| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Company Overview Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "ADM") unlock the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. The Company is an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. ADM is a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering one of the industry's broadest portfolios of ingredients and solutions from nature. The Company is a trailblazer in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of products for consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives. ADM is a cutting-edge innovator, guiding the way to a future of new consumer and industrial solutions. ADM is a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize the multiple industries it serves. Around the globe, the Company's innovation and expertise are meeting critical needs while nourishing quality of life and supporting a healthier planet. ADM has three reportable segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. See Note 17. Segment and Geographic Information for further details on the nature of the Company's business and its reportable operating segments. Principles of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company consolidates all entities, including variable interest entities (VIEs), in which it has a controlling financial interest. For VIEs, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary as defined under the applicable accounting standard. Investments in affiliates, including VIEs through which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control the investee and is not the primary beneficiary of the investee’s activities, are carried at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings since acquisition and are adjusted, where appropriate, for basis differences between the investment balance and the underlying net assets of the investee. The Company’s portion of the results of certain affiliates and results of certain VIEs are included using the most recent available financial statements. In each case, the financial statements are within 93 days of the Company’s year-end and are consistent from period to period. Use of Estimates The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in its Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash Equivalents The Company considers all non-segregated, highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Segregated Cash and Investments The Company segregates certain cash, cash equivalents, and investment balances in accordance with regulatory requirements, commodity exchange requirements, and insurance arrangements. These balances represent deposits received from customers of the Company’s registered futures commission merchant and commodity brokerage services, cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses, and cash pledged as security under certain insurance arrangements. Segregated cash and investments also include restricted cash collateral for the various insurance programs of the Company’s captive insurance business. To the degree these segregated balances are comprised of cash and cash equivalents, they are considered restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. Short-Term Marketable Securities Short-term marketable securities include foreign government securities with maturities greater than three months and less than one year and are recorded at fair value with gains and losses on these investments included in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Revenue Recognition The Company principally generates revenue from merchandising and transporting agricultural commodities, and manufacturing products for use in food, beverages, feed, energy, and industrial applications, and ingredients and solutions for human and animal nutrition. The Company’s revenue that is generated from physically settled derivative sales contracts is accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and revenue from sales of other products and services is accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Revenue from physically settled derivative sales contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities where such contracts meet the definition of a derivatives under ASC 815. Revenue from such commodities contracts is recognized at a point in time, upon transferring control of the commodity to the customer, similar to revenue recognized from contracts with customers under Topic 606. Prior to settlement, these contracts are recognized at fair value within current assets and liabilities, with the unrealized gains or losses primarily recorded within Cost of products sold. See Note 4. Fair Value Measurements and Note 5. Derivative Instruments & Hedging Activities for further information. Revenue from sales of other products and services is measured based on the consideration specified in the contract with a customer, in accordance with Topic 606. The Company follows a policy of recognizing revenue at a single point in time when it satisfies its performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. Revenue for deferred price contracts that allow for pricing to be determined after title of the goods has passed to the customer is recognized when the price is determined. For transportation service contracts, the Company recognizes revenue over time as the mode of transportation moves towards its destination in accordance with the transfer of control guidance of Topic 606. The amount of revenue recognized follows the contractually specified price which may include freight or other contractually specified cost components. The majority of the Company’s contracts with customers have one performance obligation and a contract duration of one year or less. The Company applies the practical expedient in Topic 606, and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less. See Note 2. Revenues for further information. Shipping and Handling Costs Shipping and handling costs related to contracts with customers for the sale of goods are accounted for as a fulfillment activity and are included in cost of products sold. Accordingly, amounts billed to customers for such costs are included as a component of revenues. Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities The Company does not include taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are (i) imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and (ii) collected from customers, in the measurement of transactions prices or as a component of revenues and cost of products sold. Receivables The Company records accounts receivable at net realizable value. This value includes an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts to reflect any loss anticipated on the accounts receivable balances including any accrued interest receivables thereon. The Company estimates uncollectible accounts by pooling receivables according to type, region, credit risk rating, and age. Each pool is assigned an expected loss co-efficient to arrive at a general reserve based on historical write-offs adjusted, as needed, for regional, economic, and other forward-looking factors. The Company minimizes credit risk due to the large and diversified nature of its worldwide customer base. ADM manages its exposure to counter-party credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits, and monitoring procedures. Long-term receivables recorded in other assets were not material to the Company’s overall receivables portfolio. The Company recorded bad debt (reversals) expense in selling, general, and administrative expenses of $(16) million, $6 million, and $88 million in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Changes to the allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows (in millions): Year Ended December 31 2024 2023 Opening balance, January 1 $ 215 $ 199 Provisions (reversals), net (16) 6 Recoveries 9 2 Write-offs against allowance (32) (28) Other (9) 36 Closing balance, December 31 $ 167 $ 215 Provisions (reversals), net in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 included reversals of prior general provisions for economic factors related to the COVID pandemic. Write-offs against allowance in the year ended December 31, 2024 were primarily related to uncollectable trade receivables in the normal course of business. Write-offs against allowance in the year ended December 31, 2023 were primarily related to a customer in Brazil and allowance on receivables that were subsequently sold. Inventories Certain merchandisable agricultural commodity inventories, which include inventories acquired under deferred pricing contracts, are stated at market value. In addition, the Company values certain inventories using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The following table sets forth the Company’s inventories as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in millions). December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023 Raw materials and supplies (1) $ 1,922 $ 1,944 Finished goods 2,689 3,026 Market inventories 6,961 6,987 Total inventories $ 11,572 $ 11,957 (1) Includes work in process inventories which were not material as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Fair Value Measurements The Company measures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , which defines fair value as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses the market approach valuation technique to measure the majority of its assets and liabilities carried at fair value. Three levels are established within the fair value hierarchy that may be used to report fair value: Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs. Level 2: Observable inputs, including Level 1 prices that have been adjusted; quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are less active than traded exchanges; and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are a significant component of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. In evaluating the significance of fair value inputs, the Company generally classifies assets or liabilities as Level 3 when their fair value is determined using unobservable inputs that individually or when aggregated with other unobservable inputs, represent more than 10% of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Judgment is required in evaluating both quantitative and qualitative factors in the determination of significance for purposes of fair value level classification. In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of input that is a significant component of the fair value measurement determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the classification of fair value assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy levels. Level 3 amounts can include assets and liabilities whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as assets and liabilities for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. Based on historical experience with the Company’s suppliers and customers, the Company’s own credit risk and knowledge of current market conditions, the Company does not view non-performance risk to be a significant input to fair value for the majority of its forward commodity purchase and sale contracts. However, in certain cases, if the Company believes the non-performance risk to be a significant input, the Company records estimated fair value adjustments, and classifies the measurement in Level 3. The Company’s policy regarding the timing of transfers between levels, including both transfers into and transfers out of Level 3, is to measure and record the transfers at the end of the reporting period. Derivatives The Company recognizes its financial and non-financial derivative instruments, excluding exchange traded instruments, as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains are reported as other current assets and unrealized losses are reported as accrued expenses and other payables. Exchange traded instruments are cash-settled daily with the settlement reflected within Other current assets. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The majority of the Company’s derivatives have not been designated as hedging instruments, and as such, changes in fair value of these derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately, within revenue or cost of products sold, as appropriate. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company designates the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a cash flow hedge, fair value hedge or a net investment hedge. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as highly-effective cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) and as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows and reclassified into earnings in the same line item affected by the hedged transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness and gains and losses related to discontinued hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings during the current period. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges, foreign exchange gains and losses related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are deferred in AOCI until the underlying investment is divested. