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Tyson Foods, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 10 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 2.2%: Sales were $13,860 million, up 2.2% from $13,565 million a year earlier; excluding a $355 million legal accrual reduction, sales rose 4.8%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 19%: Adjusted operating income was $608 million against $512 million, and adjusted operating margin was 4.3% against 3.8%. Source
  • GAAP operating income fell 70%: GAAP operating income was $158 million against $525 million, and GAAP EPS was $0.13 against $1.00; non-GAAP figures exclude listed items. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS rose 33%: Twelve-month adjusted EPS was $4.12 against $3.10, while GAAP EPS was $1.33 against $2.25; full-year sales were $54,441 million, up 2.1%. Source
  • Chicken adjusted income rose $101 million: Chicken adjusted operating income was $457 million against $356 million, a 10.4% adjusted margin against 8.4%; sales were $4,411 million. Source
  • Beef adjusted loss widened: Beef adjusted operating loss was $94 million against $71 million in the fourth quarter; the full-year adjusted loss was $426 million against $291 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell $435 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $2,155 million, down $435 million; free cash flow was $1,177 million, down $281 million, after $978 million of capital additions. Source

“We delivered year-over-year growth in sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share, reflecting the strength of our multi-protein, multi-channel portfolio,”

Donnie King, President and CEO of Tyson Foods

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Beef adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$(600) million to $(400) millionNew
Pork adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$150 million to $250 millionNew
Chicken adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$1,250 million to $1,500 millionNew
Prepared Foods adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$950 million to $1,050 millionNew
Total company adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$2.1 billion to $2.3 billionNew
Sales growth Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025up 2% to 4%New
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$700 million to $1.0 billionNew
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $390 millionNew
Total liquidity Sourcefiscal 2026above $1.0 billion minimum liquidity targetKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026$0.8 billion to $1.3 billionNew
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Dividend rate Sourcefiscal 2026 annual rate$2.04 Class A; $1.836 Class BRaised from $2.010 Class A annual declared in fiscal 2025
Domestic protein production (USDA projection) Sourcefiscal 2026increase approximately 1%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company gave fiscal 2026 figures for segments, revenue, capital expenditures, net interest expense, liquidity, free cash flow, tax rate and dividends. Source
  • Guidance raised: The Board raised the quarterly dividend to $0.51 per Class A share and $0.459 per Class B share, from $0.500 and $0.450 declared in the prior quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 2.2%: Sales were $13,860 million, up 2.2% from $13,565 million a year earlier; excluding a $355 million legal accrual reduction, sales rose 4.8%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 19%: Adjusted operating income was $608 million against $512 million, and adjusted operating margin was 4.3% against 3.8%. Source
  • GAAP operating income fell 70%: GAAP operating income was $158 million against $525 million, and GAAP EPS was $0.13 against $1.00; non-GAAP figures exclude listed items. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS rose 33%: Twelve-month adjusted EPS was $4.12 against $3.10, while GAAP EPS was $1.33 against $2.25; full-year sales were $54,441 million, up 2.1%. Source
  • Goodwill impairment excluded from adjusted: The Beef segment recorded a $343 million goodwill impairment in the third quarter; it is excluded from adjusted operating income.

Segment results

  • Chicken adjusted income rose $101 million: Chicken adjusted operating income was $457 million against $356 million, a 10.4% adjusted margin against 8.4%; sales were $4,411 million. Source
  • Beef adjusted loss widened: Beef adjusted operating loss was $94 million against $71 million in the fourth quarter; the full-year adjusted loss was $426 million against $291 million. Source
  • Beef GAAP operating loss was $319 million: Beef reported an operating loss of $319 million in the fourth quarter against $71 million a year earlier; adjustments reduced the loss to $94 million. Source
  • Pork adjusted income improved: Pork adjusted operating income was $31 million against $19 million; full-year adjusted income was $181 million against $142 million. Source
  • Prepared Foods adjusted income eased: Prepared Foods adjusted operating income was $189 million against $205 million, with a 7.4% adjusted margin; the full year was $913 million against $905 million. Source
  • International/Other income rose: International/Other adjusted operating income was $25 million against $3 million in the fourth quarter, and $137 million against $49 million for the year. Source

“This fiscal year's progress demonstrates our commitment to operational excellence while meeting the evolving needs of our customers and consumers.”

