Pilgrim's Pride Reports EBITDA of $435 Million and 19.2% EBITDA Margin for the Third Quarter


GREELEY, Colo., Oct. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (Nasdaq:PPC) reports third quarter 2014 earnings with Net Sales of $2.3 billion, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") of $435.0 million, and Net Income of $256.0 million, resulting in diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.99 for the quarter. These results compare to Net Sales of $2.1 billion, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") of $222.5 million, and Net Income of $160.9 million, resulting in diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.62 for the third quarter of 2013.

"Our third quarter results reflect the discipline that Pilgrim's has demonstrated in managing the variables within our control as well as the strength we've seen in the chicken markets," stated Bill Lovette, Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's. "Our focus has been, and continues to be, the consistent execution of our strategy to be a valued partner to our key customers, relentless pursuit of operational excellence and value-added export growth. We are optimistic that we will continue to be one of the more profitable operators with our management philosophy conducive to continually operating at the top of our industry, even with varying levels of strength in chicken markets."

"We are pleased about the level of engagement from our team members as we move into 2015. Through our budgeting process for next year we have identified new targeted capital investments and additional operational improvement opportunities that will continue our trajectory towards our vision of being the best managed and most respected company in the industry."

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss Pilgrim's quarterly results will be held tomorrow, October 30, 2014 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/ppc141030.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 (877) 270-2148 within the US or +1 (412) 902-6510 internationally 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 February 12, 2015.

About Pilgrim's Pride

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation employs approximately 35,500 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.

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 28, 2014 December 29, 2013
  (Unaudited)  
  (In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 868,597 $ 508,206
Investment in available-for-sale securities 96,902
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts 413,402 376,678
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC 240 2,388
Inventories 817,892 808,832
Income taxes receivable 64,868
Current deferred tax assets 2,227 2,227
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 77,393 61,848
Assets held for sale 1,419 7,033
Total current assets 2,181,170 1,928,982
Deferred tax assets 85,213 18,921
Other long-lived assets 30,766 40,163
Identified intangible assets, net 28,219 32,525
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,180,414 1,151,811
Total assets $ 3,505,782 $ 3,172,402
     
Accounts payable $ 383,779 $ 370,360
Account payable to JBS USA, LLC 1,969 3,934
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 307,153 283,355
Income taxes payable 176,153
Current deferred tax liabilities 15,070 15,515
Current maturities of long-term debt 260 410,234
Total current liabilities 884,384 1,083,398
Long-term debt, less current maturities 502,115 501,999
Deferred tax liabilities 13,944
Other long-term liabilities 88,490 80,459
Total liabilities 1,474,989 1,679,800
Common stock 2,590 2,590
Additional paid-in capital 1,656,623 1,653,119
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 424,305 (120,156)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (55,815) (45,735)
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity 2,027,703 1,489,818
Noncontrolling interest 3,090 2,784
Total stockholders' equity 2,030,793 1,492,602
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 3,505,782 $ 3,172,402
 
 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 28, 2014 September 29, 2013 September 28, 2014 September 29, 2013
  (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales $ 2,268,048 $ 2,142,815 $ 6,472,929 $ 6,363,863
Cost of sales 1,817,783 1,906,242 5,458,083 5,726,348
Gross profit 450,265 236,573 1,014,846 637,515
Selling, general and administrative expense 44,629 43,797 138,437 131,888
Administrative restructuring charges 135 3,658 2,286 4,622
Operating income 405,501 189,118 874,123 501,005
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest 11,372 20,413 45,407 68,199
Interest income (1,171) (571) (2,974) (1,494)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain) 6,414 2,682 4,932 4,771
Miscellaneous, net (610) (8) (2,609) (730)
Income before income taxes 389,496 166,602 829,367 430,259
Income tax expense 133,693 5,578 284,932 24,216
Net income 255,803 161,024 544,435 406,043
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (181) 107 (26) (161)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation $ 255,984 $ 160,917 $ 544,461 $ 406,204
         
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:        
Basic 258,999 258,826 258,966 258,825
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents 523 560 482 341
Diluted 259,522 259,386 259,448 259,166
         
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:        
Basic $ 0.99 $ 0.62 $ 2.10 $ 1.57
Diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.62 $ 2.10 $ 1.57
 
