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Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Record Earnings for Fiscal Third Quarter and First Nine Months Periods

Jul 25, 2005
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Record Earnings for Fiscal Third Quarter and First Nine Months Periods

PITTSBURG, Texas, July 25, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today reported net income of $85.4 million, or $1.28 per share, for the third fiscal quarter ended July 2, 2005, an increase of $75.6 million, or $1.13 per share, compared with net income of $9.8 million, or $0.15 per share, in the third quarter ended July 3, 2004. The Company also reported net sales for the third quarter ended July 2, 2005 of $1.440 billion, a slight decrease when compared with net sales of $1.448 billion for the same period last year. Included in the net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 were turkey restructuring and other related charges of $39.6 million net of tax, or $0.60 per share.

For the nine months ended July 2, 2005, the Company reported net income of $190.3 million, or $2.86 per share, an increase of $137.2 million, or $2.00 per share, compared with net income of $53.1 million, or $0.86 per share, for the nine months ended July 3, 2004. The Company also reported net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 of $4.184 billion, an increase of $307 million, compared with net sales of $3.877 billion for the same period last year. Included in the net income for the first nine months results is a non- recurring gain of $6.5 million net of tax, or $0.10 per share, associated with a litigation settlement and turkey restructuring and other related charges of $39.6 million net of tax, or $0.65 per share, in fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively.

"Increased protein demand, excellent results from our Mexico operations, and reduced feed ingredient costs all contributed to our record third fiscal quarter and first nine months' results," said O.B. Goolsby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's Pride. "We remain committed to positioning the Company to meet the growing consumer demand for high-quality, convenient poultry meat proteins. We will continue working to develop new products that allow our customers to capitalize on these market developments and expect continued growth ahead due to consumer trends and demographics changes. This was an exceptional quarter and first nine months for Pilgrim's Pride and we are looking forward to the rest of this fiscal year where we expect many of these positive trends to continue. Accordingly, we are raising our guidance for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2005 to $0.90 - $1.00 per share from the $0.73 to $0.91 per share range previously communicated by the Company."

Pilgrim's Pride will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter fiscal 2005 financial results at 10 a.m. CDT (11 a.m. EDT) on July 25, 2005. To listen live via telephone, call 800-391-2548, verbal pass code Pilgrim's Pride or VG495227. The call also will be webcast live on the Internet at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol- eventDetails&c=68228&eventID=1082540. (Please copy and paste the link into the browser).

Additionally, the Company has posted a slide presentation on its website at http://www.pilgrimspride.com, which may be viewed by listeners in connection with today's conference call. The webcast will be available for replay within two hours of the conclusion of the call. A telephone replay will be available beginning at 2 p.m. CDT on July 25 through August 2 at 800- 355-2355 pass code 495227#.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements contained in this press release that state the intentions, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations, outlooks or predictions of the future of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and its management, including the expectations regarding quarterly earnings, poultry prices and feed ingredient costs for the remainder of fiscal year 2005, are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward- looking statements include: matters affecting the poultry industry generally, including fluctuations in the commodity prices of feed ingredients, chicken and turkey; additional outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases affecting the production performance and/or marketability of the company's poultry products; contamination of our products, which has recently and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls; exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate; management of our cash resources, particularly in light of our leverage; restrictions imposed by and as a result of, our leverage; currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign operations; changes in laws or regulations affecting our operations or the application thereof as well as competitive factors and pricing pressures; risks associated with the acquisition of ConAgra Foods' chicken division including possible unknown liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition and loss of customers of the acquired business; inability to recognize the anticipated cost savings and anticipated benefits in connection with our turkey division restructuring; and the impact of uncertainties of litigation as well as other risks described under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
     Sondra Fowler
     Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
     (903) 434-1495


                         PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
                      Consolidated Statements of Income
                                 (Unaudited)
              [In thousands, except share and per share amounts]

    Three Months Ended                       July 2, 2005      July 3, 2004

    Net Sales                             $     1,440,039     $    1,447,995
    Costs and Expenses
     Cost of sales                              1,209,540          1,273,792
     Cost of sales-restructuring                       --             55,982
     Selling, general and
      administrative                               94,506             73,181
     Other restructuring charges                       --              7,923
                                                1,304,046          1,410,878
      Operating Income                            135,993             37,117

