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Pilgrim's Pride Reports Operating Income of $231 Million With a Margin of 10.9% for the Third Quarter of 2015

Oct 28, 2015

GREELEY, Colo., Oct. 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NASDAQ:PPC) reports third quarter 2015 financial results with Net Sales of $2.11 billion for the thirteen week period, compared to $2.27 billion for the same period in 2014. The 2015 Q3 Net Income was $137.1 million compared to the $256.0 million reported in the same period in 2014. Adjusted Earnings Per Share was $0.58 in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $1.01 in the same period last year, while adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") was $274.3 million, or a 13.0% margin.

"The continued challenges in the export markets, the strong dollar and the lowest chicken cutout in the past five years during Q3 have had an impact on the commodity segments of our business, and on our U.S. export and Mexico sales. Additionally, non-routine costs at two of our facilities further weighed on our results. Despite these challenges, our team has managed to produce solid margins compared to periods when prices were at similar levels," stated Bill Lovette, Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's.

"The Q3 results are a strong validation of our portfolio model, and the strategy we have pursued and implemented over the past four years is fundamental in improving our ability to maintain strong performance, minimize the impact of different market conditions, and give us more consistent financial results. Although we expect export markets to gradually reopen soon depending on the domestic AI situation, we choose not to stand still and be complacent. Instead, we continue to seek alternative and creative ways to reduce our dependencies on commodity products to produce more consistent margins by sharpening our focus on high growth markets. We also remain on track to extract $200 million in operational improvements for the year."

"In spite of the tough environment last quarter, our cash flow generation continues to be strong and our team remains relentless in uncovering additional methods to increase operational efficiencies, enhance relationships with key customers, and build competitive advantages. We remain committed to creating and maximizing shareholder value while retaining our financial discipline. Year to date, we have paid out $1.5 billion in special dividend to our shareholders, acquired additional Mexican operations to improve our geographic diversification and competitiveness in one of the strongest emerging markets, and instituted a $150 million share repurchase agreement."

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss Pilgrim's quarterly results will be held tomorrow, October 29, at 7:00 a.m. MDT (9 a.m. EDT).  Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call using the link below.  Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator.  Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

To pre-register, go to: http://services.choruscall.com/links/ppc151029.html

You may also reach the pre-registration link by logging in through the investor section of our website at www.pilgrims.com and clicking on the link under "Upcoming Events."

For those who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, access is available by dialing +1 (866) 777-2509 within the US, or +1 (412) 317-5413, and requesting the "Pilgrim's Pride Conference." Please note that to submit a question to management during the call, you must be logged in via telephone.

Replays of the conference call will be available on Pilgrim's website approximately two hours after the call concludes and can be accessed through the "Investor" section of www.pilgrims.com. The webcast will be available for replay through November 30, 2015.

About Pilgrim's Pride

Pilgrim's employs approximately 38,700 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 www.pilgrims.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 considered forward-looking statements. It is important to note that 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; future pricing for feed ingredients and the Company's products; 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; restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, Pilgrim's Pride's 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 anti-dumping proceedings and countervailing duty proceedings; 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.


 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
  September 27, 2015 December 28, 2014
  (Unaudited)  
  (In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents $396,719  $576,143 
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts 369,681  378,890 
Account receivable from related parties 2,581  5,250 
Inventories 841,273  790,305 
Income taxes receivable 4,971  10,288 
Current deferred tax assets 37,561  27,345 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 96,857  95,439 
Assets held for sale 6,555  1,419 
Total current assets 1,756,198  1,885,079 
Other long-lived assets 31,813  24,406 
Identified intangible assets, net 32,177  26,783 
Goodwill 174,431   
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,347,239  1,182,795 
Total assets $3,341,858  $3,119,063 
     
Notes payable to banks $5,869  $ 
Accounts payable 524,025  399,486 
Account payable to related parties 10,402  4,862 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 304,459  311,879 
Income taxes payable 20,874  3,068 
Current deferred tax liabilities 40,368  25,301 
Current maturities of long-term debt 102  262 
Total current liabilities 906,099  744,858 
Long-term debt, less current maturities 1,000,398  3,980 
Deferred tax liabilities 89,589  76,216 
Other long-term liabilities 103,104  97,208 
Total liabilities 2,099,190  922,262 
Common stock 2,597  2,590 
Treasury stock (45,080)  
Additional paid-in capital 1,672,501  1,662,354 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (324,400) 591,492 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (66,002) (62,541)
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity 1,239,616  2,193,895 
Noncontrolling interest 3,052  2,906 
Total stockholders' equity 1,242,668  2,196,801 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $3,341,858  $3,119,063 
 


