Strong potassium sulfate sales and the acquisition of Wolf Trax micronutrients business boosted Compass Mineral crop nutrition sales in the second quarter ending June 30, 2014 by 42 percent. Segment operating earnings were $17.9 million on sales of $65.6 million up from the year-ago $14 million and $44.1 million, respectively.
Despite the positive news, early debt redemption, a higher tax rate, and lower salt earnings, put Compass into the loss column for the quarter at minus $700,000 ($0.02 per diluted share) on sales of $186.6 million compared to the year-ago $10.6 million ($0.32 per share) and $173.8 million, respectively.