Tyson Reports Second Quarter and Six Months Results




 --  2nd quarter EPS of $0.19 as compared to a loss of $0.37 last year
 --  $300 million operating income improvement compared to same
     quarter last year with all segments profitable
     -    Beef sales increased $152 million, operating income
          increased $212 million
     -    Chicken sales increased $23 million, operating income
          increased $52 million
     -    Pork sales increased $76 million, operating income increased
          $26 million
     -    Prepared Foods sales increased $5 million, operating income
          increased $11 million
 --  Sales increased 4.0% compared to same quarter last year driven by
     an average sales price increase of 6.1%, partially offset by a
     2.0% sales volume decline
 --  The Company continues to be on track to exceed its $200 million
     Cost Management Initiative in fiscal 2007
 --  Tyson's revised fiscal 2007 diluted earnings per share are
     estimated to be $0.65 to $0.90

SPRINGDALE, Ark., April 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) today reported $0.19 diluted earnings per share for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007, compared to a loss of $0.37 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Second quarter 2007 sales were $6.5 billion compared to $6.3 billion for the same period last year. Operating income was $158 million compared to operating loss of $142 million, and net income was $68 million compared to a net loss of $127 million, for the same period last year. Operating loss for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2006 included $59 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, of costs related to beef and prepared foods plant closings.

Diluted earnings per share for the six months of fiscal 2007 were $0.35 compared to a diluted loss per share of $0.26 in the same period last year. Sales for the six months of fiscal 2007 were $13.1 billion compared to $12.7 billion for the same period last year. Operating income for the six months of fiscal 2007 was $303 million compared to operating loss of $32 million, and net income was $125 million compared to net loss of $88 million, for the same period last year.

"Quarterly operating income improved $300 million over the same period last year," said Richard L. Bond, president and chief executive officer. "All segments were profitable, and it was our strongest performance since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Our beef segment is back in the black, and our pork business is well within our target margin objectives. Chicken showed improvement despite a substantial year-over-year increase in grain costs.

"The Company continues to strengthen and gain momentum across all core businesses by accelerating innovation and driving operational discipline," Bond said. "Some important milestones we reached include unveiling our new Discovery Center, our renewable energy strategic alliance and our progress toward the $200 million Cost Management Initiative target, which we are confident we will exceed.

"I want to thank the Tyson team members for everything they've done to bring us back to this position," Bond said. "The turnaround has been gratifying for all of us, but we still have work to do to reach our potential."

Outlook

The Company has revised its outlook for fiscal 2007 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.65 to $0.90.

Segment Performance Review (in millions)



 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Sales
                         (for the second quarter and six months ended
                              March 31, 2007, and April 1, 2006)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Second Quarter
                     -------------------------------------------------
                                                Volume      Avg. Price
                          2007        2006      Change        Change
                     -------------------------------------------------
 Chicken                  $2,033      $2,010     (7.2)%         9.1%
 Beef                      3,006       2,854       2.1%         3.1%
 Pork                        805         729       2.4%         7.9%
 Prepared Foods              646         641     (2.6)%         3.5%
 Other                        11          17       n/a          n/a
                      ------------------------------------------------
                          $6,501      $6,251     (2.0)%         6.1%
                      ------------------------------------------------


                                       Six Months
                     -------------------------------------------------
                                               Volume       Avg. Price
                        2007        2006       Change         Change
                     -------------------------------------------------
 Chicken                 $3,997     $4,046      (3.0)%          1.8%
 Beef                     6,069      5,772        5.3%        (0.1)%
 Pork                     1,632      1,521        3.5%          3.7%
 Prepared Foods           1,338      1,334      (1.3)%          1.6%
 Other                       23         32        n/a           n/a
                     -------------------------------------------------
                        $13,059    $12,705        1.2%          1.6%
                     -------------------------------------------------


 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Operating Income (Loss)

                         (for the second quarter and six months ended
                              March 31, 2007, and April 1, 2006)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Second Quarter
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                                                 Operating Margin
                        2007        2006       2007           2006
                   ---------------------------------------------------
 Chicken                $61          $9        3.0%           0.4%
 Beef                    24        (188)       0.8%          (6.6)%
 Pork                    35           9        4.3%           1.2%
 Prepared Foods          20           9        3.1%           1.4%
 Other                   18          19        n/a            n/a
                   ---------------------------------------------------
 Total                 $158       $(142)       2.4%         (2.3)%
                   ---------------------------------------------------