 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014 September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014
  (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales $2,112,529  $2,268,048  $6,219,324  $6,472,929 
Cost of sales 1,827,985  1,817,783  5,125,640  5,458,083 
Gross profit 284,544  450,265  1,093,684  1,014,846 
Selling, general and administrative expense 52,620  44,629  150,961  138,437 
Administrative restructuring charges 792  135  5,605  2,286 
Operating income 231,132  405,501  937,118  874,123 
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest 10,501  11,372  26,870  45,407 
Interest income (319) (1,171) (3,086) (2,974)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain) 12,773  6,414  23,806  4,932 
Miscellaneous, net (2,071) (610) (7,135) (2,609)
Income before income taxes 210,248  389,496  896,663  829,367 
Income tax expense 73,153  133,693  313,751  284,932 
Net income 137,095  255,803  582,912  544,435 
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 33  (181) 146  (26)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation $137,062  $255,984  $582,766  $544,461 
         
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:        
Basic 259,280  258,999  259,540  258,966 
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents 223  523  225  482 
Diluted 259,503  259,522  259,765  259,448 
         
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of
  common stock outstanding:
        
Basic $0.53  $0.99  $2.25  $2.10 
Diluted $0.53  $0.99  $2.24  $2.10 
                 


 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014
  (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net income $582,912  $544,435 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 116,485  112,740 
Foreign currency transaction losses   8,585 
Accretion of bond discount   342 
Impairment expense 4,813   
Loss (gain) on property disposals (9,817) (1,112)
Gain on investment securities   (49)
Share-based compensation 2,132  3,504 
Deferred income tax benefit (7,214) (79,619)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Trade accounts and other receivables 40,694  (35,785)
Inventories 17,162  (10,339)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,415) (16,694)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities 92,159  36,686 
Income taxes 17,836  239,944 
Deposits    
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations (2,668) (1,764)
Other operating assets and liabilities 3,234  1,534 
Cash provided by operating activities 856,313  802,408 
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment (129,848) (131,349)
Business acquisition (373,532)  
Purchases of investment securities   (55,100)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities   152,050 
Proceeds from property disposals 13,553  8,422 
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (489,827) (25,977)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from note payable to bank 5,869   
Proceeds from revolving line of credit 1,680,000   
       
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations (683,742) (410,199)
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation 7,835   
Sale of subsidiary common stock   332 
Payment of capitalized loan costs (12,322)  
Purchase of treasury stock (45,080)  
Cash dividends (1,498,470)  
Cash used in financing activities (545,910) (409,867)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (6,173)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (179,424) 360,391 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 576,143  508,206 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $396,719  $868,597 
 


PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION

Selected Financial Information

(Unaudited)

"EBITDA" is defined as the sum of net income (loss) plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.  "Adjusted EBITDA" is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of expense and deducting from EBITDA certain items of income that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance consisting of: (i) income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, (ii) restructuring charges, (iii) reorganization items, (iv) losses on early extinguishment of debt and (v) foreign currency transaction losses (gains). EBITDA is presented because it is used by management 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.  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.

 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
 
(Unaudited)   
 Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014 September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014
 (In thousands)
Net income$137,095  $255,803  $582,912  $544,435 
Add:       
Interest expense, net10,182  10,201  23,784  42,433 
Income tax expense (benefit)73,153  133,693  313,751  284,932 
Depreciation and amortization41,415  36,218  116,485  112,740 
Minus:       
Amortization of capitalized financing costs1,119  871  2,708  7,364 
EBITDA260,726  435,044  1,034,224  977,176 
Add:       
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)12,773  6,414  23,806  4,932 
Restructuring charges792  135  5,605  2,286 
Minus:       
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest33  (181) 146  (26)
Adjusted EBITDA$274,258  $441,774  $1,063,489  $984,420 
 


The summary unaudited consolidated income statement data for the twelve months ended September 27, 2015 (the LTM Period) have been calculated by subtracting the applicable unaudited consolidated income statement data for the nine months ended September 28, 2014 from the sum of (1) the applicable audited consolidated income statement data for the year ended December 28, 2014 and (2) the applicable audited consolidated income statement data for the nine months ended September 27, 2015.