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument and changes in the fair value of the hedged item are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same financial statement caption as the hedged items. Equity Method Investments The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, the legal form of the investee, any representation on the board of directors, and any participation in policy-making decisions. The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects, and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than- temporary is recognized in the period identified. See Note 8. Investments in and Advances to Affiliates for further information. Cost Method Investments Cost method investments of $439 million and $438 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are included in other assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revaluation losses of $16 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 were related to an investment in alternative protein and precision fermentation. Revaluation losses of $76 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 were related to investments in the alternative protein category and precision fermentation. Revaluation gains of $37 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 were in connection with observable third-party transactions (a Level 2 measurement under applicable accounting standards). Revaluation gains and losses are recorded in Interest and investment income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. As of December 31, 2024, the annual and cumulative amounts of upward and downward adjustments were $2 million and $18 million, and $113 million and $75 million, respectively. Property, Plant, and Equipment Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The Company uses the straight-line method in computing depreciation for financial reporting purposes and generally uses accelerated methods for income tax purposes. The annual provisions for depreciation have been computed principally in accordance with the following ranges of asset lives: buildings - 15 to 40 years; and machinery and equipment - 3 to 40 years. The Company capitalized interest on major construction projects in progress of $32 million, $32 million, and $20 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. In addition, assets are written down to fair value after consideration of the Company’s ability to utilize the assets for their intended purpose, employ the assets in alternative uses, or sell the assets to recover the carrying value. Fair value is generally based on a discounted cash flow analysis which relies on management’s estimate of market participant assumptions or estimated selling price for assets considered held for sale (a Level 3 measurement under applicable accounting standards). Leases The Company leases certain transportation equipment, plant equipment, office equipment, land, buildings, and storage facilities. Most leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from 6 months to 95 years. The renewal options are not included in the measurement of the right of use assets and lease liabilities unless the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the optional renewal periods. Certain leases also include index and non-index escalation clauses and options to purchase the leased property. Leases accounted for as finance leases were immaterial at December 31, 2024. As an accounting policy election, the Company does not apply the recognition requirements of ASC Topic 842 to short-term leases in all of its underlying asset categories. The Company recognizes short-term lease payments in earnings on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The Company also combines lease and non-lease contract components in all of its underlying asset categories as an accounting policy election. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and reported amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements using statutory rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recorded in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date under the law. Applicable accounting standards prescribe a minimum threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company recognizes in its Consolidated Financial Statements tax positions determined more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company classifies interest on income tax-related balances as interest expense and classifies tax-related penalties as selling, general, and administrative expenses. Income tax effects from AOCI are released when the individual units of account are sold, terminated, or extinguished. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. Definite-lived intangible assets, including capitalized expenses related to the Company’s 1ADM program such as third-party configuration costs and internal labor, are amortized over their estimated useful lives of 1 to 50 years and are reviewed for impairment whenever there are indicators the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company’s accounting policy is to evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment on October 1 of each fiscal year or whenever there are indicators the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. See Note 9. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets for further information. Supplier Payable Programs The Company has Supplier Payable Programs (“SPP”) with financial institutions which act as its paying agents for payables due to certain of its suppliers. The Company has neither an economic interest in a supplier’s participation in the SPP nor a direct financial relationship with the financial institutions, and has concluded its obligations to the suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by their participation in the SPP. Accordingly, amounts associated with the SPP are classified as trade payables Changes to the outstanding payment obligations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Opening balance, January 1 $ 274 $ 196 Obligations confirmed 948 1,100 Obligations paid (1,000) (1,022) Closing balance, December 31 $ 222 $ 274 Payables to Brokerage Customers Payables to brokerage customers represent the total of customer accounts at the Company’s futures commission merchant with credit or positive balances. Customer accounts are used primarily in connection with commodity transactions and include gains and losses on open commodity trades as well as securities and other deposits made for margins or other purposes as required by the Company or the exchange-clearing organizations or counterparties. Payables to brokerage customers have a corresponding balance in segregated cash and investments and customer omnibus receivable in other current assets. Stock Compensation The Company recognizes expense for its stock compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. The Company’s stock compensation plans provide for the granting of restricted stock and restricted stock units (Restricted Stock Awards), performance stock units (PSUs), and stock options. The fair values of stock options are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions. The fair values of Restricted Stock Awards and PSUs are determined based on the market value of the Company's shares on the grant date. Measured compensation cost, net of forfeitures, is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the related stock compensation award. Compensation expense for stock option grants, Restricted Stock Awards, and PSUs granted to employees is generally recognized on a straight-line basis during the service period of the respective grant. Certain of the Company’s option grants, Restricted Stock Awards, and PSUs continue to vest upon the recipient’s retirement from the Company and compensation expense related to option grants and Restricted Stock Awards granted to retirement-eligible employees is recognized in earnings on the date of grant. Compensation expense for PSUs is based on the probability of meeting the performance criteria. