Summary of investments |
Investments as of August 31, 2018, and 2017, are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | (Dollars in thousands) | Equity method investments: | | | | CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC | $ | 2,735,073 |
| | $ | 2,756,076 |
| Ventura Foods, LLC | 360,150 |
| | 347,016 |
| Ardent Mills, LLC | 205,898 |
| | 206,529 |
| Other equity method investments | 288,016 |
| | 309,767 |
| Cost method and other investments | 122,788 |
| | 131,605 |
| Total investments | $ | 3,711,925 |
| | $ | 3,750,993 |
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Summarized financial information of equity method investments |
The following tables provide aggregate summarized financial information for our equity method investments in Ventura Foods and Ardent Mills for balance sheets as of August 31, 2018, and 2017, and statements of operations for the twelve months ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | (Dollars in thousands) | Current assets | $ | 1,462,590 |
| | $ | 1,483,384 |
| Non-current assets | 2,331,295 |
| | 2,358,434 |
| Current liabilities | 671,928 |
| | 685,462 |
| Non-current liabilities | 693,360 |
| | 765,078 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | (Dollars in thousands) | Net sales | $ | 5,882,035 |
| | $ | 5,762,849 |
| | $ | 5,694,622 |
| Gross profit | 601,927 |
| | 673,329 |
| | 677,920 |
| Net earnings | 226,776 |
| | 265,126 |
| | 265,025 |
| Earnings attributable to CHS Inc. | 46,069 |
| | 60,716 |
| | 88,936 |
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The following tables provide aggregate summarized financial information for CF Nitrogen for the balance sheets as of August 31, 2018, and 2017, and the statements of operations for the twelve months ended August 31, 2018, and 2017, and the seven months ended August 31, 2016: | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | (Dollars in thousands) | Current assets | $ | 576,076 |
| | $ | 394,089 |
| Non-current assets | 7,447,594 |
| | 7,314,629 |
| Current liabilities | 215,104 |
| | 390,206 |
| Non-current liabilities | 71 |
| | 6 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | (Dollars in thousands) | Net sales | $ | 2,449,695 |
| | $ | 2,051,159 |
| | $ | 1,027,142 |
| Gross profit | 423,612 |
| | 195,142 |
| | 243,911 |
| Net earnings | 401,295 |
| | 123,965 |
| | 186,665 |
| Earnings attributable to CHS Inc. | 106,895 |
| | 66,530 |
| | 74,700 |
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