Tyson Reports Third Quarter and Nine Months Results




 * 3rd quarter 2009 Net EPS was $0.35 as compared to $0.03 last year
 * All operating segments were profitable with margins in the normalized
   ranges:
   *  Chicken operating income $143 million, or 5.9% of sales   
   *  Beef operating income $66 million, or 2.4% of sales   
   *  Pork operating income $28 million, or 3.3% of sales   
   *  Prepared Foods operating income $40 million, or 5.9% of sales  
 *  Total debt, net of cash and restricted cash, was down $152 million
    from the 2nd quarter 

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Aug. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), today reported the following results:



 (in millions, except per share data)

                                     Third Quarter      Nine Months
                                    ----------------  ----------------
                                     2009      2008     2009     2008
                                    ----------------  ----------------
 Sales                               $6,662   $6,849  $19,490  $19,661
 Operating Income                       276       45      107      193

 Income (Loss) from Continuing
  Operations                            127       (3)     (81)      41
 Income (Loss) from Discontinued
  Operation                               7       12       (1)      (3)
                                    ----------------  ----------------
 Net Income (Loss)                     $134       $9     $(82)     $38


 Earnings (Loss) Per Diluted Share:
  Earnings (Loss) from Continuing
   Operations                         $0.33   $(0.01)  $(0.22)   $0.12
  Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued
   Operation                           0.02     0.04    (0.00)   (0.01)
                                    ----------------  ----------------
  Net Income (Loss)                   $0.35    $0.03   $(0.22)   $0.11


  * Nine Months Fiscal 2009 - Included $15 million, or $0.02 per
    diluted share, of pretax charges related to a plant closing.
  * Nine Months Fiscal 2009 - Our loss from discontinued operation
    includes a $10 million pretax loss on sale of Lakeside Farm
    Industries.

"Our earnings for the third quarter reflect a solid performance by all of our operating segments," said Leland Tollett, interim president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods. "In the midst of a slow economy and a challenging operating environment, we stayed focused and worked as a team to produce results within historical normalized ranges for each segment.

"I am encouraged by our progress in improving operational efficiencies in the Chicken segment, although we still have work to do," Tollett said. "Our Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods segments continue to perform well. We also have been disciplined in managing working capital and have reduced inventory by a substantial amount in the second and third quarters.

"Soft demand for protein is likely to make the fourth quarter more challenging than the third quarter, but I'm feeling much better about our position than I would be if we were sitting on a lot of inventory," Tollett said. "Overall, I am very pleased with the direction we're headed and with the attitude of our team members to get the job done."

Segment Performance Review (in millions)



 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Sales
             (for the third quarer and nine months ended
                    June 27, 2009, and June 28, 2008)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Third Quarter                  Nine Months
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Avg.                            Avg.
                         Volume   Price                   Volume  Price
          2009    2008   Change   Change   2009    2008   Change  Change
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Chicken  $2,417  $2,257   5.0%     2.0%   7,011  $6,517    8.2%  (0.5)%
 Beef      2,733   2,982   2.6%  (10.7)%   7,815   8,563  (3.9)%  (5.0)%
 Pork        839     927   0.7%  (10.1)%   2,561   2,587  (1.8)%    0.9%
 Prepared
  Foods      673     683   0.4%   (1.9)%   2,103   1,994    3.1%    2.3%
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total    $6,662  $6,849   3.1%   (5.6)% $19,490 $19,661    1.7%  (2.6)%
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Operating Income (Loss)
              (for the third quarter and nine months ended
                    June 27, 2009, and June 28, 2008)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Third Quarter                   Nine Months
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Operating Margin               Operating Margin
           2009    2008    2009    2008    2009    2008    2009   2008
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Chicken    $143    $(30)   5.9%  (1.3)%   $(189)   $(27) (2.7)%  (0.4)%
 Beef         66       9    2.4%    0.3%      94     (53)   1.2%  (0.6)%
 Pork         28      57    3.3%    6.1%     112     205    4.4%    7.9%
 Prepared
  Foods       40       9    5.9%    1.3%      94      68    4.5%    3.4%
 Other        (1)     --    n/a     n/a       (4)     --    n/a     n/a
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total      $276     $45    4.1%    0.7%    $107    $193    0.5%    1.0%
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Items impacting operating income (loss):



