Corteva warns on flat second-half profit despite raising full-year earnings forecast

Corteva

31/07/2026 17:16

By Sumit Saha
July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. agriscience company Corteva CTVA.N said on Friday its second-half 2026 core profit would be roughly flat from a year earlier, as tariffs, separation costs and Middle East conflict offset gains from seed demand and growing adoption of newer crop-protection products.
Corteva shares were down nearly 10%, on track for its biggest one-day percent drop since 2020.
On Thursday, Corteva raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast after second-quarter results beat Wall Street estimates, driven by strong first-half execution and resilient demand across its seed and crop-protection businesses.
Corteva forecast high-single-digit volume growth in its crop protection business in the second half, but said pricing would decline by low to mid-single digits.
The company does not expect pricing in Brazil, one of the world's largest crop protection markets, to recover in 2026, citing continued competitive pressure despite improving demand trends, executives said on a post-earnings call. 
Demand for its newer crop-protection products remained robust, the company said, with the portfolio on track to generate about $2 billion in revenue this year, helping offset broader pricing pressure.
Corteva said it had largely offset separation-related costs on a run-rate basis and now expects about a $25 million headwind this year from separation activities.
The company remains on track to separate into two independent publicly traded companies on Oct. 1, a move it says will sharpen the strategic focus of its agriculture businesses.

 (Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
 ((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))