Nutrien misses Q3 profit estimates on high sulfur costs, to close Florida plant
NTR•Nutrien reported adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share, below analysts’ 80-cent estimate, as sulfur costs and lower nitrogen sales volumes weighed on results. It will close its White Springs, Florida, facility in the second quarter of 2027 and lowered full-year Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.72 billion-$1.85 billion.
1. Quarterly results
Nutrien’s third-quarter net earnings fell 39% to $288 million, while sales edged up 1% to $6.06 billion. Phosphate adjusted EBITDA plunged 93% to $8 million as cost of goods sold rose to $939 per tonne; nitrogen adjusted EBITDA fell 11% to $497 million as sales volumes dropped 16.7% to 2.35 million tonnes.
2. Facility closure and guidance
After a strategic review, Nutrien said it will optimize its Aurora operations and shut its higher-cost White Springs facility in Florida in the second quarter of 2027 as the mine’s reserves near depletion. It expects fourth-quarter impairment charges against White Springs’ $430 million carrying value and the $760 million carrying value of its idled Trinidad nitrogen operations.
3. Updated targets
Nutrien raised the lower end of its full-year potash volume target to 14.3-14.8 million tonnes, lowered full-year Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.72 billion-$1.85 billion, and trimmed capital expenditures to $1.95 billion-$2.00 billion. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said results reflected weak North American fertilizer demand and higher nitrogen and phosphate costs, while the closure showed management’s focus on free cash flow and more efficient capital investment.
