The analysts covering FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business.

Following the latest downgrade, the current consensus, from the 18 analysts covering FMC, is for revenues of US$4.7b in 2023, which would reflect an uncomfortable 13% reduction in FMC's sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are supposed to tumble 21% to US$4.56 in the same period. Previously, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$5.2b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$5.58 in 2023. Indeed, we can see that the analysts are a lot more bearish about FMC's prospects, administering a substantial drop in revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot.

View our latest analysis for FMC

It'll come as no surprise then, to learn that the analysts have cut their price target 18% to US$89.04.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with a forecast 24% annualised revenue decline to the end of 2023. That is a notable change from historical growth of 6.6% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 3.8% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that FMC's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that analysts cut their earnings per share estimates, expecting a clear decline in business conditions. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. Given the scope of the downgrades, it would not be a surprise to see the market become more wary of the business.

Even so, the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for the value creation of shareholders. We have estimates - from multiple FMC analysts - going out to 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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