139

 

1,835

 

1,116

 

‐

 

(905)

 

14,203

Gross margin

3,635

 

1,314

 

897

 

127

 

‐

 

(24)

 

5,949

Selling expenses (recovery)

2,610

 

9

 

23

 

5

 

(7)

 

(18)

 

2,622

General and administrative expenses

154

 

10

 

16

 

11

 

277

 

‐

 

468

Provincial mining taxes

‐

 

210

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

210

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

17

 

‐

 

17

Impairment of assets

335

 

‐

 

195

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

530

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

359

 

‐

 

359

Other expenses (income)

95

 

3

 

(136)

 

26

 

274

 

22

 

284

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

441

 

1,082

 

799

 

85

 

(920)

 

(28)

 

1,459

Depreciation and amortization

580

 

475

 

419

 

213

 

62

 

‐

 

1,749

EBITDA

1,021

 

1,557

 

1,218

 

298

 

(858)

 

(28)

 

3,208

Share-based compensation expense

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

17

 

‐

 

17

Impairment of assets

335

 

‐

 

195

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

530

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

34

 

‐

 

34

ARO/ERL related expense for non-operating sites

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

152

 

‐

 

152

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

359

 

‐

 

359

Adjusted EBITDA

1,356

 

1,557

 

1,413

 

298

 

(296)

 

(28)

 

4,300

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

(millions of US dollars)

Retail

 

Potash

 

Nitrogen

 

Phosphate

 

Corporate

and Others

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Sales

– third party

16,038

 

3,001

 

2,909

 

1,444

 

‐

 

‐

 

23,392

 

– intersegment

2

 

302

 

708

 

204

 

‐

 

(1,216)

 

‐

Sales

– total

16,040

 

3,303

 

3,617

 

1,648

 

‐

 

(1,216)

 

23,392

Freight, transportation and distribution

‐

 

320

 

366

 

188

 

‐

 

(160)

 

714

Net sales

16,040

 

2,983

 

3,251

 

1,460

 

‐

 

(1,056)

 

22,678

Cost of goods sold

12,599

 

1,047

 

2,157

 

1,297

 

‐

 

(1,128)

 

15,972

Gross margin

3,441

 

1,936

 

1,094

 

163

 

‐

 

72

 

6,706

Selling expenses

2,534

 

9

 

23

 

5

 

(7)

 

(16)

 

2,548

General and administrative expenses

162

 

10

 

11

 

10

 

260

 

‐

 

453

Provincial mining taxes

‐

 

319

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

319

Share-based compensation recovery

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(7)

 

‐

 

(7)

Impairment of assets

465

 

‐

 

‐

 

233

 

‐

 

‐

 

698

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

105

 

‐

 

105

Other expenses (income)

81

 

2

 

(53)

 

21

 

82

 

5

 

138

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

199

 

1,596

 

1,113

 

(106)

 

(433)

 

83

 

2,452

Depreciation and amortization

558

 

345

 

426

 

213

 

62

 

‐

 

1,604

EBITDA

757

 

1,941

 

1,539

 

107

 

(371)

 

83

 

4,056

Integration and restructuring related costs

8

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

21

 

‐

 

29

Share-based compensation recovery

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(7)

 

‐

 

(7)

Impairment of assets

465

 

‐

 

‐

 

233

 

‐

 

‐

 

698

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

92

 

‐

 

92

ARO/ERL related expense for non-operating sites

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

10

 

‐

 

10

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

105

 

‐

 

105

Adjusted EBITDA

1,230

 

1,941

 

1,539

 

340

 

(150)

 

83

 

4,983

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Retail sales by product line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crop nutrients

1,093

 

1,250

 

5,683

 

6,571

Crop protection products

1,518

 

1,566

 

5,365

 

5,790

Seed

132

 

158

 

2,051

 

2,093

Services and other

242

 

235

 

690

 

691

Merchandise

222

 

231

 

667

 

750

Nutrien Financial

85

 

73

 

284

 

252

Nutrien Financial elimination 1

(21)

 

(23)

 

(87)

 

(107)

 

3,271

 