                                        Six Months
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                                               Operating Margin
                     2007       2006         2007           2006
                   ---------------------------------------------------
 Chicken             $134       $132         3.4%            3.3%
 Beef                   1       (252)        0.0%          (4.4)%
 Pork                  74         20         4.5%            1.3%
 Prepared Foods        51         33         3.8%            2.5%
 Other                 43         35         n/a             n/a
                   ---------------------------------------------------
 Total               $303       $(32)        2.3%          (0.3)%
                   ---------------------------------------------------

 Q2 2007 and YTD 2007:
 $9 million gain on disposition of aircraft allocated among segments
 Prepared Foods - Includes charges of $6 million related to an
 intangible asset impairment

 Q2 2006 and YTD 2006:
 Beef - Includes charges of $45 million related to plant closings
 Prepared Foods - Includes charges of $14 million related to plant
 closings



 Chicken (31.3% of Net Sales, 38.6% of Total Operating Income -- 
         2nd Quarter 2007)
         (30.6% of Net Sales, 44.2% of Total Operating Income --
         Six Months 2007)

Chicken segment sales were $2.0 billion and $4.0 billion in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Chicken segment operating income was $61 million and $134 million in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Operating results were impacted positively by improved average sales prices, partially offset by decreased sales volumes as a result of planned production cuts. Operating results were adversely impacted by increased net grain costs of $42 million and $25 million for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively, as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2006. The change in net grain costs for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007 includes $90 million and $109 million of increased grain costs partially offset by $48 million and $84 million increases in net gains from the Company's commodity risk management activities related to grain purchases, respectively as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2006.



 Beef  (46.2% of Net Sales, 15.2% of Total Operating Income --
       2nd Quarter 2007)
       (46.5% of Net Sales, 0.3% of Total Operating Income --
       Six Months 2007)

Beef segment sales were $3.0 billion and $6.1 billion in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Beef segment operating income was $24 million and $1 million in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Operating results were impacted positively by higher average sales prices, increased sales volumes and improved conversion costs due to prior year plant rationalizations and operating efficiencies.



 Pork  (12.4% of Net Sales, 22.2% of Total Operating Income --
       2nd Quarter 2007)
       (12.5% of Net Sales, 24.4% of Total Operating Income --
       Six Months 2007)

Pork segment sales were $805 million and $1.6 billion in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Pork segment operating income was $35 million and $74 million in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Operating results were impacted positively by higher average sales prices, strong export sales, increased sales volumes, and improved conversion costs due to operating efficiencies.



 Prepared Foods  (9.9% of Net Sales, 12.7% of Total Operating 
                  Income -- 2nd Quarter 2007)
                  (10.2% of Net Sales, 16.8% of Total Operating 
                  Income -- Six Months 2007)

Prepared Foods segment sales were $646 million and $1.3 billion in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. Prepared Foods segment operating income was $20 million and $51 million in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007, respectively. The operating results for both the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007 include an intangible impairment charge of $6 million. Operating results were impacted positively by higher average sales prices, lower raw material costs and product mix improvements.



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

                             Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
                             ------------------   -------------------
                             March 31,  April 1,  March 31,  April 1,
                               2007       2006      2007       2006
                             -------    -------   --------    -------

 Sales                       $ 6,501    $ 6,251    $13,059    $12,705
 Cost of Sales                 6,138      6,098     12,359     12,208
                             -------    -------   --------    -------
                                 363        153        700        497
 Selling, General and
  Administrative                 205        236        395        470
 Other Charges                     -         59          2         59
                             -------    -------   --------    -------
 Operating Income
  (Loss)                         158       (142)       303        (32)
 Other (Income)
   Expense:
     Interest                     56         58        115        109
     Other                        (5)         -         (5)        (1)
                             -------    -------   --------    -------
 Income (Loss) before
  Income Taxes                   107       (200)       193       (140)

 Income Tax (Benefit)
  Expense                         39        (73)        68        (52)

 Net Income (Loss)           $    68    $  (127)  $    125    $   (88)
                             =======    =======   ========    =======

 Weighted Average
  Shares Outstanding:
     Class A Basic               271        247        268        245
     Class B Basic                77         99         80        100
     Diluted                     354        346        354        345
 Earnings (Loss) Per
  Share:
     Class A Basic           $  0.20    $ (0.38)   $  0.37    $ (0.26)
     Class B Basic           $  0.18    $ (0.34)   $  0.33    $ (0.24)
     Diluted                 $  0.19    $ (0.37)   $  0.35    $ (0.26)
 Cash Dividends Per
  Share:
     Class A                 $ 0.040    $ 0.040    $ 0.080    $ 0.080
     Class B                 $ 0.036    $ 0.036    $ 0.072    $ 0.072

