Origin Agritech Limited
- Open
- 1.03
- Day high
- 1.03
- Day low
- 1.02
- Prev close
- 1.02
- Volume
- 0
- Mkt cap
- $12M
- P/E (TTM)
- —
- EPS (TTM)
- —
- P/B
- -2.2
- P/S
- 1.2
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
Origin Agritech Limited (SEED) is a Basic Materials company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is up 3% over the past year.
Origin Agritech Limited (SEED) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
SEED earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | — | $-0.17 | — | $7M | — |
| Jun 30, 2024 | — | $0.20 | — | $1M | — |
| Feb 15, 2024 | — | $1.32 | — | $4M | — |
| Nov 21, 2023 | — | $0.56 | — | $2M | — |
| Mar 31, 2023 | — | $-0.01 | — | $5M | — |
| Jun 30, 2022 | — | $-0.10 | — | $463585 | — |
| Mar 31, 2022 | — | $0.02 | — | $4M | — |
| Mar 31, 2021 | — | $-0.05 | — | $887063 | — |
| Jun 30, 2020 | — | $-1.14 | — | $597672 | — |
| Mar 2, 2020 | — | $-0.92 | — | $719134 | — |
| May 10, 2018 | — | $-0.55 | — | $570737 | — |
| Aug 1, 2017 | — | $-1.80 | — | — | — |
SEED insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2006 | FEINBERG JEFF10 percent owner | Buy | 150,000 | $13.28 |
| Jan 9, 2006 | FEINBERG JEFF10 percent owner | Buy | 7,219 | $12.19 |
| Jan 9, 2006 | FEINBERG JEFF10 percent owner | Buy | 15,500 | $12.13 |
| Dec 14, 2005 | PROPPER RICHARD Dofficer: VP of Corporate Development | Sell | 2,000 | $30.00 |
| Dec 8, 2005 | PROPPER KERRYdirector | Sell | 50,000 | $5.00 |
| Dec 8, 2005 | PROPPER RICHARD Dofficer: VP for Corporate Development | Sell | 50,000 | $5.00 |
| Nov 10, 2005 | PROPPER KERRYdirector | Grant | 267,250 | $5.00 |
| Nov 10, 2005 | PROPPER KERRYdirector | Grant | 177,042 | — |
| Nov 10, 2005 | PROPPER RICHARD Dofficer: VP of Corporate Development | Grant | 271,250 | $5.00 |
| Nov 10, 2005 | PROPPER RICHARD Dofficer: VP of Corporate Development | Grant | 244,125 | — |
Source: SEED SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jan 13, 2006. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full SEED insider & 13F page →Origin Agritech Limited company profile
Overview
Origin Agritech Limited (NASDAQ:SEED) is a Chinese agricultural biotechnology company founded in 1997 and headquartered in Beijing. The company went public on NASDAQ in 2004 and has evolved from a traditional seed company into a biotechnology-focused enterprise specializing in genetically modified organism (GMO) development and gene editing technologies. Origin Agritech operates primarily in China's agricultural sector, focusing on corn seed development, production, and distribution while also maintaining an e-commerce platform for agricultural products.
Business
Origin Agritech operates in the agricultural biotechnology sector, which involves applying advanced scientific techniques to improve crop yields, disease resistance, and nutritional content. The company's core business revolves around developing, producing, and distributing hybrid crop seeds, with a particular emphasis on corn varieties. The company's primary offerings include hybrid corn seeds that are developed through traditional breeding methods combined with modern biotechnology. These seeds are engineered to provide farmers with crops that have improved characteristics such as higher yields, better disease resistance, and tolerance to environmental stresses like drought. Origin Agritech has developed several proprietary corn varieties, including disease-tolerant varieties that perform well in extreme weather conditions and nutritionally enhanced corn (NEC) designed for the livestock feed industry. A significant portion of Origin Agritech's technological advancement comes from its GMO capabilities. The company has received safety certificates for transgenic maize varieties, including the BBL2-2 transgenic maize, which represents a major breakthrough in China's agricultural biotechnology sector. Additionally, the company has developed CRISPR gene editing technology for corn, allowing it to create improved varieties in one year instead of the traditional three-to-four-year breeding cycle. The company also operates an e-commerce platform that serves Chinese farmers by providing agricultural inputs including seeds, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and other farming supplies. This platform enables farmers to place orders online and through mobile applications, creating a direct distribution channel for the company's products. Based on the financial data, approximately 85-90% of revenue comes from seed sales, while the remaining portion is generated through the e-commerce platform and other agricultural services.