3,490

 

14,653

 

16,040

Potash sales by geography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufactured product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

601

 

637

 

1,474

 

1,631

Offshore 2

427

 

473

 

1,316

 

1,672

Other potash and purchased products

‐

 

‐

 

1

 

‐

 

1,028

 

1,110

 

2,791

 

3,303

Nitrogen sales by product line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufactured product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonia

261

 

193

 

856

 

998

Urea and ESN®

293

 

297

 

1,085

 

1,278

Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

299

 

270

 

961

 

1,022

Other nitrogen and purchased products

63

 

68

 

229

 

319

 

916

 

828

 

3,131

 

3,617

Phosphate sales by product line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufactured product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fertilizer

316

 

295

 

928

 

886

Industrial and feed

148

 

151

 

470

 

535

Other phosphate and purchased products

3

 

70

 

19

 

227

 

467

 

516

 

1,417

 

1,648

1 Represents elimination of the interest and service fees charged by Nutrien Financial to Retail branches.

2 Relates to Canpotex Limited ("Canpotex") (Note 11) and includes provisional pricing adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2024 of $(4) million (2023 – $(34) million) and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $7 million (2023 – $(354) million).

Note 3 Impairment of assets

We recorded the following non-cash impairment of assets in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings:

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars)

 

 

2024

 

2023

Segment

Category

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

Intangible assets

 

200

 

43

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

120

 

‐

 

Other

 

15

 

‐

 

Goodwill

 

‐

 

422

Nitrogen

Property, plant and equipment

 

195

 

‐

Phosphate

Property, plant and equipment

 

‐

 

233

Impairment of assets

 

530

 

698

Retail – Brazil

At June 30, 2024, due to the ongoing market instability and more moderate margin expectations, we lowered our forecasted EBITDA for the Retail – Brazil cash generating unit (“CGU”). This triggered an impairment analysis. Prior to June 30, 2023, the Retail – Brazil CGU was part of the Retail – South America group of CGUs at which time the goodwill of the group was deemed to be fully impaired.

We used the fair value less cost to dispose (“FVLCD”) methodology (level 3) based on a market approach to assess the recoverable value of the Retail – Brazil CGU at June 30, 2024. This is a change from our 2023 analysis, as the market approach resulted in a more representative fair value of the CGU as restructuring initiatives in Brazil are currently being developed. In 2023, we used the FVLCD methodology based on after-tax discounted cash flows (10-year projections plus a terminal value) and an after-tax discount rate (14.4 percent). We incorporated assumptions that an independent market participant would apply.

The key assumptions with the greatest influence on the calculation of the impairment are the estimated recoverable value of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. Any change to these estimates could directly impact the impairment amount.

 

 

Retail – Brazil

(millions of US dollars)

 

June 30, 2024

Recoverable amount comprised of:

 

 

Working capital and other

 

324

Property, plant and equipment

 

92

Intangible assets

 

‐

Nitrogen

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we decided that we are no longer pursuing our Geismar Clean Ammonia project. As a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $195 million to fully write-off the amount of property, plant and equipment related to this project. As the project was cancelled before it generated revenue, the recoverable amount, which was based on its value in use, is $nil.

At June 30, 2023, we recorded an impairment of $465 million on our Retail – South America groups of CGUs and $233 million on our Phosphate – White Springs CGU. Refer to Note 13 of our 2023 annual audited consolidated financial statements for further details.

Note 4 Other expenses (income)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Integration and restructuring related costs

‐

 

14

 

‐

 

29

Earnings of equity-accounted investees

(26)

 

(28)

 

(107)

 

(100)

Bad debt expense

31

 

12

 

94

 

51

Project feasibility costs

19

 

19

 

62

 

53

Customer prepayment costs

10

 

10

 

41

 

36

Insurance recoveries

(3)

 

‐

 

(70)

 

‐

Loss on natural gas derivatives not designated as hedge 1

5

 

‐

 

7

 

‐

Loss related to financial instruments in Argentina

‐

 

‐

 

34

 

92

ARO/ERL related expenses for non-operating sites 2

184

 

4

 

152

 

10

Gain on amendments to other post-retirement pension plans

‐

 

‐

 

‐

 

(80)

Other expenses

2

 

36

 

71

 

47

 

222

 

67

 

284

 

138

1 Includes realized loss of $3 million and $5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (2023 – $nil) and unrealized loss of $2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively (2023 – $nil).