 Sales Growth (Decline)          4.0%      (1.7)%      2.8%      (0.8)%
 Margins: (Percent of
  Sales)
     Gross Profit                5.6%       2.4%       5.4%       3.9%
     Operating Income
      (Loss)                     2.4%      (2.3)%      2.3%      (0.3)%
     Net Income (Loss)           1.0%      (2.0)%      1.0%      (0.7)%
 Effective Tax Rate             36.4%      36.2%      35.0%      36.8%


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

                                                (Unaudited)
                                                 March 31,    Sept. 30,
                                                   2007         2006
                                                 --------     --------
 Assets
 Current Assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                    $     34     $     28
    Short-term investment                               -          770
    Accounts receivable, net                        1,176        1,183
    Inventories                                     2,140        2,057
    Other current assets                               88          149
                                                 --------     --------
 Total Current Assets                               3,438        4,187
 Net Property, Plant and
  Equipment                                         3,786        3,945
 Goodwill                                           2,511        2,512
 Other Assets                                         459          477
                                                 --------     --------
 Total Assets                                    $ 10,194     $ 11,121
                                                 ========     ========

 Liabilities and Shareholders'
    Equity
 Current Liabilities:

    Current debt                                 $    187     $    992
    Trade accounts payable                            960          942
    Other current liabilities                         845          912
                                                 --------     --------
 Total Current Liabilities                          1,992        2,846
 Long-Term Debt                                     2,755        2,987
 Deferred Income Taxes                                435          495
 Other Liabilities                                    435          353
 Shareholders' Equity                               4,577        4,440
                                                 --------     --------
 Total Liabilities and
  Shareholders' Equity                           $ 10,194     $ 11,121
                                                 ========     ========


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


                              Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
                            --------------------  --------------------
                             March 31,  April 1,  March 31,  April 1,
                               2007       2006      2007       2006
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Cash Flows From Operating
  Activities:
   Net income (loss)        $      68  $    (127) $     125  $     (88)
   Depreciation and
    amortization                  128        128        256        253
   Plant closing-related
    and other charges              (4)        52         (7)        52
   Deferred income taxes
    and other, net                (19)       (72)        59       (121)
   Net changes in
    working capital              (155)        (3)       (90)        76
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Cash Provided by (Used
  for) Operating
  Activities                       18        (22)       343        172
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cash Flows From
  Investing Activities:
    Additions to
     property, plant
     and equipment                (51)      (168)       (94)      (357)
    Proceeds from sale of
     assets                         6          2          8         13
    Investment in
     marketable
     securities                    (4)       (42)         -        (39)
    Sale (purchase)
     of short-term
     investment                     -       (750)       770       (750)
    Other, net                     (1)         5          6         10
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Cash Provided by
  (Used for) Investing
  Activities                      (50)      (953)       690     (1,123)
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cash Flows From
  Financing Activities:
   Net change in debt             (25)         6     (1,043)        (1)
   Proceeds from
    Notes offering                  -        992          -        992
   Purchases of
    treasury shares               (14)        (8)       (38)       (20)
   Dividends                      (14)       (13)       (28)       (27)
   Stock options
    exercised                      20          3         33         15
   Other, net                      51         14         46          5
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cash Provided by
  (Used for)
  Financing Activities             18        994     (1,030)       964
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Effect of Exchange
  Rate Change on
  Cash                              3        (10)         3        (14)
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Increase (Decrease)
  in Cash and Cash
  Equivalents                     (11)         9          6         (1)

 Cash and Cash
  Equivalents at
  Beginning of
  Period                           45         30         28         40
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cash and Cash
  Equivalents at
  End of Period             $      34  $      39  $      34  $      39
                            =========  =========  =========  =========

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, which are marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(r)" strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing 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.

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

A conference call to discuss the Company's financial results will be held at 9 a.m. Eastern today. To listen live via telephone, call 888-455-0032. 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 210-234-0004. 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 May 30 at 866-442-1605. International callers dial 203-369-1074.

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 the Company's actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations, expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company wishes 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 the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) 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; (ii) the Company's ability to realize anticipated savings from its Cost Management Initiative; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, the supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and the demand for alternative proteins; (iv) risks associated with effectively evaluating derivatives and hedging activities; (v) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vi) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an effect on livestock owned by the Company, the availability of livestock for purchase by the Company, consumer perception of certain protein products or the Company's ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (vii) successful rationalization of existing facilities, and the operating efficiencies of the facilities; (viii) changes in the availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and the ability of the Company to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing livestock to the Company; (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 the Company's ability to identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or the 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) the ability of the Company to make effective acquisitions and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; (xvii) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; and (xviii) those factors listed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" included in the Company's September 30, 2006, Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.



            

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