 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
 
 (Unaudited)          
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended LTM Ended
  December 28,
 2014
 March 27,
 2015
 June 28,
 2015
 September 27,
 2015
 September 27, 
2015
 (In thousands)
Net income $167,003  $204,193  $241,624  $137,095  $749,915 
Add:          
Interest expense, net 34,838  3,365  10,237  10,182  58,622 
Income tax expense (benefit) 106,021  111,494  129,104  73,153  419,772 
Depreciation and amortization 43,084  36,152  38,918  41,415  159,569 
Asset impairments          
Minus:          
Amortization of capitalized financing costs 6,348  725  864  1,119  9,056 
EBITDA 344,598  354,479  419,019  260,726  1,378,822 
Add:          
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) 23,047  8,974  2,059  12,773  46,853 
Restructuring charges     4,813  792  5,605 
Minus:          
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (184) (22) 135  33  (38)
Adjusted EBITDA $367,829  $363,475  $425,756  $274,258  $1,431,318 
 

A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common diluted share to adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common diluted share is as follows:

 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings
(Unaudited)
         
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 27,
 2015
 September 28,
 2014
 September 27,
 2015
 September 28,
 2014
  (In thousands, except per share data)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation $137,062  $255,984  $582,766  $544,461 
Loss on early extinguishment of debt     68   
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) 12,773  6,414  23,806  4,932 
Income (loss) before loss on early extinguishment of debt and foreign currency transaction losses (gains) 149,835  262,398  606,640  549,393 
Weighted average diluted shares of common stock outstanding 259,503  259,522  259,765  259,448 
Income (loss) before loss on early extinguishment of debt and foreign currency transaction losses (gains) per common diluted share $0.58  $1.01  $2.34  $2.12 
 

Net debt is defined as total long term debt less current maturities, plus current maturities of long term debt and notes payable, minus cash, cash equivalents and investments in available-for-sale securities.  Net debt is presented because it is used by management, and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other parties, in addition to and not in lieu of debt as presented under GAAP, to compare the indebtedness of companies.  A reconciliation of net debt is as follows:

 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Net Debt
(Unaudited)
        
 December 30, December 29, December 28, Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 2012 2013 2014 September 28,
 2014
 September 27,
 2015
 (In thousands)
Long term debt, less current maturities$1,148,870  $501,999  $3,980  $502,115  $1,000,398 
Add:  Current maturities of long term debt and notes payable15,886  410,234  262  260  5,971 
Minus:  Cash and cash equivalents68,180  508,206  576,143  868,597  396,719 
Minus:  Available-for-sale securities  96,902       
Net debt (cash position)$1,096,576  $307,125  $(571,901) $(366,222) $609,650 
 


 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Supplementary Selected Segment and Geographic Data
         
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014 September 27, 2015 September 28, 2014
  (Unaudited)      
  (In thousands)
Sources of net sales by country of origin:        
US: $1,798,375  $2,026,277  $5,479,993  $5,758,704 
Mexico: 314,154  241,771  739,331  714,225 
Total net sales: $2,112,529  $2,268,048  $6,219,324  $6,472,929 
         
Sources of cost of sales by country of origin:        
US: $1,552,282  $1,634,863  $4,511,157  $4,900,087 
Mexico: 275,727  182,920  614,554  557,996 
Elimination: (24)   (71)  
Total cost of sales: $1,827,985  $1,817,783  $5,125,640  $5,458,083 
         
Sources of gross profit by country of origin:        
US: $246,093  $391,414  $968,836  $858,617 
Mexico: 38,427  58,851  124,777  156,229 
Elimination: 24    71   
Total gross profit: $284,544  $450,265  $1,093,684  $1,014,846 
 

 

Contact:

Dunham Winoto
Director, Investor Relations
IRPPC@pilgrims.com
(970) 506-8192
www.pilgrims.com