2 ARO/ERL refers to asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs.

Argentina has certain currency controls in place that limit our ability to settle our foreign currency-denominated obligations or remit cash out of Argentina. We utilize various financial instruments such as Blue Chip Swaps or Bonds for the Reconstruction of a Free Argentina (“BOPREAL”) that effectively allow companies to transact in US dollars. We incurred losses on these transactions due to the significant divergence between the market exchange rate used for these financial instruments and the official Central Bank of Argentina rate. These losses are recorded as part of loss related to financial instruments in Argentina.

Note 5 Income taxes

A separate estimated average annual effective income tax rate was determined and applied individually to the interim period pre-tax earnings for each taxing jurisdiction.

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Actual effective tax rate on earnings (%)

(18)

 

41

 

41

 

33

Actual effective tax rate including discrete items (%)

(112)

 

54

 

38

 

41

Discrete tax adjustments that impacted the tax rate

(11)

 

23

 

(31)

 

155

Note 6 Financial instruments

Foreign Currency Derivatives

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

(3)

 

32

 

27

 

12

Hyperinflationary loss

20

 

46

 

85

 

78

Loss on foreign currency derivatives at fair value through profit or loss

14

 

9

 

247

 

15

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

31

 

87

 

359

 

105

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we entered into various foreign currency derivative contracts. The losses on our foreign currency derivatives were primarily related to Brazil which matured in July 2024. As of September 30, 2024, outstanding derivative contracts were related to our ongoing risk management strategy. The fair value of our net foreign exchange currency derivative assets (liabilities) as at September 30, 2024 was $3 million (December 31, 2023 – $11 million).

 

As at September 30, 2024

As at December 31, 2023

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Notional

 

Maturities

(year)

 

Average

Contract

Rate

(1:1)

 

Notional

 

Maturities

(year)

 

Average

Contract

Rate

(1:1)

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards (Sell/buy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USD/Canadian dollars ("CAD")

416

 

2024

 

1.3445

 

435

 

2024

 

1.3207

Brazilian real ("BRL")/USD

213

 

2024

 

5.4668

 

94

 

2024

 

4.8688

Australian dollars ("AUD")/USD

75

 

2025

 

1.4940

 

86

 

2024

 

1.5269

USD/BRL

94

 

2025

 

5.5408

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

USD/BRL

58

 

2025

 

5.6617

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

USD/AUD

11

 

2024

 

1.4904

 

‐

 

‐

 

‐

Derivatives designated as hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards (Sell/buy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USD/CAD

485

 

2025

 

1.3638

 

601

 

2024

 

1.3565

Natural Gas Derivatives

In 2024, we increased our use of natural gas derivatives to lock-in commodity prices. Our risk management strategies and accounting policies for derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are consistent with those disclosed in Note 10 and Note 30 of our annual consolidated financial statements, respectively. For derivatives that do not qualify as cash flow hedges, any gains or losses are recorded in net earnings in the current period.

We assess whether our derivative hedging transactions are expected to be or were highly effective, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, in offsetting changes in fair values of hedged items.

Hedging Transaction

Measurement of Ineffectiveness

Potential Sources of Ineffectiveness

New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) natural gas hedges

Assessed on a prospective and retrospective basis using regression analyses

Changes in:

• timing of forecast transactions

• volume delivered

• our credit risk or the credit risk of a counterparty

The table below presents information about our natural gas derivatives which are used to manage the risk related to significant price changes in natural gas.