 YTD 2009:
 $15 million charge related to the closing of our Ponca City, Oklahoma,
 processed meats plant (Prepared Foods)

 Q3 2008 and YTD 2008:
 $7 million charge related to flood damage at our Jefferson, Wisconsin,
 plant (Prepared Foods)
 $6 million charge related to the impairment of unimproved real
 property in Memphis, Tennessee (Chicken)

 YTD 2008:
 $17 million charge related to the restructuring of our Emporia,
 Kansas, operation (Beef)
 $13 million charge related to the closing of our Wilkesboro, North
 Carolina, cooked products plant (Chicken)
 $12 million charge related to the impairment of packaging equipment
 (Beef $8 million; Pork $4 million)
 $6 million charge related to severance (allocated among segments)
 $5 million charge related to software impairments (Chicken)

Derivative Summary (in millions)

The following is a summary of the operating earnings impact of selected derivative activities. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical sale and purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results.



                        ------------------------------------------------
 Income/(Loss)               Third Quarter             Nine Months
                        ------------------------------------------------
                                      Q3 vs Q3                YTD vs YTD
                        2009    2008   Impact    2009    2008   Impact
                        ------------------------------------------------
 Chicken - Grain/Energy   $3     $71    $(68)   $(248)   $141   $(389)
 Beef - Live Cattle        7     (75)     82       97     (20)    117
 Pork - Lean Hogs         11       9       2       47      82     (35)
                        ------------------------------------------------

Chicken (36.3% of Net Sales - 3rd Quarter 2009)

(36.0% of Net Sales - Nine Months 2009)

Chicken segment sales were $2.4 billion and $7.0 billion, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating income was $143 million and operating loss was $189 million, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Sales and operating results were impacted positively by increased sales volume, as well as higher average sales prices. The increase in sales volume for both the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009 was due to inventory reductions and sales volume related to recent acquisitions. The inventory reductions and recent acquisitions diluted the average sales price changes, as most of the inventory reduction related to commodity products shipped internationally and sales volume from recent acquisitions are on average lower priced products. Operating results were also positively impacted by operational improvements, which included: yield, mix and live production performance improvements; adding processing flexibility; and reducing interplant product movement. Operating results were adversely impacted in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009, as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008, by a decline of $68 million and $389 million, respectively, from our commodity risk management activities related to grain and energy purchases. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results. As compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008, operating results were positively impacted in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 by a decrease in grain costs of $91 million, while results were adversely impacted in the nine months of fiscal 2009 by an increase in grain costs of $81 million. Operating results for the nine months of fiscal 2008 included charges of $13 million related to closing our Wilkesboro, North Carolina, cooked products plant.

Beef (41.0% of Net Sales - 3rd Quarter 2009)

(40.1% of Net Sales - Nine Months 2009)

Beef segment sales were $2.7 billion and $7.8 billion, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating income was $66 million and $94 million, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating results as compared to the same periods in 2008 were impacted positively by lower average live prices, partially offset by lower average sales prices. Operating results were positively impacted in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009 by $82 million and $117 million, respectively, from our commodity risk management activities related to forward futures contracts for live cattle as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical sale and purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results. Operating results for the nine months of fiscal 2008 included charges of $25 million related to restructuring operations at the Emporia, Kansas, plant and an impairment of packaging equipment.

Pork (12.6% of Net Sales - 3rd Quarter 2009)

(13.1% of Net Sales - Nine Months 2009)

Pork segment sales were $839 million and $2.6 billion, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating income was $28 million and $112 million, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating results as compared to the same periods in fiscal 2008 were impacted positively by lower average live prices, offset in the third quarter by lower average sales prices. Operating results were impacted in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009 by an improvement of $2 million and a decline of $35 million, respectively, from our commodity risk management activities related to forward futures contracts for live hogs as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical sale and purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results.