 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
     
  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 28, 2014 September 29, 2013
  (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net income $ 544,435 $ 406,043
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 112,740 113,853
Foreign currency transaction losses 8,585 3,734
Accretion of bond discount 342 342
Gain on property disposals (1,112) (509)
Gain on investment securities (49)
Share-based compensation 3,504 2,415
Deferred income tax benefit (79,619)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Trade accounts and other receivables (35,785) (25,458)
Inventories (10,339) 39,421
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (16,694) (17,304)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities 36,686 69,895
Income taxes 239,944 (1,818)
Deposits 1,898
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations (1,764) (3,174)
Other operating assets and liabilities 1,534 3,921
Cash provided by operating activities 802,408 596,716
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment (131,349) (76,293)
Purchases of investment securities (55,100)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities 152,050
Proceeds from property disposals 8,422 3,330
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (25,977) (72,963)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from revolving line of credit 505,600
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations (410,199) (758,283)
Sale of subsidiary common stock 332
Cash used in financing activities (409,867) (257,689)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (6,173) (3,928)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 360,391 262,136
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 508,206 68,180
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 868,597 $ 330,316

"EBITDA" is defined as the sum of net income (loss) plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as the sum of EBITDA plus restructuring charges, reorganization items and loss on early extinguishment of debt less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. 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.

     
(Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 28,
2014
September 29,
2013
September 28,
2014
September 29,
2013
  (In thousands)
Net income from continuing operations $ 255,803 $ 161,024 $ 544,435 $ 406,043
Add:        
Interest expense, net 10,201 19,842 42,433 66,705
Income tax expense (benefit) 133,693 5,578 284,932 24,216
Depreciation and amortization 36,218 37,914 112,740 113,853
Asset impairments 361 361
Minus:        
Amortization of capitalized financing costs 871 2,204 7,364 7,238
EBITDA 435,044 222,515 977,176 603,940
Add:        
Restructuring charges 135 3,658 2,286 4,622
Minus:        
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (181) 106 (26) (162)
Adjusted EBITDA $ 435,360 $ 226,067 $ 979,488 $ 608,724

The summary unaudited consolidated income statement data for the last twelve months ended September 28, 2014 (the LTM Period) have been calculated by subtracting the applicable unaudited consolidated income statement data for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013 from the sum of (1) the applicable audited consolidated income statement data for the year ended December 29, 2013 and (2) the applicable unaudited consolidated income statement data for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014.

           
(Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended
LTM Ended
  December 29,
2013
March 30,
2014
June 29,
2014
September 28,
2014
September 28, 2014
  (In thousands)
Net income from continuing operations $ 143,670 $ 98,187 $ 190,445 $ 255,803 $ 688,105
Add:          
Interest expense, net 18,176 18,662 13,570 10,201 60,609
Income tax expense (benefit) 11 52,012 99,227 133,693 284,943
Depreciation and amortization 36,670 38,260 38,261 36,218 149,409
Asset impairments
Minus:          
Amortization of capitalized financing costs 2,069 3,586 2,906 871 9,432
EBITDA 196,458 203,535 338,597 435,044 1,173,634
Add:          
Restructuring charges 1,039 1,713 438 135 3,325
Minus:          
 Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 319 70 85 (181) 293
Adjusted EBITDA $ 197,178 $ 205,178 $ 338,950 $ 435,360 $ 1,176,666

Net debt is defined as total long term debt less current maturities, plus current maturities of long term debt, 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, Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  2012 2013 September 28, 2014 September 29, 2013
  (in thousands)
Long term debt, less current maturities $ 1,148,870 $ 501,999 $ 502,115 $ 912,019
Add:  Current maturities of long term debt 15,886 410,234 260 396
Minus: Cash and cash equivalents 68,180 508,206 868,597 330,316
Minus: Available-for-sale Securities 96,902
Net debt (Cash position) $ 1,096,576 $ 307,125 $ (366,222) $ 582,099
 
 
PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Supplementary Selected Segment and Geographic Data
 
  Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
  September 28,
2014
September 29,
2013
September 28,
2014
September 29,
2013
  (In thousands)
  (Unaudited)
Sources of net sales by country of origin:        
US: $ 2,026,277 $ 1,932,634 $ 5,758,704 $ 5,662,991
Mexico: 241,771 210,181 714,225 700,872
Total net sales: $ 2,268,048 $ 2,142,815 $ 6,472,929 $ 6,363,863
         
Sources of cost of sales by country of origin:        
US: $ 1,634,863 $ 1,702,791 $ 4,900,087 $ 5,139,883
Mexico: 182,920 203,451 557,996 586,465
Total cost of sales: $ 1,817,783 $ 1,906,242 $ 5,458,083 $ 5,726,348
         
Sources of gross profit by country of origin:        
US: $ 391,414 $ 229,843 $ 858,617 $ 523,108
Mexico: 58,851 6,730 156,229 114,407
Total gross profit: $ 450,265 $ 236,573 $ 1,014,846 $ 637,515


            

Contact Data