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Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Earnings and Net Sales for 2005 Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Annual Periods

Nov 7, 2005
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Earnings and Net Sales for 2005 Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Annual Periods

Results at Top of the Range of Previously Issued Earnings Expectations Gains in Annual Net Income, EPS and Operating Margins Driven by Higher Sales and Improved Operating Efficiencies

PITTSBURG, Texas, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today reported net income of $74.7 million, or $1.12 per share, for the fourth fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2005, an increase of $9.1 million, or $0.13 per share, when compared to the adjusted earnings described below of $65.6 million, or $0.99 per share, in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2004. The Company also reported net sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 of $1.483 billion, a slight decrease when compared with net sales of $1.486 billion for the same period last year.

For fiscal 2005, which ended October 1, 2005, the Company reported record net income of $265.0 million, or $3.98 per share. The Company reported record net sales for fiscal 2005 of $5.666 billion, an increase of $302.6 million when compared with $5.364 billion for fiscal 2004. Included in the net income for fiscal 2005 was a non-recurring gain of $7.5 million net of tax, or $0.11 per share, associated with a litigation settlement, and recoveries on prior year's turkey restructuring charges of $3.3 million net of tax, or $0.05 per share, resulting in adjusted earnings for fiscal 2005 of $254.2 million, or $3.82 per share, an increase of $97.0 million, or $1.31 per share, when compared to the adjusted earnings described below of $157.2 million, or $2.51 per share, in the prior fiscal year.

"We are pleased to conclude and report our third consecutive year of record earnings and sales revenues. Our record performance in fiscal year 2005 reflects continued robust demand for our products, both in the United States and abroad, as well as favorable operating performance and feed ingredient costs," said O.B. Goolsby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's Pride. "Looking ahead to fiscal 2006, as always, we are committed to pursuing opportunities that will enable us to achieve sustainable growth and deliver value to our shareholders. We intend to build on our accomplishments over the past year by leveraging the dedication and hard work of our team members and our sound partner relationships to continue to drive solid results across our businesses."

The results reported today for fiscal 2005's fourth fiscal quarter compare to fiscal 2004's fourth quarter net income of $75.3 million, or $1.13 per share. Included in the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter net income was a non- recurring recovery of $23.8 million, or $14.8 million net of tax, or $0.22 per share, attributable to recoveries under a business interruption insurance policy related to the October 2002 recall of certain deli meats by the Company. Also included in the quarter's results were turkey restructuring and related charges of $8.2 million, or $5.1 million net of tax, or $0.08 per share. Excluding the non-recurring recovery and restructuring related items, fourth quarter earnings were $65.6 million, or $0.99 per share.

The results reported today for fiscal 2005 compare to fiscal 2004's net income of $128.3 million, or $2.05 per share. Included in the fiscal 2004 earnings were non-recurring recoveries of $24.8 million, or $15.4 million net of tax, or $0.25 per share, attributable to recoveries under a business interruption insurance policy related to the October 2002 recall of certain deli meats by the Company and proceeds from settlements of vitamin and methionine antitrust lawsuits. Also included in the fiscal results were turkey restructuring and related charges in the amount of $72.1 million or $44.3 million net of tax, or $0.71 per share. Excluding the non-recurring recoveries and restructuring related items, fiscal 2004 earnings were $157.2 million, or $2.51 per share.

The Company is providing fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005 annual earnings information excluding non-recurring recoveries and restructuring related items, because it believes some investors may be interested in earnings exclusive of these unusual items.

A conference call to discuss the Company's fourth quarter and full fiscal 2005 financial results will be held at 10:00 a.m. CST (11:00 a.m. EST) on November 7, 2005. To listen live via telephone, call 800-391-2548, verbal pass code Pilgrim's Pride or VG495227. The call will also be webcast live on the Internet at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol- eventDetails&c=68228&eventID=1146228 (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 2:00 p.m. CST on November 7 through November 14 at 800-355-2355 pass code 495227#.

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is the second-largest poultry producer in the United States and Mexico and the largest chicken producer in Puerto Rico. Pilgrim's Pride employs more than 40,000 people and has major operations in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Mexico and Puerto Rico, with other facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin.