 

As at September 30, 2024

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Notional 1

 

Maturities

(year)

 

Average

Contract Price 2

 

Fair Value of

Assets (Liabilities) 3

Derivatives not designated as hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX call options

15

 

2024

 

3.15

 

1

Derivatives designated as hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX swaps

12

 

2024

 

3.06

 

(1)

1 In millions of Metric Million British Thermal Units (“MMBtu”).

2 US dollars per MMBtu.

3 Fair value of natural gas derivatives are based on a discounted cash flow model which are classified as Level 2.

Our financial instruments carrying amount are a reasonable approximation of their fair values, except for our long-term debt that has a carrying value of $10,396 million and fair value of $10,194 million as at September 30, 2024. There were no transfers between levels for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Note 7 Short-term debt

On March 7, 2024, we entered into an uncommitted $500 million accounts receivable repurchase facility (the “repurchase facility”), where we may sell certain receivables from customers to a financial institution and agree to repurchase those receivables at a future date. When we draw under this repurchase facility, the receivables from customers remain on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as we control and retain substantially all of the risks and rewards associated with the receivables. As at September 30, 2024, there were no borrowings outstanding under this facility.

During the three months ended September 30, 2024, we extended the term of our unsecured revolving term credit facility to September 3, 2025 and reduced the facility limit from $1,500 million to $750 million. We also extended the maturity of our $4,500 million unsecured revolving term facility to September 4, 2029.

Note 8 Long-term debt

Issuances in the nine months ended September 30, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

Rate of interest (%)

 

Maturity

 

Amount

Senior notes issued 2024

5.2

 

June 21, 2027

 

400

Senior notes issued 2024

5.4

 

June 21, 2034

 

600

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

The notes issued in the nine months ended September 30, 2024, are unsecured, rank equally with our existing unsecured debt, and have no sinking fund requirements prior to maturity. Each series is redeemable and has various provisions for redemption prior to maturity, at our option, at specified prices.

In March 2024, we filed a base shelf prospectus in Canada and the US qualifying the issuance of common shares, debt securities and other securities during a period of 25 months from March 22, 2024.

Note 9 Share capital

Share Repurchase Programs

The following table summarizes our share repurchase activities during the periods indicated below:

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30

 

September 30

(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Number of common shares repurchased for cancellation

1,039,185

 

‐

 

1,039,185

 

13,378,189

Average price per share (US dollars)

48.11

 

‐

 

48.11

 

74.73

Total cost, inclusive of tax

51

 

‐

 

51

 

1,000

As of November 5, 2024, an additional 477,671 common shares were repurchased for cancellation at a cost of $23 million and an average price per share of $48.68.

Note 10 Seasonality

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for products during planting season. Crop input sales are generally higher in the spring and fall application seasons. Crop input inventories are normally accumulated leading up to each application season. The results of this seasonality have a corresponding effect on receivables from customers and rebates receivables, inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets, and trade payables. Our short-term debt also fluctuates during the year to meet working capital requirements. Our cash collections generally occur after the application season is complete, while customer prepayments made to us are typically concentrated in December and January and inventory prepayments paid to our suppliers are typically concentrated in the period from November to January. Feed and industrial sales are more evenly distributed throughout the year.

Note 11 Related party transactions

We sell potash outside Canada and the US exclusively through Canpotex. Canpotex sells potash to buyers, including Nutrien, in export markets pursuant to term and spot contracts at agreed upon prices. Our total revenue is recognized at the amount received from Canpotex representing proceeds from their sale of potash, less net costs of Canpotex.

As at (millions of US dollars)

September 30, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Receivables from Canpotex

195

 

162

Note 12 Accounting policies, estimates and judgments

IFRS 18, “Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements” (“IFRS 18”), which was issued on April 9, 2024, would supersede IAS 1, “Presentation of Financial Statements” and increase the comparability of financial statements by enhancing principles on aggregation and disaggregation. IFRS 18 will be effective January 1, 2027, and will also apply to comparative information. We are reviewing the standard to determine the potential impact.

Amendments for IFRS 9 and IFRS 7, “Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments”, which was issued on May 30, 2024, will address diversity in practice by making the requirements more understandable and consistently applied. These amendments will be effective January 1, 2026, and will not apply to comparative information. We are reviewing the standard to determine the potential impact.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241101408237/en/

Jeff Holzman Vice President, Investor Relations [phone] [e-mail]