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Pilgrims Pride Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up, operating income down: Net sales were $4,759.3 million, up 3.8%. Operating income was $492.6 million, down 3.1%, a 10.4% GAAP operating margin. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down on margin: Adjusted EBITDA was $633.1 million, a 13.3% margin, against $660.4 million and 14.4%. Second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $686.9 million, a 14.4% margin. Source
  • U.S. sales up, adjusted margin lower: U.S. sales were $2,836.6 million, up from $2,773.4 million. U.S. adjusted operating income was $403.7 million, a 14.2% margin, against $427.9 million and 15.4%. Source
  • Europe sales and profit up: Europe sales were $1,392.5 million, against $1,308.1 million. Adjusted operating income was $71.3 million, a 5.1% margin, against $76.4 million and 5.8%. Source
  • U.S. Prepared Foods sales up over 25%: Management said U.S. Prepared Foods is expanding across retail and foodservice, with net sales up over 25% on the prior year. Source
  • September commodity volatility: Commodity market fundamentals were volatile in September. Management said the U.S. business maintained results comparable to last year. Source

“Our profitability journey in Europe has entered a new phase,”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
U.S. investments Sourcenext two yearsover $500 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A recent 10-year supply agreement covers a new product offering in Europe that supports a Key Customer. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales up, operating income down: Net sales were $4,759.3 million, up 3.8%. Operating income was $492.6 million, down 3.1%, a 10.4% GAAP operating margin. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS: GAAP net income of $343.1 million and diluted EPS of $1.44, against $1.47 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.52, against $1.63. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down on margin: Adjusted EBITDA was $633.1 million, a 13.3% margin, against $660.4 million and 14.4%. Second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $686.9 million, a 14.4% margin. Source
  • Nine-month results higher: Nine-month net sales were $13,979.7 million, up 3.5%. Nine-month operating income rose 17.5% to $1,409.4 million, and Adjusted EBITDA rose 9.8% to $1,853.2 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. sales up, adjusted margin lower: U.S. sales were $2,836.6 million, up from $2,773.4 million. U.S. adjusted operating income was $403.7 million, a 14.2% margin, against $427.9 million and 15.4%. Source
  • Europe sales and profit up: Europe sales were $1,392.5 million, against $1,308.1 million. Adjusted operating income was $71.3 million, a 5.1% margin, against $76.4 million and 5.8%. Source
  • Mexico sales up, margin lower: Mexico sales were $530.2 million, against $503.5 million. Operating income was $39.0 million, a 7.4% adjusted margin, against $42.9 million and 8.5%. Source

“Our diversified portfolio across bird sizes, differentiation through higher attribute offerings, and growth in value-added products all moderated the impact of volatile commodity market fundamentals,”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Products and customers

  • U.S. Prepared Foods sales up over 25%: Management said U.S. Prepared Foods is expanding across retail and foodservice, with net sales up over 25% on the prior year. Source
  • Just Bare share gains continue: Just Bare's share of the retail frozen fully cooked category rose nearly 300 basis points year on year. Sales velocity remains much higher than category averages. Source
  • Europe brands grew faster than category: Fridge Raiders and Rollover each grew faster than category averages. Fridge Raiders reached new household penetration records, per the company. Source
  • Bird-size lines drove different gains: Case Ready and Small Bird drew on Key Customer and QSR demand. Investments in Big Bird improved production and live-operations efficiencies. Source
  • Mexico Prepared Foods up 9%: Mexico's diversification through value-added products continued, with Prepared Foods sales up 9% on last year. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit fell as costs rose: Cost of sales rose to $4,100.0 million from $3,901.0 million, while gross profit fell to $659.4 million from $684.0 million. Source
  • Restructuring costs lower: Restructuring activities were $1.8 million in the quarter, against $30.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Litigation amounts added back: Litigation settlements of $19.6 million were added back to U.S. adjusted operating income; nine-month amounts were $85.3 million. Source
  • SG&A expense higher: SG&A expense was $165.0 million, up from $144.8 million a year earlier. Nine-month SG&A expense was $498.2 million. Source

“Equally important, we strengthened our partnerships with Key Customers through innovation, quality, and service.”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Demand and market conditions

  • Chicken demand stayed robust: Management said chicken demand remained robust through the quarter across retail and foodservice, which it attributes to chicken's value against other proteins. Source
  • September commodity volatility: Commodity market fundamentals were volatile in September. Management said the U.S. business maintained results comparable to last year. Source
  • Europe foodservice grew on QSRs: Management said Europe foodservice grew on incremental distribution from leading QSRs, and Key Customer relationships were reinforced. Source
  • Mexico fresh demand ahead of market: Mexico fresh demand from Key Customers grew faster than the market, management said. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Cash balance fell sharply: Cash and cash equivalents were $612.6 million at September 28, 2025, against $2,040.8 million at December 29, 2024. Nine-month operating cash flow was $1,080.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month capital spending higher: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $441.1 million for nine months, against $316.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Special dividends totaling $2 billion: Special dividends totaling $2 billion were paid during the year. The second-quarter release had announced a special dividend of about $500 million, or $2.10 per share. Source
  • Net leverage about 1.0 times: Net leverage was about 1.0 times Adjusted EBITDA, after the second-quarter release gave less than 1.0 times. Long-term debt was $3,091.7 million, against $3,206.1 million at year-end. Source

Strategy and investment

  • U.S. investments target Fresh and branded: Management said the U.S. investments will strengthen competitive advantage and support higher attribute Fresh offerings and branded Prepared Foods. Source
  • Europe investing in Key Customers: Management said Europe is investing in Key Customer partnerships across its multi-protein platform, promotions and new offerings, to scale profitable growth. Source
  • Investing to reduce volatility: Management said it invests with Key Customers across all regions to drive sales growth, enhance margins and reduce volatility. Source

Sustainability and people

  • Emissions and safety improved since 2019: Since 2019, Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity fell 23% and the Global Safety Index improved 77%. Source
  • Training hours over past year: Over the past year the company provided 5.7 million training hours to improve team members' professional skills and career opportunities. Source
  • Headcount near 62,900: The company employs approximately 62,900 people, against about 62,200 in the second-quarter release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Mexico expansion continues as planned: Management said expansion in Mexico will ultimately strengthen Key Customer partnerships and diversify the portfolio through Prepared Foods. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said Big Bird operations were improved to mitigate the impact of volatile commodity markets. Source
  • Regulatory: Litigation settlement amounts, both negotiated and estimated for probable losses, were $19.6 million in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Europe restructuring costs include severance, lease terminations and asset impairment across multiple ongoing initiatives. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the investments announced over the next two years remain on track. Source
  • On track: Management said U.S. investments for Key Customers and branded Prepared Foods continue as planned. Source
  • On track: Management said expansion efforts to build capacity in Mexico remain on schedule. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.