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. Research and Development Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred and recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses. Such costs incurred, net of expenditures subsequently reimbursed by government grants, were $269 million, $256 million, and $216 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. In computing diluted earnings per common share, average number of common shares outstanding is increased by dilutive potential common shares, including unvested restricted stock units, PSUs and common shares underlying stock options outstanding with exercise prices lower than the average market price of common shares using the treasury stock method. Business Combinations The Company’s acquisitions are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, as amended . The consideration transferred is allocated to various assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date with the residual allocated to goodwill. Fair values allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations require management to make significant judgments, estimates, and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Management makes estimates of fair values based upon assumptions it believes to be reasonable. These estimates are based upon historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. The estimated fair values related to intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, trademarks, and developed technology which are determined primarily using discounted cash flow models. Estimates in the discounted cash flow models include, but are not limited to, certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results (e.g. revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, and royalty rates). These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. During the measurement period, which may take up to one year from the acquisition date, adjustments due to changes in the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed may be recorded as adjustments to the consideration transferred and the related allocations. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or the final determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any such adjustments are charged to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Redeemable Non-controlling Interests The Company presents any redeemable non-controlling interests in temporary equity within the Consolidated Balance Sheets at redemption value with period changes recorded in reinvested earnings. The Company reports the portion of its earnings or loss for redeemable non-controlling interests as net earnings (losses) attributable to non-controlling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Changes to the Company's redeemable non-controlling interests for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 are as follows (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Opening balance, January 1 $ 320 $ 299 $ 259 Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests (21) (6) 21 Acquisition of redeemable non-controlling interests (18) — — Currency translation adjustments and other (28) 27 19 Closing balance, December 31 (1) $ 253 $ 320 $ 299 (1) As of December 31, 2024, redeemable non-controlling interests includes $136 million related to the 25% non-controlling interest for PetDine, LLC. The Company has the option to acquire this remaining 25% interest in PetDine, LLC by March 31, 2025. The non-controlling interest holders also have the option to put the 25% interest to the Company by the same date. Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements Effective January 1, 2024, the Company adopted the amended guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 848, Reference Rate Reform , which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The guidance applies only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the guidance do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2024, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2024, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. ADM has completed the transition of its financing, funding, and hedging portfolios from LIBOR to alternative reference rates. The transition did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Effective December 31, 2024, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures , which improves disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and addresses requests from investors and other allocators of capital for more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses. The amended guidance improves reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and permits entities to disclose more than one measure of a reportable segment’s profitability used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker. The adoption of the amended guidance resulted in expanded disclosures in Note 17. Segment and Geographic Information in this report but did not have an impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted Effective December 31, 2025, the Company will be required to adopt ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures , which enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments address investor requests for more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The adoption of the amended guidance will result in expanded disclosures in the Company’s income taxes footnote but is not expected to have an impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Effective December 31, 2027, the Company will be required to adopt ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income — Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of income statement expenses |
