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Pilgrim's Pride Reports Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal 2010

Pilgrim's Pride Reports Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal 2010

PITTSBURG, Texas, May 6, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today reported a net loss of $45.5 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.6 billion for the first quarter ended March 28, 2010. These results include nonrecurring administrative restructuring charges and reorganization expenses of $56.5 million pre-tax, or $32.7 million after tax, or $0.16 per diluted share. For the comparable quarter a year earlier, the company reported a net loss of $58.8 million, or $0.79 per share, on total sales of nearly $1.7 billion. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes restructuring and reorganization charges, was a positive $59.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

"While I am encouraged by the progress we have made in several areas of our business, our overall performance in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was below our expectations," said Don Jackson, Pilgrim's Pride president and chief executive.

The company said several factors contributed to the loss for the quarter, including: restructuring and reorganization costs; a delay in the addition of new further-processed volume which forced the company to sell commodity meat at lower prices; a loss of approximately $11 million related to grain hedges, of which $6 million was mark-to-market on open positions; and lower-than-anticipated market prices for dark meat. Mr. Jackson said the further-processed volume should be onboard before the end of June.

"Our single largest opportunity to create value is through improved product mix both in retail and foodservice," he explained. "At the same time, we must continue to focus on operating more efficiently. We are making good progress in all of these areas, and I am confident that our financial results in the second quarter will show significant improvement. Based on preliminary results, we were profitable for the month of April."

Mr. Jackson said he is optimistic about industry fundamentals heading into the summer. "Although production is slightly higher than a year ago, supplies remain fairly tight. Feed costs appear to have stabilized and there are growing signs that the economy is improving. With many retailers and foodservice operators planning to feature chicken in the months ahead, demand is strengthening," he said.

Consistent with its strategy of matching production to forecasted demand, Pilgrim's Pride announced plans to re-open its chicken processing plant in Douglas, Ga., by January 2011. The company also plans to re-open two other idled facilities, one by mid-2011 and the other by spring 2012. The re-opening of these three plants will result in a production increase of 10 percent, or approximately 3.5 million birds per week.

"Pilgrim's Pride and the industry have taken out significant production capacity over the past two years. We fully believe that with the strengthening economy and improving fundamentals, consumer demand for chicken is increasing. By re-opening these facilities, Pilgrim's Pride will be uniquely positioned to fulfill our customers' needs," said Mr. Jackson.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss the company's quarterly results will be held today at 10 a.m. Central (11 a.m. Eastern). To listen live via telephone, call toll-free 888-264-8905, pass code 9500242. International callers should dial 913-312-1230, pass code 9500242. The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=67962. (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 approximately two hours of the conclusion of the call. A toll-free telephone replay will be available today beginning at approximately 1 p.m. Central by calling 888-203-1112 pass code 9500242. International callers should dial 719-457-0820, pass code 9500242. The replay will be available for 30 days.

About Pilgrim's Pride

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation employs approximately 41,000 people and operates chicken processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 12 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit http://www.pilgrimspride.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that state the intentions, plans, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations or predictions of the future of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and its management 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; the ability to execute the company's business plan to achieve desired cost savings and profitability; the ability of the company to achieve the anticipated synergistic gains from the sale of 64% of its common stock to JBS USA Holdings, Inc; the ability of the company to re-open its idled facilities in the manner and on the time schedule planned due to, among other things, the company's dependence on commodity prices and economic conditions; future pricing for feed ingredients and the company's products; additional outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in Pilgrim's Pride's flocks or elsewhere, affecting its ability to conduct its operations and/or demand for its poultry products; contamination of Pilgrim's Pride's products, which has previously 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 cash resources, particularly in light of Pilgrim's Pride's substantial leverage; restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, Pilgrim's Pride's substantial leverage; changes in laws or regulations affecting Pilgrim's Pride's operations or the application thereof; new immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause the costs of doing business to increase, cause Pilgrim's Pride to change the way in which it does business, or otherwise disrupt its operations; competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of Pilgrim's Pride's largest customers; currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign operations; disruptions in international markets and distribution channel, including exports into Russia, the anti-dumping proceeding in Ukraine and the anti-dumping and countervailing duty proceeding in China; and the impact of uncertainties of litigation as well as other risks described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's 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.


    Media & Investor Contact:  Gary Rhodes
    Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
    (903) 434-1495


                              PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
                         Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                      (Unaudited)


                                               Three Months Ended
                                               ------------------
                                         March 28,           March 28,
                                         ---------           ---------
                                                2010                2009
                                                ----                ----
                                            (In thousands, except per
                                                   share data)

    Net sales                             $1,642,918          $1,698,102
    Costs and expenses:
      Cost of sales                        1,590,899           1,619,359

    Gross profit                              52,019              78,743

      Selling, general and
       administrative expense                 48,601              58,898
      Administrative restructuring
       charges, net                           35,819                (435)
                                              ------                ----

       Total costs and expenses            1,675,319           1,677,822
                                           ---------           ---------

    Operating income (loss)                  (32,401)             20,280

    Other expenses (income):
      Interest expense                        28,420              46,444
      Interest income                           (547)             (2,824)
      Miscellaneous, net                      (2,325)             (1,876)
                                              ------              ------