Pilgrim's Pride products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entree customers. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and in the Northern and Central regions of Mexico.

For more information, please visit http://www.pilgrimspride.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements contained in this press release that state the intentions, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations or predictions of the future of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and its management, including its outlook for fiscal 2006, 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; 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.

    For further information contact:
     Ray Atkinson
     Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
     (540) 896-0406



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


    Three Months Ended                         October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004
    Net Sales                                      $1,482,668     $1,486,454
    Costs and Expenses
      Cost of sales                                 1,281,863      1,291,321
      Cost of sales - restructuring                        --          8,178
      Non-recurring recoveries                             --        (23,815)
      Selling, general and administrative              80,956         74,892
                                                    1,362,819      1,350,576
          Operating Income                            119,849        135,878

    Other Expense (Income):
      Interest expense                                 10,347         13,687
      Interest income                                    (279)        (2,216)
      Foreign exchange gain                               (54)          (123)
      Miscellaneous, net                                  491          3,223
          Total other expenses, net                    10,505         14,571

    Income before income taxes                        109,344        121,307
    Income tax expense                                 34,616         46,017
    Net Income                                        $74,728        $75,290

    Net income per common share
      - basic and diluted                               $1.12          $1.13
    Dividends declared per common share                $0.015         $0.015
    Weighted average shares outstanding            66,555,733     66,555,733


    Fiscal Year Ended                          October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004
    Net Sales                                      $5,666,275     $5,363,723
    Costs and Expenses
      Cost of sales                                 4,921,076      4,794,415
      Cost of sales - restructuring                        --         64,160
      Non-recurring recoveries                             --       (23,891)
      Selling, general and administrative             309,387        255,802
      Other restructuring charges                          --          7,923
                                                    5,230,463      5,098,409
          Operating Income                            435,812        265,314

    Other Expense (Income):
      Interest expense                                 51,047         55,943
      Interest income                                  (7,115)        (3,814)
      Foreign exchange (gain) loss                       (474)           205
      Miscellaneous, net                              (11,169)         4,445
          Total other expenses, net                    32,289         56,779

    Income before income taxes                        403,523        208,535
    Income tax expense                                138,544         80,195
    Net Income                                       $264,979       $128,340

    Net income per common share
      - basic and diluted                               $3.98          $2.05
    Dividends declared per common share                 $0.06          $0.06
    Weighted average shares outstanding            66,555,733     62,646,692



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

                                              October 1, 2005  October 2, 2004
    ASSETS
    Cash                                            $132,567        $38,165
    Other current assets                             869,296        979,063
    Total current assets                           1,001,863      1,017,228
    Other Assets                                     358,390         50,086
    Property, Plant and Equipment, net             1,154,097      1,178,675

    Total Assets                                  $2,514,350     $2,245,989

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current maturities of long-term debt              $8,603         $8,428
    Other current liabilities                        588,849        625,074
    Total Current Liabilities                        597,452        633,502
    Long-Term Debt, Less Current Maturities          518,863        535,866
    Deferred Income Taxes                            173,042        152,455
    Minority Interest in Subsidiary                    1,395          1,210
    Total Stockholders' Equity                     1,223,598        922,956

    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    $2,514,350     $2,245,989


                Selected Financial Information (in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

    Note:  "EBITDA" is defined as the sum of the net income (loss) 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:


    Three Months Ended                        October 1, 2005  October 2, 2004
    Net Income                                       $74,728        $75,290
        Add:
        Income tax expense                            34,616         46,017
        Interest expense, net                         10,068         11,471
        Depreciation and amortization                 40,681         25,668
    Minus:
        Amortization of capitalized financing costs      581            440

    EBITDA (a)                                      $159,512       $158,006

    Capital expenditures                             $26,439        $23,805


    Fiscal Year Ended                          October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004
    Net Income                                      $264,979       $128,340
        Add:
        Income tax expense                           138,544         80,195
        Interest expense, net                         43,932         52,129
        Depreciation and amortization                134,944        113,788
    Minus:
        Amortization of capitalized financing costs    2,321          1,951

