US: Tyson Foods Q1 profits increase

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Feb. 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), today reported the following results:

First Quarter Highlights

• EPS was $0.48 compared to $0.42 last year
• Overall operating margin was 3.6%
• Net interest expense was $36 million, down 23% compared to last year
• Returned $153 million to shareholders

• Liquidity totaled $1.9 billion at December 29, 2012

"Fiscal 2013 is off to a good start," said Donnie Smith, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods. "With earnings of $0.48 per share in the first quarter, we are on our way to producing earnings this year better than fiscal 2012. We knew we'd face headwinds, and that has certainly been the case; however, we're not simply holding our own. We're producing solid results while preparing for growth.

"We are being both methodical and innovative in our approach to managing the challenges that come in this business, and our approach is working. I have every confidence in our team's ability to execute their plans and meet their goals. This is an exciting time at Tyson, and while we're pleased with the progress we've made, we feel like we're just getting started."

Segment Performance Review (in millions)

• Chicken - Despite increased domestic and international production, total sales volumes decreased in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 due to reduced open-market meat purchases, planned inventory build to meet forecasted customer demand and mix of rendered product sales. The increase in average sales price is primarily due to mix changes and price increases associated with increased input costs. Since many of our sales contracts are formula based or shorter-term in nature, we were able to offset rising input costs through improved pricing and mix. Operating income was positively impacted by increases in average sales price, improved live performance and operational improvements. These increases were partially offset by increased feed costs of $170 million.
• Beef - Fed cattle supplies decreased which drove up average sales price and livestock cost. Sales volumes decreased due to a reduction in live cattle processed as a result of soft domestic demand for beef products and outside tallow purchases. Operating income increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 as the result of balancing our supply with customer demand partially offset by increased operating costs from reduced production.
• Pork - Live hog supplies increased which drove down average sales price and livestock cost. Sales volumes decreased as a result of balancing our supply with customer demand. While reduced compared to prior year, operating income remained strong in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 despite brief periods of imbalance in industry supply and customer demand.
• Prepared Foods - Operating income decreased in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, despite increased volumes, as the result of lower average sales prices caused by lower raw material costs as well as product mix and additional costs incurred as we invested in our lunchmeat business.

Outlook

Our continued capital investment in our businesses, strong liquidity and reduced interest expense will help us to maintain strong operating results despite challenging market conditions. In fiscal 2013, we expect overall domestic protein production (chicken, beef, pork and turkey) to decrease approximately 1% from fiscal 2012 levels. The recent drought conditions have reduced expected grain supplies, which will result in higher input costs as well as increased costs for cattle and hog producers. The following is a summary of the fiscal 2013 outlook for each of our segments, as well as an outlook on sales, capital expenditures, net interest expense, debt and liquidity and share repurchases:

• Chicken – Current USDA data shows U.S. chicken production to be relatively flat in fiscal 2013 compared to fiscal 2012. Based on current futures prices, we expect higher feed costs in fiscal 2013 compared to fiscal 2012 of approximately $600 million. The capital investment and significant operational improvements we have made in our Chicken segment have better positioned us to adjust to rising feed costs and remain profitable. Additionally, many of our sales contracts are formula based or shorter-term in nature, which allows us to offset rising input costs through pricing. However, there may be a lag time for price increases to take effect. We anticipate our Chicken segment will return to normalized ranges in the second-half of fiscal 2013.
• Beef – We expect to see a reduction of industry fed cattle supplies of 2-3% in fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012, with the reduction predominately in the second half of fiscal 2013. Although we generally expect adequate supplies in regions we operate our plants, there may be periods of imbalance of fed cattle supply and demand. We anticipate beef exports will remain strong in fiscal 2013. For fiscal 2013, we believe our Beef segment will remain profitable, but could be below our normalized range of 2.5%-4.5%.
• Pork – We expect industry hog supplies to be flat compared to fiscal 2012 and pork exports to remain strong in fiscal 2013 but less than fiscal 2012. For fiscal 2013, we believe our Pork segment should remain at or above our normalized range of 6.0%-8.0%.
• Prepared Foods – We expect operational improvements and increased pricing to offset increased raw material costs. Because many of our sales contracts are formula based or shorter-term in nature, we are typically able to offset rising input costs through increased pricing. For fiscal 2013, we believe our Prepared Foods segment should be in its normalized range of 4.0%-6.0%.
• Sales – We expect fiscal 2013 sales to approximate $35 billion mostly resulting from price increases related to expected decreases in domestic availability of protein and increased raw material costs.
• Capital Expenditures – We expect fiscal 2013 capital expenditures will approximate $550 million.
• Net Interest Expense – We expect fiscal 2013 net interest expense will approximate $140 million.
• Debt and Liquidity – We do not have any significant scheduled maturities of debt due until October 2013 and may use our available cash to repurchase notes when available at attractive rates. Total liquidity at December 29, 2012, was $1.9 billion, well above our goal to maintain liquidity in excess of $1.2 billion.
• Share Repurchases – We expect to continue repurchasing shares under our share repurchase program. As of December 29, 2012, 30.1 million shares remain authorized for repurchases. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, our working capital needs, market conditions, liquidity targets, our debt obligations and regulatory requirements.

EBITDA represents net income, net of interest, income tax and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of our business. We believe the presentation of this financial measure helps investors to assess our operating performance from period to period and enhances understanding of our financial performance and highlights operational trends. This measure is widely used by investors and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies. However, the measurement of EBITDA may not be comparable to those of other companies in our industry, which limits its usefulness as a comparative measure. EBITDA is not a measure required by or calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income or any other measure of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of operating cash flow or liquidity. EBITDA is a useful tool for assessing, but is not a reliable indicator of, our ability to generate cash to service our debt obligations because certain of the items added to net income to determine EBITDA involve outlays of cash. As a result, actual cash available to service our debt obligations will be different from EBITDA. Investors should rely primarily on our GAAP results, and use non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally, in making investment decisions.

Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and services to customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. The company has approximately 115,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

A conference call to discuss the Company's financial results will be held at 9 a.m. Eastern Friday, February 1, 2013. To listen live via telephone, call 888-455-8283. International callers dial 210-839-8865. The pass code "Tyson Foods" will be required to join the call. A telephone replay will be available until March 1, 2013, at 866-489-8051. International callers may access the replay at 203-369-1676. The live webcast, as well as the replay, will be available on the Internet at http://ir.tyson.com. Financial information, such as this news release, as well as other supplemental data, can be accessed from the Company's web site at http://ir.tyson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in the press release may constitute forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to expected performance, and including, but not limited to, statements appearing in the "Outlook" section. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii) changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii) adverse results from litigation; (xiii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes in debt ratings or outlook; (xiv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xv) our ability to make effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; and (xvii) those factors listed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" included in our September 29, 2012, Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.