       Total other expenses (income)          25,548              41,744
                                              ------              ------

    Loss from continuing operations
     before reorganization items and
     income taxes                            (57,949)            (21,464)
    Reorganization items, net                 20,719              35,355
                                              ------              ------

    Loss from continuing operations
     before income taxes                     (78,668)            (56,819)
    Income tax expense (benefit)             (33,304)              2,347
                                             -------               -----

    Loss from continuing operations          (45,364)            (59,166)
    Income from discontinued business,
     net of tax                                    -                  25
                                                 ---                 ---

    Net loss                                 (45,364)            (59,141)
    Less:  Net income (loss)
     attributable to noncontrolling
     interest                                    183                (376)
                                                 ---                ----

    Net loss attributable to Pilgrim's
     Pride Corporation                      $(45,547)           $(58,765)
                                            ========            ========

    Net loss per common share-basic
     and diluted:
      Loss from continuing operations
       attributable to Pilgrim's Pride
       Corporation common stockholders        $(0.21)             $(0.79)
      Income from discontinued business
       attributable to Pilgrim's Pride
       Corporation common stockholders             -                   -
                                                 ---                 ---

      Net loss attributable to Pilgrim's
       Pride Corporation common
       stockholders                           $(0.21)             $(0.79)
                                              ======              ======

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding - basic and diluted         214,282              74,056




                              PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
                              Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                      (Unaudited)

                                          March 28,   September 26,
                                          ---------   -------------
                                                   2010          2009
                                                   ----          ----
    Assets:                                  (In thousands)
    Cash and cash equivalents                   $48,398      $220,029
    Investment in available-for-sale
     securities                                   7,874         5,302
    Trade accounts and other receivables,
     less allowance for doubtful accounts       300,101       316,953
    Inventories                                 731,763       763,869
    Income taxes receivable                      52,102        15,028
    Prepaid expenses and other current
     assets                                      55,168        45,013

       Total current assets                   1,195,406     1,366,194

    Investment in available-for-sale
     securities                                  60,646        57,314
    Deferred tax assets                             296        16,732
    Other long-lived assets                     125,103        63,609
    Identified intangible assets, net            53,213        57,179
    Property, plant and equipment, net        1,453,273     1,499,476
                                              ---------

                                             $2,887,937    $3,060,504
                                             ==========    ==========

    Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
    Accounts payable                           $242,635      $182,173
    Accrued expenses                            317,546       309,259
    Pre-petition obligations                     30,992             -
    Income taxes payable                            338             -
    Current deferred tax liabilities             15,277        16,732
    Current maturities of long-term debt         50,347             -
                                                                  ---

       Total current liabilities                657,135       508,164

    Long-term debt, less current
     maturities                               1,145,755        41,062
    Deferred tax liabilities                     41,197        22,213
    Other long-term liabilities                  93,224        98,783
                                                 ------        ------

       Total liabilities not subject to
        compromise                            1,937,311       670,222

    Liabilities subject to compromise                 -     2,233,161


    Common stock                                  2,143           771
    Additional paid-in capital                1,447,211       646,793
    Accumulated deficit                        (481,339)     (469,407)
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss        (23,966)      (27,237)
                                                -------

       Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
        stockholders' equity                    944,049       150,920

    Noncontrolling interest                       6,577         6,201
                                                  -----         -----

        Total stockholders' equity              950,626       157,121
                                                -------       -------

                                             $2,887,937    $3,060,504
                                             ==========    ==========



                          PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
                        Selected Financial Information
                                  (Unaudited)

    Note:  "EBITDA" is defined as the sum of income (loss) from
    continuing operations plus interest, taxes, depreciation and
    amortization. "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as the sum of EBITDA plus
    restructuring charges and reorganization items. 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 results prepared in conformity with
    accounting principles generally accepted in the US ("GAAP"), to
    compare the performance of companies. We believe investors would be
    interested in our Adjusted EBITDA because this is how our management
    analyzes EBITDA from continuing operations. The Company also
    believes that Adjusted EBITDA, in combination with the Company's
    financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP, provides
    investors with additional perspective regarding the impact of
    certain significant items on EBITDA and facilitates a more direct
    comparison of its performance with its competitors. EBITDA and
    Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under
    GAAP. They 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.


                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                 ------------------
                                         March 28,            March 28,
                                         ---------            ---------
                                                2010                  2009
                                                ----                  ----
                                                   (In thousands)

    Net loss attributable to Pilgrim's
     Pride Corporation                      $(45,547)             $(58,765)

    Add:
      Income tax expense (benefit)           (33,304)                2,347
      Interest expense, net                   27,873                43,620
      Depreciation and amortization           57,767                60,513
    Minus:
      Amortization of capitalized loan
       costs                                   3,780                 1,769

    EBITDA                                     3,009                45,946


    Add:
      Restructuring charges, net              35,819                  (435)
      Pre-petition reorganization items,
       net                                         -                  (103)
      Post-petition reorganization
       items, net                             20,719                35,355

    Adjusted EBITDA                          $59,547               $80,763
                                             =======               =======




SOURCE Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

Media Contact

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