Prepared Foods (10.1% of Net Sales - 3rd Quarter 2009)

(10.8% of Net Sales - Nine Months 2009)

Prepared Foods segment sales were $673 million and $2.1 billion, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. Operating income was $40 million and $94 million, respectively, in the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2009. In the third quarter, operating results were impacted positively by lower raw material costs, partially offset by lower average sales prices as compared to the same period last year. In the nine months, operating results were impacted positively by higher average sales prices and improved sales volume, partially offset by higher raw material costs as compared to the same period last year. Operating results for the nine months of fiscal 2009 included charges of $15 million related to closing our Ponca City, Oklahoma, processed meats plant. Operating results for the third quarter and nine months of fiscal 2008 included charges of $7 million related to flood damage at our Jefferson, Wisconsin, plant.



                         TYSON FOODS, INC.
           CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
              (In millions, except per share data)
                            (Unaudited)


                                Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                June 27,  June 28,  June 27,  June 28,
                                  2009      2008      2009      2008
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Sales                          $  6,662  $  6,849  $ 19,490  $ 19,661
 Cost of Sales                     6,192     6,590    18,749    18,772
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
                                     470       259       741       889
 Selling, General and
  Administrative                     192       214       617       660
 Other Charges                         2        --        17        36
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Operating Income                    276        45       107       193
 Other (Income) Expense:
  Interest income                     (5)       (3)      (14)       (7)
  Interest expense                    88        51       225       159
  Other, net                          (3)       (1)       18       (24)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income (Loss) from Continuing
  Operations before Income Taxes 
  and Minority Interest              196        (2)     (122)       65
 Income Tax Expense (Benefit)         70         1       (38)       24
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income (Loss) from Continuing
  Operations before Minority
  Interest                           126        (3)      (84)       41
 Minority Interest                    (1)       --        (3)       --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income (Loss) from Continuing
  Operations                         127        (3)      (81)       41
 Income (Loss) from
  Discontinued Operation               7        12        (1)       (3)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net Income (Loss)              $    134  $      9  $    (82) $     38
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Weighted Average Shares
  Outstanding:
  Class A Basic                      302       280       303       280
  Class B Basic                       70        70        70        70
  Diluted                            378       350       373       355
 Earnings (Loss) Per Share from
  Continuing Operations:
  Class A Basic                 $   0.35  $  (0.01) $  (0.22) $   0.12
  Class B Basic                 $   0.31  $  (0.01) $  (0.20) $   0.11
  Diluted                       $   0.33  $  (0.01) $  (0.22) $   0.12
 Earnings (Loss) Per Share from
  Discontinued Operation:
  Class A Basic                 $   0.02  $   0.04  $  (0.00) $  (0.01)
  Class B Basic                 $   0.02  $   0.03  $  (0.00) $  (0.01)
  Diluted                       $   0.02  $   0.04  $  (0.00) $  (0.01)
 Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
  Class A Basic                 $   0.37  $   0.03  $  (0.22) $   0.11
  Class B Basic                 $   0.33  $   0.02  $  (0.20) $   0.10
  Diluted                       $   0.35  $   0.03  $  (0.22) $   0.11
 Cash Dividends Per Share:
  Class A                       $  0.040  $  0.040  $  0.120  $  0.120
  Class B                       $  0.036  $  0.036  $  0.108  $  0.108

 Sales Decline                      (2.7)%             (0.9)%
 Margins: (Percent of Sales)
  Gross Profit                       7.1%      3.8%      3.8%      4.5%
  Operating Income                   4.1%      0.7%      0.5%      1.0%
  Net Income (Loss)                  2.0%      0.1%    (0.4)%      0.2%
 Effective Tax Rate from
  Continuing Operations             35.8%   (32.6)%     31.1%     37.1%