Revenue model
Origin Agritech generates revenue primarily through product sales of hybrid corn seeds to Chinese farmers and agricultural distributors. The company sells its seeds at premium prices compared to conventional varieties due to their enhanced characteristics such as disease resistance and higher yields. Customers include individual farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and seed distributors throughout China. The company's e-commerce platform generates additional revenue through the sale of agricultural inputs, taking margins on fertilizers, chemicals, and other farming supplies sold to farmers. This creates a recurring revenue stream beyond the seasonal seed sales business. Origin Agritech's business model is heavily influenced by several key factors. Seasonal demand patterns significantly impact revenue timing, as seed sales are concentrated during planting seasons. Weather conditions and crop yields in previous seasons affect farmer purchasing decisions and willingness to pay premium prices for improved varieties. The company's margins are positively influenced by its technological differentiation, particularly its GMO and gene editing capabilities, which allow it to command premium pricing. The Chinese government's increasing support for GMO crops and food security initiatives creates favorable regulatory conditions. However, margins face pressure from intense competition in China's seed market, where numerous domestic and international companies compete for market share. Input costs for research and development, seed production, and facility maintenance represent significant fixed costs that impact profitability. The company's ability to scale production efficiently and reduce per-unit costs will be crucial for margin improvement. Additionally, regulatory changes regarding GMO crop approval and commercialization in China could significantly impact the company's growth prospects and pricing power.
Competitive moat
Origin Agritech's competitive moat is moderate but potentially strengthening due to its unique positioning in China's agricultural biotechnology sector. The company's primary competitive advantage lies in being the only Chinese seed company with both GMO safety certificates and advanced gene editing capabilities. This dual technological capability creates a significant barrier to entry, as developing these technologies requires substantial investment, expertise, and regulatory approval. The company's 25-year germplasm bank and extensive breeding programs provide a valuable foundation of genetic material that competitors cannot easily replicate. Additionally, Origin Agritech's end-to-end capabilities from research and development to production and distribution create operational efficiencies and quality control advantages. However, the moat faces several challenges. The agricultural biotechnology sector is highly competitive, with large multinational corporations like Bayer, Corteva, and Syngenta possessing significantly greater resources and global reach. These companies have extensive patent portfolios and established relationships with farmers worldwide. Regulatory dependency represents a key vulnerability, as the company's GMO business relies heavily on Chinese government approval and policy support. Changes in regulatory stance could significantly impact the company's competitive position. Additionally, the company's limited geographic diversification concentrates risk in the Chinese market, making it vulnerable to local economic conditions and agricultural policies. The company's small size relative to industry giants limits its ability to invest in research and development at the scale of larger competitors. While Origin Agritech's focus on the Chinese market provides local advantages, it also constrains growth opportunities and exposes the company to market concentration risk.
Risks & safety
Origin Agritech presents significant financial risks with limited margin of safety for investors. • Liquidity concerns: Current ratio of 0.54 indicates insufficient current assets to cover short-term liabilities; cash position of $1.1 million is critically low relative to operating needs • Negative cash flow: Operating cash flow of -$2.1 million and free cash flow of -$2.7 million for FY 2024 indicate ongoing cash burn without sustainable cash generation • Debt burden: Total liabilities of $26 million exceed total assets of $18 margin, creating negative book value and potential solvency issues • Valuation metrics: While P/E ratio of 6.7 appears low, negative book value makes traditional valuation metrics unreliable; enterprise value metrics are distorted by negative EBITDA in recent quarters • Other considerations: Small market capitalization of $8.3 million creates high volatility risk; heavy dependence on Chinese market and regulatory approval creates concentration risk; limited financial resources constrain ability to execute growth strategy
Recent development
Over the past few years, Origin Agritech has undergone a significant strategic transformation from a traditional seed company to a biotechnology-focused enterprise. The company has implemented a comprehensive three-phase strategy spanning 2024-2032, with Phase 1 focusing on business stabilization and achieving cash flow breakeven by 2026. A major milestone was receiving the GMO safety certificate for BBL2-2 transgenic maize, positioning Origin Agritech as one of the few Chinese companies with approved GMO traits. The company has also achieved breakthroughs in CRISPR gene editing technology, enabling it to develop improved corn varieties in one year instead of the traditional three-to-four-year cycle. The company established the Origin Marker Biological Breeding Service Consortium to partner with dozens of breeding companies, leveraging its gene editing capabilities to improve corn varieties across the industry. This represents a shift toward a more collaborative business model that could generate licensing and service revenues. Origin Agritech has upgraded its production capabilities with a modernized Xinjiang facility covering 4,000 hectares with 75,000-ton processing capacity. The company has also strengthened its leadership team with industry experts and increased R&D investment from $1 million to $1.5 million annually. Strategically, the company has suspended its NEC (nutritionally enhanced corn) business to focus resources on biotechnology and seed commercialization. Eight new corn seed varieties are planned for launch in 2025, representing the largest product pipeline in the company's recent history. The long-term vision includes achieving 20% international revenue by 2032, indicating plans for geographic expansion beyond China.
SEED company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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