    EBITDA (c) (b)                                  $580,078       $372,501

    Capital expenditures                            $116,588        $79,642


    Other Data:                                October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004
    Current maturities of long-term debt              $8,603         $8,428
    Long-term debt                                   518,863        535,866

    Total Debt                                      $527,466       $544,294

    (a) Included in the three month period ended October 2, 2004 EBITDA
        results were Cost of sales- restructuring related amounts of $8.2
        million associated with the sale of the Company's Hinton, Virginia,
        turkey operations.  Also included in these results was a non-recurring
        recovery of $23.8 million, attributable to recoveries under a business
        interruption insurance policy related to the October 2002 recall of
        certain deli meats by the Company.

    (b) Included in the fiscal year ended October 2, 2004 EBITDA results were
        Cost of sales-restructuring related amounts and Other restructuring
        charges of $64.2 million and $7.9 million, respectively, associated
        with sale of the Company's Hinton, Virginia, turkey operations in
        fiscal 2004.  Also included in these results were non-recurring
        recoveries of $24.8 million, attributable to recoveries under a
        business interruption insurance policy related to the October 2002
        recall of certain deli meats by the Company and proceeds from
        settlements of vitamin and methionine antitrust lawsuits.

    (c) Included in the fiscal year ended October 1, 2005 EBITDA results were
        $11.7 million associated with a litigation settlement and $5.3 million
        related to additional proceeds from the final resolution of our 2004
        turkey restructuring activities.



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

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.

    Three Months Ended                       October 2, 2004

    Net sales                                  $   1,486,454
    Depreciation and amortization              $      25,668
    Cost of sales-restructuring                $       8,178
    Operating income                           $     135,878
    Interest expense, net                      $      11,471
    Income tax expense                         $      46,017
    Net income                                 $      75,290
    Net income per common share                $        1.13

    Capital Expenditures                       $      23,805

    Fiscal Year Ended                        October 2, 2004

    Net sales                                  $   5,824,515
    Depreciation and amortization              $     120,833
    Cost of sales-restructuring                $      64,160
    Other restructuring charges                $       7,923
    Operating income                           $     290,826
    Interest expense, net                      $      56,500
    Income tax expense                         $      89,054
    Net income                                 $     142,797
    Net income per common share                $        2.15

    Capital Expenditures                       $      83,571



                         Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
                           Non-GAAP Reconciliation
                     (In millions except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)


    Three Months Ended                         October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004

    Net Income                                         $74.7          $75.3
    Less: Non-recurring recoveries (net of tax)           --           14.8
    Net income excluding non-recurring recoveries       74.7           60.5
    Plus: Turkey restructuring and related charges
     (net of tax)                                         --            5.1

    Net income adjusted for unusual items              $74.7          $65.6

                                                         Per Share Amount
    Net Income                                         $1.12          $1.13
    Less: Non-recurring recoveries (net of tax)           --           0.22
    Net income excluding non-recurring recoveries       1.12           0.91
    Plus: Turkey restructuring and related charges
     (net of tax)                                         --           0.08
    Net income adjusted for unusual items              $1.12          $0.99

    Fiscal Year Ended                          October 1, 2005 October 2, 2004

    Net Income                                        $265.0         $128.3
    Less: Non-recurring recoveries (net of tax)           --           15.4
    Net income excluding non-recurring recoveries      265.0          112.9
    Plus: Turkey restructuring and related charges
     (net of tax)                                       (3.3)          44.3
    Less: Litigation Settlements                        (7.5)            --

    Net income adjusted for unusual items             $254.2         $157.2

                                                         Per Share Amount
    Net Income                                         $3.98          $2.05
    Less: Non-recurring recoveries (net of tax)           --           0.25
    Net income excluding non-recurring recoveries       3.98           1.80
    Plus: Turkey restructuring and related charges
     (net of tax)                                      (0.05)          0.71
    Less: Litigation Settlements                       (0.11)            --

    Net income adjusted for unusual items              $3.82          $2.51

SOURCE Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Web site: http://www.pilgrimspride.com /

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Cameron Bruett
Communications
Phone: +1 970.506.7801 | Email: cameron.bruett@jbssa.com