Archer-Daniels-Midland

1 serious warning sign in Archer-Daniels-Midland’s filings.

We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.

We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 17 Feb 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 4 Aug 2026 and 7 later 8-Ks.

• Its past accounts can't be relied on

  Serious

  It told the SEC its earlier accounts should no longer be relied on, usually because they contained errors.

  8-K Item 4.02 filed 5 Nov 2024: the company said its earlier financial statements should no longer be relied on.

  From an 8-K filed 5 November 2024: Previously issued accounts should no longer be relied on. Open the filing

Cheap for a reason is the question the numbers cannot answer.

Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.

• The Company is subject to various technical, legal, and opportunistic-related risks relating to use of artificial intelligence and other emerging digital technologies.

  Could happen

  Further, the Company’s investments in AI may not achieve expected returns, may take longer than anticipated to generate value, if at all, or may become obsolete due to rapid technological change. In addition, ADM may be adversely affected if it fails to keep pace with the adoption and effective use of AI technologies by its competitors and other industry participants.

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• Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional tax liabilities could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

  Could happen

  Further, legislatures and taxing authorities in many jurisdictions in which ADM operates may enact changes to their tax rules. The U.S. One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OBBBA"), which includes significant changes to corporate tax rules, deductions, expensing, and international tax provisions, may affect the Company’s tax position, the timing and amount of deductible expenditures, and the application of credits and incentives. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the “OECD”), the European Union, and other countries (including countries in which the Company operates) have enacted substantial changes to numerous long-standing tax principles impacting how large multinational enterprises are taxed. In particular, the OECD’s Pillar Two initiative introduced a 15% global minimum tax applied on a country-by-country basis. The U.S., under the current Administration, has opposed the adoption of Pillar Two and other OECD initiatives. While the OECD has reached an agreement with the G7 to exempt U.S. multinationals from certain impacts and it introduced certain related safe harbors, the ultimate impact on the Company remains uncertain due to whether all countries immediately adopt the safe harbors and whether certain Pillar Two reporting obligations remain applicable. Each country must enact the changes to their local laws in order for the rules to go in effect. The implementation of Pillar Two will result in additional mandatory disclosures, which will likely cause additional scrutiny of the Company's tax positions and potentially increased tax assessments.

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• The Company is exposed to potential business disruption risks which could adversely affect the Company’s operating results and could result in increased expenses and liabilities.

  Already happened

  The Company engages in manufacturing and distribution activities across numerous markets and geographies. As a result, the Company is subject to risks inherent in such activities and from time to time has experienced unplanned downtime or extensive property damage and business disruption from various events and external factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. These events and factors include, but are not limited to, equipment failure, raw material shortages, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, accidents, explosions, fires, environmental events, strikes or other labor or industrial disputes, war or acts of terrorism, cybersecurity attacks, or other unexpected outages. These events could result in personal injury, loss of life, and environmental damage. In some cases, the Company is dependent on a single plant or facility to manufacture or process certain products in a geographical region or otherwise. The Company may not be able to resolve disruptions timely or effectively, and the associated liability which could result from these risks may not always be covered by or could exceed liability insurance, and any insurance proceeds may not be received for several years after an event occurrence. The impact of these events and factors has and could in the future require significant investments and expenditures to repair damaged facilities or equipment and require management attention and other resources, which has and could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations.

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• The Company is subject to a wide range of food safety and quality, manufacturing and labeling, occupational health and safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements which may expose the Company to certain regulatory or reputational risks.

  Could happen

  The Company’s business depends on the quality and safety of the agricultural commodities, ingredients, food, feed, nutritional products, and other products it sources, manufactures, processes, stores, transports, and sells. As a result, the Company is exposed to a wide range of food quality and safety risks. ADM must comply with U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state, and local regulations on food safety, quality, manufacturing and labeling. Certain of the Company’s products may require regulatory approvals, pre‑market notifications, or ongoing compliance with evolving or uncertain regulatory frameworks in multiple jurisdictions. Further, regulatory scrutiny and standards in the food, feed, and nutrition sectors continue to evolve, such as the ongoing review by regulatory authorities in the EU and other jurisdictions of the safety and permitted uses of specified chemicals. Any failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations or changes in regulatory interpretations, standards, or enforcement priorities could restrict the Company’s ability to manufacture, market, or sell certain products, increase compliance costs, or require product reformulation or withdrawal from certain markets, and could subject ADM to substantial fines, administrative sanctions, criminal penalties, litigation, and other liabilities, as well as damage to its reputation. The Company’s liability which could result from noncompliance and other risks may not be covered by, or could exceed liability insurance related to product liability and food safety matters.

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• Geopolitical risks could disrupt global markets and negatively impact the Company’s business and financial results.

  Already happened

  The Company has historically benefited from the free flow of agricultural and food and feed ingredient products from the U.S. and other sources to markets around the world. Increases in tariff and restrictive trade policies around the world has, and could, negatively impact the Company’s ability to enter certain markets or the price of products may become less competitive in those markets. For example, the Company’s results of operations were impacted by changes in and uncertainty relating to global trade and tariffs in 2025, and the resulting trade flow disruptions, such as U.S. soybean trade with China, as well as the deferral of U.S. biofuel policy with respect to renewable volume obligations (RVO), and the resulting uncertainty which impacted demand for soybean oil and other feedstocks.

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