Donnie King, President and CEO of Tyson Foods

Brands, products and charges

  • Restructuring charges of $12 million: Restructuring and related charges were $12 million in the fourth quarter and $45 million for the year, tied to the Network Optimization Plan and the 2022 Program. Source
  • Fire insurance proceeds credited: Facility fire-related items were a $4 million credit in the fourth quarter and $18 million for the year, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Brand portfolio named in filing: The company describes its portfolio as iconic products and brands including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, State Fair, Aidells and ibp. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell to 5.2%: Gross profit was $726 million, or 5.2% of sales, against $1,060 million and 7.8% a year earlier; cost of sales rose to $13,134 million. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose in quarter: Selling, general and administrative expense was $568 million in the fourth quarter against $535 million; the full year fell to $2,121 million from $2,218 million. Source
  • Average price rose in beef and pork: Excluding legal accrual reductions, average price rose 17.0% in Beef and 11.6% in Pork in the fourth quarter; Chicken average price rose 0.1%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter effective tax rate 14.4%: The fourth-quarter effective tax rate was 14.4% against 23.3%; the full-year rate was 34.1% against 24.8%. Source

“we remain focused on continuously improving the controllable aspects of our business and delivering shareholder value.”

Donnie King, President and CEO of Tyson Foods

Volumes and demand

  • Pork volume fell 4.2%: Pork fourth-quarter sales were $1,414 million, with volume down 4.2% and average price up 11.6%, excluding legal accrual reductions. Source
  • Prepared Foods volume fell 1.7%: Prepared Foods sales were $2,546 million in the fourth quarter, with volume down 1.7% and average price up 4.7%; full-year volume fell 2.5%. Source
  • Beef full-year volume fell 1.9%: Beef full-year sales were $21,623 million, with volume down 1.9% and average price up 9.0%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow fell $435 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $2,155 million, down $435 million; free cash flow was $1,177 million, down $281 million, after $978 million of capital additions. Source
  • Debt reduced and liquidity at $3.7 billion: Total debt was reduced by $957 million in fiscal 2025; liquidity was $3.7 billion on September 27, 2025, and net debt was $7,601 million. Source
  • Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA 2.1x: Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 2.1x against 2.6x a year earlier; gross debt was $8,830 million against $9,787 million. Source
  • Share purchases and dividends paid: The company bought back 3.5 million shares for $196 million in fiscal 2025 and paid $697 million in dividends; cash fell to $1,229 million. Source

Asset sales and restructuring

  • Storage facility sale gain recorded: The gain on the sale of storage facilities was recorded in the third quarter and included in network optimization items; cash proceeds were $252 million.
  • Netherlands facility being sold: A fire at the Netherlands production facility in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 led the company to decide to sell that facility. Source
  • Equity investment impairment excluded: A $28 million impairment of equity investments was excluded from fourth-quarter adjusted results, reducing EPS by $0.08. Source

Legal contingency accruals

  • Full-year sales growth excluding legal accruals: Sales were reduced by legal contingency accrual increases; excluding a $653 million increase for the year, sales rose 3.3%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter legal accrual excluded: The fourth-quarter legal contingency accrual of $395 million was excluded from adjusted results, equal to $0.85 of EPS. Source
  • Full-year legal accruals total $738 million: For the full year, legal contingency accrual adjustments totaled $738 million, or $1.58 of EPS. Source

Company profile and people

  • Family-led since 1935: Tyson was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and has grown under four generations of family leadership; it is headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas. Source
  • Team size about 133,000: The company had approximately 133,000 team members at September 27, 2025, compared with about 138,000 at September 28, 2024. Source
  • Corporate purpose statement: The company states its purpose as Tyson Foods. We Feed the World Like Family, and says it aims to bring high-quality food to every table safely and affordably. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 November 2025

  • Dividend payable December 15, 2025: The increased quarterly dividend is payable on December 15, 2025, to holders of record on December 1, 2025. Source
  • Next dividend payable March 13, 2026: The quarterly dividend declared November 7, 2025 is payable March 13, 2026, to holders of record on February 27, 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 has 53 weeks: Fiscal 2026 has 53 weeks against 52 in fiscal 2025; fiscal 2026 figures are stated on a comparable 52-week basis. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Beef sales volume change, fourth quarter Source(8.4)%
Chicken sales volume change, fourth quarter Source3.7%
Total company sales volume change, fourth quarter Source(1.6)%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: A $40 million charge tied to the 2015 sale of the Mexico operation is included in the fourth quarter and full-year figures. Source
  • Operational: A product recall added $41 million to fourth-quarter costs and was excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • External: The Beef expectation sits alongside a USDA projection of lower domestic beef production in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Financial: The goodwill impairment is non-deductible for tax purposes, which affects the full-year effective tax rate. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management expects total liquidity to remain above its minimum liquidity target of $1.0 billion in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Restructuring charges in the quarter and year relate to the Network Optimization Plan, which commenced in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Not stated: Management anticipates the remaining fiscal 2026 quarterly dividends at $0.51 Class A and $0.459 Class B. 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.