Monsanto (MON): Monsanto is the largest player in the space of genetically engineered seeds and food---think of Monsanto as the scientists who develop genetically resistant seeds and crops, all in the hopes of returning the highest possible yield to their clients. Currently the global corn stocks to use ratio, or the amount of corn stock which can be sold right now, over the amount of corn that can be consumed is at its lowest level in 50 years. For its first quarter of 2009 Monsanto now projects gross profit from its Seeds & Genomics segment to grow by more than 60%. For the first quarter of 2009 Monsanto earned $2.649 billion in net sales up 29% from its first quarter 2008 net sales of $2.049 billion, gross profit was $1.550 billion up 49% from $1.039 billion in the first quarter of 2008. More importantly, gross margins, a measure of a firm’s profitability on a percentile basis was up 8 full basis points to 59% for the quarter up from 51% in the first quarter of 2008. Monsanto also has several important seeds in their pipeline, including: a Phase IV drought-tolerant corn seed, a Phase III high-yield soybeans seed, Phase II high-yield corn-seed, and Phase I drought-tolerant cotton seed. For the full-year 2009, Monsanto expects to achieve 20%+ of ongoing earnings growth and to generate more than $1.8 billion in free-cash-flow.

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT): Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan is the world’s lowest-cost producer and supplier of Potash in the world. The Potash fertilizer is the highest yielding, naturally produced fertilizer known to man. In 2008, PotashCorp produced north of 15 million tons, which represents almost 25% of the total amount of Potash consumed in the world. Gross margins went from just $300 million dollars in 2003 to $3.5 billion in 2008 with an estimated figure of $5.5 billion in 2009.

Mosaic (MOS): Mosaic is the second largest producers of potash in the world, producing just over 10 million tons in 2008 which represents 14% of total potash sales worldwide, and 38% within the United States. The company has seen some heavy speculative call-buying in the March $45, $50, and $55 strike prices totaling 46,000 calls traded which is 4x higher than the monthly average of 10,800 contracts. Rumors surrounding a potential merger between Mosaic and Cargill, in which Cargill would bid for the 35% stake in Mosaic in which currently does not already own. Whatever the case might be option traders are betting on a short-term move higher for shares of Mosaic.

FMC Corp (FMC): FMC operates in three industry segments: Industrial Chemicals which had revenue of $1.297 billion, earnings before interest tax depreciation, commonly referred to as EBITDA of $269 million dollars, and margins of 20.7% for the full year 2008, specialty chemicals which had revenue of $764 million dollars, EBITDA of $185 million dollars, and margins of 24.2% for the full year 2008, and their agricultural products business which had revenue of $1.059 billion, EBITDA of $258 million, and margins of 24.4%. EBITDA in FMC Corp’s agricultural products business went from $111 million dollars in 2003 to $258 million dollars, which represents a 29% compounded annual growth rate, also known as CAGR. EBITDA in FMC Corp’s specialty chemicals business went from $132 million dollars in 2003 to $185 million dollars in 2008, which represents a just a 5% CAGR. EBITDA in FMC Corp’s industrial chemicals business went from $94 million dollars in 2003 to $269 million dollars in 2008, which represents a 35% CAGR. For the full year 2009 FMC Corp projects profit of $4.6 per share to $5 per share, this compares to mean analyst estimates of $5.16 per share.

Cramer likes TNH due to its high DIVY.

CF Industries (CF) is in a hostile takeover of Terra Industries (TRA), a pure play on methanol products for agricultural and nitrogen. The offer, which values Terra at roughly $2.1 billion dollars, has been rejected by the board of directors of Terra Industries saying “We concluded that your proposal does not present a compelling case to create additional value for the shareholders of either company, and that it substantially undervalues Terra on an absolute basis and relative to your company. Accordingly, our Board has unanimously concluded that your proposal is not in the best interests of Terra and our shareholders and we decline to accept it”.

Last week Agrium (AGU) offered $3.6 billion in cash and stock to shareholders of CF Industries (CF), one of America’s largest nitrogen, and phosphate producers. At the time of the offer, Agrium offered $76 dollars per share to CF shareholders, which represented a 37 percent premium over the company's $55.58 closing price as of Tuesday of last week. Additionally, Agrium noted that it expects the merger between Agrium and CF to have revenue of $14 billion and noted the transaction offers shareholders of CF Industries an annual savings of $150 million in terms of strategic synergies.

CSX Corp (CSX): CSX has traded in a 52-week range of $70.70 to $27.61 with a current price per share of $29.22. On January 12th, CSX lowered their fourth-quarter earnings to 63 cents per share and projected revenues of $2.7 billion. On January 21st, CSX said that it sees shipments continuing to decline this year, but re-assured investors that the firm will be able to raise prices. Revenue for the fourth-quarter rose 4% year-over-year based principally on rail efficiencies and higher prices. Rail volumes for CSX from 2006 to 2008 went from 7.358 million to 6.827 million while revenue went from $9.6 billion to $11.3 billion in the same period. Revenue per unit went from $1,300 to $1,649 in 2006 to 2008 while operating margins increased from 20.7% to 24.6% in the same time period.