Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈNew York Stock Exchange
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Somewhat Bearish -35

Shares of high fructose syrup producer ADM fall after Trump says Coca-Cola agrees to use real cane sugar

πŸ“‰ ADM shares fell nearly 1% and dropped as much as 6% in premarket trading after President Trump announced Coca-Cola's agreement to use real cane sugar.

πŸ—£οΈ President Trump stated on Truth Social that he persuaded Coca-Cola to switch, praising the move as better for consumers and American manufacturing.

πŸ₯€ Coca-Cola issued a statement appreciating the president's enthusiasm but declined to confirm specific details, promising new information soon.

πŸ“ˆ Competitor PepsiCo shares rose alongside Coca-Cola, with CEO Ramon Laguarta noting that 60% of its U.S. beverages already use sugar or no sugar.

⚠️ The Corn Refiners Association warned that replacing corn syrup with cane sugar could cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs and depress farm income.

🌾 ADM stock had risen about 12% over the last three months before this negative news event impacted its price.

πŸ“Š Raw sugar futures increased in value following the announcement of the potential industry-wide shift to cane sugar.

πŸ›οΈ Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously urged executives to remove 'worst ingredients' from food products.

πŸ’° PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta suggested a conversation with the government is needed to make U.S. sugar more affordable for industry transition.

πŸ“… The news occurred on Thursday, July 17, 2025, following a Truth Social post published Wednesday by President Trump.

Bullish Signals
  • Coca-Cola shares rose almost 2% on the day, extending its year-to-date gain to over 13%.
  • Raw sugar futures popped immediately after the announcement of the potential switch to cane sugar.
  • PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta indicated that a significant portion of their U.S. beverage portfolio (60%) already avoids corn syrup, suggesting industry adaptation is underway.
Risk Factors
  • ADM shares fell nearly 1% and dropped as much as 6% in premarket trading following the announcement.
  • The Corn Refiners Association explicitly warned that replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs.
  • The association stated the switch would depress farm income and boost imports of foreign sugar, negatively impacting domestic agriculture.
  • PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta noted that sugar is more expensive in the U.S. than globally, implying potential margin pressure or higher consumer costs for the transition.
Full Analysis
Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) fell on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced that Coca-Cola has agreed to switch from high-fructose corn syrup to real cane sugar in its U.S. drinks. The announcement, made via a Truth Social post by the president, caused ADM stock to drop nearly 1% in regular trading and tumble as much as 6% in premarket hours. Coca-Cola did not explicitly confirm the details of the switch but stated it appreciates the president's enthusiasm regarding its iconic brand. The company indicated that more information about new innovative offerings would be shared soon, while its own shares rose almost 2% on the news, continuing a year-to-date climb of over 13%. The industry reaction highlighted potential economic impacts, with the Corn Refiners Association warning of job losses and depressed farm income if high-fructose corn syrup is replaced. Competitor PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta noted that sugar costs are higher in the U.S. than globally and suggested a need for government assistance to make the transition affordable for consumers and manufacturers. ADM, a global ingredients provider, had seen gains over the previous three months prior to this news, rising about 12% in that period. The event also caused raw sugar futures to pop, reflecting market dynamics surrounding the potential shift away from corn-based sweeteners.