What drove Compass Minerals' improved fiscal second-quarter performance, particularly in the plant nutrition segment?

Compass Minerals' improved fiscal second-quarter performance was driven primarily by a strong showing in its plant nutrition segment, where revenue rose 15% year over year to $67.0 million—attributable to a 4% increase in sales volume and a 10% increase in pricing—and adjusted EBITDA surged to $16.9 million from $5.6 million year ago, supported by higher average sales prices, higher sales volumes, and lower per-unit product and distribution costs. The company also cited 'meaningful year-over-year improvement in cost performance and margins' at its Ogden operation, leading it to raise full-year plant nutrition guidance for sales volumes, pricing, and costs.

Why did Compass Minerals narrow its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance, and how did segment-level changes influence this decision?

Compass Minerals narrowed its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance from $208 million–$240 million to $212 million–$236 million due to stronger-than-expected results in the plant nutrition segment—which prompted an increase in its segment-specific guidance—offset by a decrease in salt segment guidance reflecting 'differences in regional and product sales mix relative to forecast.' Specifically, the plant nutrition segment delivered $16.9 million in adjusted EBITDA (up from $5.6 million), while the salt segment’s adjusted EBITDA declined 3% to $83.2 million amid a 12% revenue drop caused by 22% lower highway deicing volumes, despite a 10% price increase in that category.

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