Pilgrim's Pride (NasdaqGS:PPC) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 30, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker0Good morning and welcome to the third quarter of 2025 Pilgrim's Pride earnings conference call and webcast. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. At the company's request, this call is being recorded. Please note that the slides referenced during today's call are available for download from the Investors ...

Key Takeaways Pilgrim's Pride is expected to post a year-over-year earnings decline in the third quarter of 2025. Export softness, cost inflation and weaker Mexico margins are weighing on overall profitability. Strong U.S. and European demand, plus branded product momentum, could help cushion near-term pressure. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) is likely to register a decrease in the bottom line when it reports third-quarter 2025 earnings on Oct. 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pilgrim’s Pride’s earni ...

Core Insights - Pilgrim's Pride Corporation has significantly increased its focus on e-commerce, with digitally enabled sales rising over 26% year over year in Q2 2025 [1][10] - The company's flagship brands, Just Bare and Pilgrim's, are key contributors to its growth, with Just Bare capturing over 10% market share in fully cooked chicken [2][10] - Pilgrim's Pride is aligning its strategies with modern consumer buying habits by enhancing product visibility through partnerships with leading retailers and food service providers [3][10] Industry Trends - The online grocery market continues to expand, particularly in fresh and prepared food categories, which positions Pilgrim's Pride to benefit from the shift in consumer protein purchases to online channels [4] - The company's digital marketing efforts and brand strength are indicative of a modern approach to business growth beyond traditional sales channels [3] Financial Performance - Pilgrim's Pride shares have gained 10.6% in the past month, outperforming the industry growth of 2.9% and the broader Consumer Staples sector's growth of 0.4% [5] - The stock currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 10.08, which is below the industry average of 12.53 and the sector average of 17.22, indicating a modest discount relative to peers [8]

Financial Performance - Pilgrim's Pride reported non-GAAP EPS of $1.70, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.57, and GAAP revenue of $4.76 billion, surpassing estimates of $4.62 billion, marking a 4.3% increase from $4.56 billion in Q2 FY2024 [1][2] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $687 million, with a stable margin of 14.4%, while GAAP operating income increased by 16.2% to $512.3 million compared to the previous year [8][10] - A special dividend of $500 million was approved, reflecting strong liquidity and financial flexibility, with net leverage remaining under one times adjusted EBITDA [10][16] Business Overview - Pilgrim's Pride is a leading global poultry company, focusing on fresh, value-added, and prepared chicken products across the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and over 120 export markets [3] - The company employs approximately 62,200 people and operates 49 hatcheries, 35 feed mills, 39 processing plants, and 29 distribution centers [3] Operational Highlights - The U.S. segment saw GAAP net sales rise by 5.9% to $2.82 billion, with operating income increasing by 15.3% to $354.99 million [5] - Prepared Foods category experienced over 20% sales growth, with the Just Bare brand achieving over 10% market share in fully cooked chicken [5][11] - In Europe, GAAP revenue improved by 5.4% to $1.37 billion, with operating income margin expanding from 4.7% to 5.4% [6][12] - Mexico faced challenges with a revenue decline of 4.7% to $565.7 million, attributed to currency headwinds and tough year-ago comparisons, although chicken volumes shipped increased by over 5% [7][13] Strategic Focus - Recent strategies emphasize product and geographic diversification, margin improvement, and operational efficiency [4] - The company maintains control over costs, particularly feed, and focuses on expanding sales of higher-margin prepared foods [4][14] - Vertical integration remains a key feature, allowing the company to manage costs and respond to consumer and regulatory changes effectively [14] Future Outlook - Management reiterated a focus on capital discipline and long-term investment in high-growth prepared foods and international markets, with capital spending targeted at $750 million for FY2025 [15] - No formal new financial guidance was issued, but ongoing monitoring of commodity costs and market conditions in Mexico is advised [16]

Core Insights - Pilgrim's Pride Corporation reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with net sales reaching $4.76 billion, a 4.3% increase year-over-year [3][5] - The company achieved a GAAP EPS of $1.49, reflecting an 8.8% increase compared to the previous year, and an adjusted EPS of $1.70 [5][19] - Operating income rose by 16.2% to $512.3 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.7% to $686.9 million, maintaining a margin of 14.4% [3][5] Financial Performance - Net sales for the first half of 2025 totaled $9.22 billion, up 3.4% from $8.92 billion in the same period last year [3] - The U.S. Fresh portfolio saw significant growth, benefiting from high commodity values and operational improvements [5][4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2025 was $1.22 billion, a year-over-year increase of 18.7% [3][5] Market Dynamics - Demand from key customers outpaced category growth, with prepared offerings expanding significantly [4][5] - The U.S. Prepared Foods segment reported over 20% growth in net sales compared to the previous year, driven by record production levels [5][6] - Pilgrim's Europe experienced margin expansion through sales growth and cost efficiencies, with sales to key customers increasing over 5% year-over-year [6][7] Strategic Initiatives - The company announced plans to build a new prepared foods plant in Georgia, expected to increase U.S. Prepared Foods sales by over 40% and create over 630 jobs [5][8] - Pilgrim's continues to diversify its product offerings, with Just Bare chicken brand achieving over 10% market share in the fully cooked chicken category [5][6] - The company maintains a strong liquidity position with a net leverage ratio of less than 1.0 times adjusted EBITDA [5][6] Shareholder Returns - The Board of Directors approved a special dividend of approximately $500 million, equating to $2.10 per share [5][6] - The company emphasizes its commitment to delivering value to shareholders through growth and innovation in its product lines [6][9]

Core Insights - Pilgrim's announced a $400 million investment to expand its operations in Georgia, specifically by building a new prepared foods facility in LaFayette, Walker County, which will create over 630 jobs at full capacity [1][3]. Company Expansion - The new facility will focus on producing fully cooked chicken products, supporting the growth of Pilgrim's prepared foods business, including brands like Just Bare, Pilgrim's, and Gold Kist [3]. - Construction is expected to begin in fall 2025, with hiring anticipated to start in 2027, coinciding with the completion of the first phase of the facility [3]. Economic Impact - The investment reflects Pilgrim's commitment to the region and aligns with the company's long-term growth strategy [3]. - Currently, Pilgrim's supports approximately 7,500 jobs across Georgia and operates seven food production facilities, contributing significantly to the local economy [2][6]. - Local officials, including the Mayor of LaFayette and the Chairwoman of Walker County Government, expressed that the new jobs will provide stable employment and long-term security for residents [4][5]. Industry Context - Agriculture remains Georgia's leading industry, with companies like Pilgrim's driving growth and creating quality jobs in local communities [2][5]. - The expansion of Pilgrim's operations is seen as a natural progression that will enhance the local economy and support partnerships with local poultry growers [4].