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Pilgrims Pride Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income fell far more than sales: Net sales were $4,626.2 million, down 2.8%. Operating income was $66.0 million, down 87.1%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $360.0 million, down 47.6%. Source
  • EPS and adjusted EPS both declined: GAAP net income was $13.2 million, with GAAP EPS of $0.06 against $1.49 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $0.64 against $1.70. Source
  • U.S. margin fell on commodity pricing: U.S. adjusted operating income margin was 5.7% against 14.7%. The U.S. operation posted an operating loss of $11.1 million, which management tied to lower commodity market pricing. Source
  • Jumbo cutout values fell over 25%: Counter-seasonal movements in the jumbo commodity cutout market saw values fall more than 25% from the prior year. Profitability declined compared to last year. Source
  • Litigation settlement charges rose: Litigation settlement charges were $135.7 million, against $58.5 million a year earlier. These are added back in Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Chattanooga closure drove impairment: An asset impairment of $25.6 million was recorded, primarily due to the announced closure of the Chattanooga, Tennessee harvest plant. Source
  • Ellijay investment for Key Customers: Management announced investment in Ellijay, Georgia, for Key Customers. The highlights tie it to increased deboning in the small bird category. Source

“Throughout the quarter, chicken demand remained firm in all regions as affordability continued to resonate with consumers across retail and foodservice”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net leverage targetnot stated2x to 3xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Closure of the Chattanooga, Tennessee harvest plant was announced, and an asset impairment was recorded in the quarter. Source
  • New: Senior Notes due 2032 were repurchased in the second quarter of 2026, with a loss recognized within interest expense. Source
  • New: Additional investment was announced for Ellijay, Georgia, to support Key Customer growth. Source
  • Guidance kept: The net leverage target of 2x to 3x Adjusted EBITDA was kept from the first quarter release.

Results and profit trends

  • Operating income fell far more than sales: Net sales were $4,626.2 million, down 2.8%. Operating income was $66.0 million, down 87.1%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $360.0 million, down 47.6%. Source
  • EPS and adjusted EPS both declined: GAAP net income was $13.2 million, with GAAP EPS of $0.06 against $1.49 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $0.64 against $1.70. Source
  • Six-month totals were lower than last year: For the six months, Adjusted EBITDA was $668.1 million against $1,220.1 million, and GAAP EPS was $0.48 against $2.73. Source
  • Margin rose from first quarter: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 7.8%, against 6.8% in the first quarter. Management linked the sequential improvement to productivity, completed plant upgrades and live operations. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. margin fell on commodity pricing: U.S. adjusted operating income margin was 5.7% against 14.7%. The U.S. operation posted an operating loss of $11.1 million, which management tied to lower commodity market pricing. Source
  • Europe sales and volumes rose: Europe net sales were $1,389.6 million against $1,371.3 million. Adjusted operating income margin was 5.0% against 5.4%. Source
  • Mexico margins compressed in live markets: Mexico adjusted operating income margin was 2.8% against 15.4%, on net sales of $587.3 million against $565.7 million. Management cited counter-seasonal growing conditions. Source
  • Mexico volumes grew on conditions: Mexico volumes grew from improved growing conditions, and retail fresh volumes of Pilgrim's rose over 30%. Source

“While consumer interest in chicken continued to be healthy across all channels, supply growth rose faster than demand”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Products, brands and customers

  • U.S. Fresh volumes rose with Key Customers: U.S. Fresh volumes rose on demand across retail and foodservice. Case Ready and Small Bird volumes grew from incremental distribution with Key Customers. Source
  • Just Bare retail sales rose over 30%: Just Bare retail sales increased over 30% against the prior year. The company said the brand is now the second largest in the fully cooked category. Source
  • Rollover grew while Fridge Raiders held: Europe Rollover sales grew at double-digit rates, while Fridge Raiders sales remained steady. Source
  • Mexico branded offerings grew in retail: Branded fresh retail offerings rose nearly 30%, and value-added prepared products grew over double digits in both retail and foodservice. Source

Costs, charges and pricing

  • Jumbo cutout values fell over 25%: Counter-seasonal movements in the jumbo commodity cutout market saw values fall more than 25% from the prior year. Profitability declined compared to last year. Source
  • Litigation settlement charges rose: Litigation settlement charges were $135.7 million, against $58.5 million a year earlier. These are added back in Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Chattanooga closure drove impairment: An asset impairment of $25.6 million was recorded, primarily due to the announced closure of the Chattanooga, Tennessee harvest plant. Source

“will further improve our ability to mitigate the impact of volatile commodity fundamentals, creating a more resilient earnings profile.”

Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s President and CEO

Demand and supply

  • Europe Key Customer retail volumes grew: European volumes to Key Customers in retail rose faster than the overall grocery channel, helped by poultry and meal offerings. Source
  • Mexico chicken demand stayed robust: Management said demand for chicken continued to be robust in Mexico, despite a significant increase in overall protein supply. Source
  • UK pork and foodservice pressured Europe: Europe pork margins were pressured by UK imports, Middle East costs and lower foodservice traffic. Retail growth partly offset these effects. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Cash balance declined in first half: Cash and cash equivalents were $388.8 million at June 28, 2026, against $640.2 million at December 28, 2025. Source
  • Capital spending rose over first half: Capital spending on property, plant and equipment was $465.2 million in the first half, against $259.3 million. Operating cash flow was $471.8 million, against $622.1 million. Source
  • Senior Notes due 2032 repurchased: The company repurchased Senior Notes due 2032 in the second quarter, recognizing a $17.6 million loss on early extinguishment within interest expense. Source
  • Net leverage rose to 1.43x: Net leverage was 1.43x Adjusted EBITDA, against 1.25x in the first quarter, within the company's 2x to 3x target. Source
  • No dividend payments in first half: No dividend payments were made in the first half of 2026, against $1,495.5 million in the first half of 2025. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Ellijay investment for Key Customers: Management announced investment in Ellijay, Georgia, for Key Customers. The highlights tie it to increased deboning in the small bird category. Source
  • Big Bird portioning equipment investment: Investments in Big Bird portioning equipment continue to support Prepared Foods growth, moderating the effect of commodity market declines. Source
  • Brands used to diversify the portfolio: Management said Just Bare growth shows the ability to diversify the portfolio through brands, and that branded offerings secured additional distribution. Source

People and recognition

  • Workplace awards across regions: Pilgrim's received workplace awards in several regions, including America's Greatest Workplaces from Newsweek in the U.S. and Employer of the Year from The Grocer in Europe. Source
  • Culture cited as core to results: Management said the company's culture attracts talent, retains team members and drives the success of the business. Source
  • Values to be embedded across organization: Management said it will continue to embed its values, strategies and methods throughout all aspects of the organization. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Just Bare retail sales growth Sourceover 30% versus prior year
Just Bare frozen fully cooked market share Sourceup nearly 300 basis points over the past year
Mexico retail fresh Pilgrim's volumes Sourcerose over 30%
Mexico branded retail fresh offerings Sourcerose nearly 30% compared to last year
Europe Rollover sales Sourcegrew double digits
Jumbo commodity cutout values Sourcefell more than 25% from prior year

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Litigation settlement charges were recorded in anticipation of probable settlements in ongoing litigation, at $135.7 million in the quarter. Source
  • External: Excess imports into the UK continued to affect pork margins in the UK pork segment. Source
  • External: Additional costs in Europe were attributed to the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Demand: Europe foodservice traffic decreased during the quarter. Source
  • Operational: The Chattanooga, Tennessee harvest plant closure led to an asset impairment charge. Source
  • External: Increased domestic production and imports in chicken, greater egg availability and pork imports affected Mexico live commodity margins. Source
  • Demand: Management said chicken supply growth rose faster than demand during the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Southern Peninsula live operations ramp-up continues to be on track. Source
  • On track: Management said projects to drive sales and mitigate commodity volatility remain on schedule. Source
  • On track: Management said construction of the Walker County facility remains on schedule. Source
  • Met: Management said the new Porvenir prepared foods line started production on schedule, and Southern Peninsula expansion proceeds as planned. 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.