Monsanto Loses USD172M Q4

Monsanto Co. says it lost US$172 million in its fourth fiscal quarter. But that is a smaller loss than the $210 million in the same quarter last year.

The world's largest seed maker said Wednesday it lost three cents per share in the three months ended Aug. 31. That is down from a loss of 18 cents per share in the same period a year ago.

The fourth quarter is generally losing one for Monsanto, because the company has seasonal seed sales. Monsanto says it trimmed its losses this year because of a jump in revenue from Roundup herbicide sales and by its seeds and traits business.

It says sales rose 35 per cent to $2.05 billion from $1.5 billion last year.

Analysts had expected a loss of $0.09 per share on revenues of $1.92 billion.