                          TYSON FOODS, INC.
               CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                           (In millions)
                            (Unaudited)

                                                 June 27,    Sept. 27,
                                                   2009        2008
                                               ----------   ----------
 Assets
 Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $      845   $      250
  Restricted cash                                     140           --
  Accounts receivable, net                          1,126        1,271
  Inventories                                       2,079        2,538
  Other current assets                                121          143
  Assets of discontinued operation held
   for sale                                            --          159
                                               ----------   ----------
 Total Current Assets                               4,311        4,361
 Restricted cash                                       60           --
 Net Property, Plant and Equipment                  3,474        3,519
 Goodwill                                           2,462        2,511
 Intangible Assets                                    148          128
 Other Assets                                         432          331
                                               ----------   ----------
 Total Assets                                  $   10,887   $   10,850
                                               ==========   ==========
 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 Current Liabilities:
  Current debt                                 $      182   $        8
  Trade accounts payable                              924        1,217
  Other current liabilities                           797          878
                                               ----------   ----------
 Total Current Liabilities                          1,903        2,103
 Long-Term Debt                                     3,336        2,888
 Deferred Income Taxes                                248          291
 Other Liabilities                                    585          554
 Shareholders' Equity                               4,815        5,014
                                               ----------   ----------
 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity    $   10,887   $   10,850
                                               ==========   ==========



                            TYSON FOODS, INC.
             CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (In millions)
                              (Unaudited)


                                                  Nine Months Ended
                                               -----------------------
                                                June 27,      June 28,
                                                  2009          2008
                                               ----------   ----------
 Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
  Net income (loss)                            $      (82)  $       38
  Depreciation and amortization                       371          374
  Deferred income taxes                               (22)         (52)
  Other, net                                           94           54
  Net changes in working capital                      323         (379)
                                               ----------   ----------
 Cash Provided by Operating Activities                684           35
                                               ----------   ----------

 Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
  Additions to property, plant and equipment         (248)        (330)
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant
   and equipment                                        8           23
  Proceeds from sale of investments                    14           22
  Purchases of marketable securities                  (34)        (101)
  Proceeds from sale of marketable securities          49           87
  Change in restricted cash to be used for
   investing activities                               (60)          --
  Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                  (71)         (17)
  Proceeds from sale of discontinued operation         75           --
  Other, net                                          (31)           1
                                               ----------   ----------
 Cash Used for Investing Activities                  (298)        (315)
                                               ----------   ----------

 Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
  Net borrowings (payments) on revolving
   credit facilities                                   (3)         378
  Payments of debt                                   (289)         (91)
  Proceeds from borrowings of debt                    851            3
  Debt issuance costs                                 (60)          --
  Purchases of treasury shares                        (11)         (25)
  Dividends                                           (44)         (42)
  Change in negative book cash balances              (119)          51
  Change in restricted cash to be used for
   financing activities                              (140)          --
  Stock options exercised and other, net                9           12
                                               ----------   ----------
 Cash Provided by Financing Activities                194          286
                                               ----------   ----------

 Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash                15            7
                                               ----------   ----------

 Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                595           13
 Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning
  of Year                                             250           42
                                               ----------   ----------
 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period    $      845   $       55
                                               ==========   ==========

Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer 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 service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 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 Monday, August 3, 2009. To listen live via telephone, call 800-779-1614. A pass code and the leader's name will be required to join the call. The pass code is Tyson Foods and the leader's name is Ruth Ann Wisener. International callers dial 212-547-0195. The call also will be webcast live on the Internet at http://ir.tyson.com. Financial information, such as this news release, as well as other supplemental data, including Company distribution channel information, can be accessed from the Company's web site at http://ir.tyson.com. A telephone replay will be available through September 3 at 866-411-8819. International callers dial 203-369-0657.

The Tyson Foods, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3224

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in the press release may constitute forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to expected earnings and results. 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 trading risk management 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 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 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 27, 2008, Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.



            

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