Tyson Foods Shares Edge Higher After Q4 Beat and Upbeat 2026 Guidance

Core Insights - Tyson Foods Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, driven by sales growth, margin expansion, and stronger operating income [1] - The company’s shares rose nearly 2% in intra-day trading following the earnings report [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.15, surpassing analyst estimates of $0.87 [1] - Revenue increased by 2.2% year over year to $13.86 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $14.13 billion [1] - Adjusted operating income rose 19% to $608 million, with the adjusted operating margin improving to 4.3% from 3.8% a year earlier [2] Segment Performance - The Chicken division led growth with an operating margin of 10.1%, while the multi-protein portfolio delivered mixed results [2] - For fiscal 2026, the Chicken segment is projected to generate adjusted operating income between $1.25 billion and $1.5 billion [3] - The Beef segment is expected to incur an adjusted operating loss of $400 million to $600 million due to challenging market conditions [3] Future Projections - Tyson Foods projected total adjusted operating income for fiscal 2026 to be between $2.1 billion and $2.3 billion, with sales expected to rise by 2% to 4% from fiscal 2025 levels [2] - The company announced a 2% increase in its annual dividend [2]