    Other Expense (Income):
     Interest expense, net                         12,322             14,690
     Foreign exchange (gain) loss                     (94)                65
     Miscellaneous, net                                88                285
      Total other expenses, net                    12,316             15,040

    Income before income taxes                    123,677             22,077
    Income tax expense                             38,324             12,263
    Net Income                            $        85,353     $        9,814

    Net income per common share
     -basic and diluted                   $          1.28     $         0.15
    Dividends declared per common
     share                                $         0.015     $        0.015
    Weighted average shares
     outstanding                               66,555,733         66,555,733


    Nine Months Ended                        July 2, 2005       July 3, 2004
                                              (39 Weeks)         (40 Weeks)

    Net Sales                             $     4,183,607     $    3,877,270
    Costs and Expenses
     Cost of sales                              3,639,213          3,502,632
     Cost of sales-restructuring                       --             55,982
     Selling, general and
      administrative                              228,431            181,297
     Other restructuring charges                       --              7,923
                                                3,867,644          3,747,834
      Operating Income                            315,963            129,436

    Other Expense (Income):
     Interest expense, net                         33,864             40,658
     Foreign exchange (gain) loss                    (420)               328
     Miscellaneous, net                           (11,659)             1,222
      Total other expenses, net                    21,785             42,208

    Income before income taxes                    294,178             87,228
    Income tax expense                            103,928             34,178
    Net Income                            $       190,250     $       53,050

    Net income per common share
     -basic and diluted                   $          2.86     $         0.86
    Dividends declared per common
     share                                $         0.045     $        0.045
    Weighted average shares
     outstanding                               66,555,733         61,376,254


                         PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                 (Unaudited)
                                [In thousands]

                                         July 2, 2005         October 2, 2004

    ASSETS
    Cash and cash equivalents         $      297,821         $       38,165
    Other current assets                     887,637                979,063
    Total Current Assets                   1,185,458              1,017,228
    Other Assets                              48,025                 50,086
    Property, Plant and Equipment, net     1,169,367              1,178,675

    Total Assets                      $    2,402,850         $    2,245,989

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current maturities of long-
     term debt                        $        8,552         $        8,428
    Other current liabilities                607,959                625,074
    Total Current Liabilities                616,511                633,502
    Long-Term Debt, Less Current
     Maturities                              521,087                535,866
    Deferred Income Taxes                    153,286                152,455
    Minority Interest in Subsidiary            1,338                  1,210
    Total Stockholders' Equity             1,110,628                922,956

    Total Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity             $    2,402,850         $    2,245,989


                         Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
                       Pro forma Financial Information
                                 (Unaudited)
                   (In thousands except per share amounts)

The unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented as if the acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division had occurred as of the beginning of fiscal year 2004.

Nine Months Ended                             July 3, 2004
                                                   (40 Weeks)

    Net sales                                   $    4,338,061
    Depreciation and amortization               $       95,165
    Operating income                            $      154,950
    Interest expense, net                       $       45,029
    Income before taxes                         $      110,547
    Net income                                  $       67,509
    Net income per common share                 $         1.01
    Weighted average shares outstanding             66,555,733


                        Selected Financial Information
                                 (Unaudited)
                                (In thousands)

Note: "EBITDA" is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because it is used by us, and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) results, to compare the performance of companies. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net income as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA is calculated as follows:

                                              July 2, 2005     July 3, 2004
    Three Months Ended
    Net Income                         $          85,353   $          9,814
     Add:
     Income tax expense                           38,324             12,263
     Interest expense, net                        12,322             14,690
     Depreciation and amortization                30,421             29,122
    Minus:
     Amortization of capitalized
      financing costs                                590                409


    EBITDA                             $         165,830   $         65,480

    Capital expenditures               $          37,995   $         15,856


                                                                   Pro Forma
                                July 2, 2005     July 3, 2004    July 3, 2004
    Nine Months Ended            (39 Weeks)       (40 Weeks)      (40 Weeks)

    Net Income                $     190,250    $     53,050    $     67,509
     Add:
     Income tax expense             103,928          34,178          43,038
     Interest expense, net           33,864          40,658          45,029
     Depreciation and
      amortization                   94,263          88,120          95,165
    Minus:
     Amortization of capitalized
      financing costs                 1,740           1,416           1,416


    EBITDA                    $     420,565    $    214,590    $    249,325

    Capital expenditures      $      90,148    $     55,837    $     65,966

SOURCE  Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

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