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Tyson Foods, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 2 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 2 lowered, 2 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 5.1% to $14.3 billion: Sales were $14,313 million, up from $13,623 million. Excluding a $150 million increase in legal contingency accruals recorded against Sales, growth was 6.2%. Source
  • GAAP operating income fell 48%: GAAP operating income was $302 million, against $580 million a year earlier. GAAP operating margin was 2.1%, against 4.3%. Source
  • Segment reporting changed this quarter: From the first quarter, corporate expenses and amortization are no longer allocated to segments, and International is a reportable segment. Prior periods were recast. Source
  • Beef adjusted result moved to loss: Beef adjusted segment operating loss was $(143) million, a (2.4)% margin, against income of $6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 5.6%: Gross profit was $808 million, a 5.6% margin, against $1,095 million and 8.0%. SG&A was $506 million, against $515 million. Source
  • Legal accruals reduced sales: Legal contingency accruals of $150 million were recognized as reductions to Sales: $90 million in Beef and $60 million in Pork. Those amounts are excluded from the average price and adjusted margin figures. Source
  • Three segment ranges raised: Pork, Chicken and Prepared Foods adjusted operating income ranges were raised, and the Beef adjusted loss range moved up, narrowing the loss. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect solid execution across our portfolio,”

Donnie King, President & CEO of Tyson Foods

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Beef segment operating income, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$(500) million to $(250) millionRaised from $(600) million to $(400) million
Pork segment operating income, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$250 million to $300 millionRaised from $150 million to $250 million
Chicken segment operating income, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$1.65 billion to $1.90 billionRaised from $1.25 billion to $1.50 billion
Prepared Foods segment operating income, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$1.25 billion to $1.35 billionRaised from $950 million to $1.05 billion
International segment operating income, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$150 million to $200 millionNew
Corporate expenses and amortization, as adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026$950 million to $975 millionNew
Total company adjusted operating income Sourcefiscal 2026$2.1 billion to $2.3 billionKept
Revenue (sales growth) Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025up 2% to 4%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$0.7 billion to $1.0 billionKept
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $370 millionLowered from approximately $390 million
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026$1.1 billion to $1.7 billionRaised from $0.8 billion to $1.3 billion
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Liquidity Sourcefiscal 2026above $1.0 billion minimum liquidity targetKept
USDA domestic protein production (beef, pork, chicken, turkey) Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025increase approximately 1%Kept
USDA domestic pork production Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025increase approximately 2%Lowered from increase approximately 3%
USDA domestic beef production Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025decrease approximately 2%Kept
USDA domestic chicken production Sourcefiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025increase approximately 1%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Pork adjusted segment operating income range raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Chicken adjusted segment operating income range raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Prepared Foods adjusted segment operating income range raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Beef adjusted segment operating loss range moved up, narrowing the loss range. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow range raised for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net interest expense estimate lowered from approximately $390 million to approximately $370 million. Source
  • New guidance: Adjusted operating income range for the International segment given for fiscal 2026. Source
  • New guidance: Adjusted range for corporate expenses and amortization given for fiscal 2026. Source
  • New: Segment reporting changed: corporate expenses and amortization no longer allocated to segments; International identified as a reportable segment; prior periods recast. Source

Results and sales growth

  • Sales rose 5.1% to $14.3 billion: Sales were $14,313 million, up from $13,623 million. Excluding a $150 million increase in legal contingency accruals recorded against Sales, growth was 6.2%. Source
  • GAAP operating income fell 48%: GAAP operating income was $302 million, against $580 million a year earlier. GAAP operating margin was 2.1%, against 4.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 15%: Adjusted EPS was $0.97, against $1.14. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.24, against $1.01 a year earlier. Source

Segment results and reporting change

  • Segment reporting changed this quarter: From the first quarter, corporate expenses and amortization are no longer allocated to segments, and International is a reportable segment. Prior periods were recast. Source
  • Adjusted segment profit down 12%: Total segment operating income, as adjusted, was $811 million, a 5.6% margin, against $918 million and 6.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate costs lower year on year: Corporate expenses, as adjusted, were $185 million, against $201 million a year earlier. Source
  • International profit flat year on year: International sales were $582 million, with volume down 0.8% and average price up 0.5%. Adjusted segment operating income was flat year on year. Source

“As protein demand continues to increase, our consistent share gains demonstrate we are well-positioned to capture this momentum.”

Donnie King, President & CEO of Tyson Foods

Beef and pork

  • Beef sales up on price, down on volume: Beef sales rose to $5,771 million. Volume fell 7.3% while average price rose 17.2%, a figure that excludes $90 million of legal contingency accruals. Source
  • Beef adjusted result moved to loss: Beef adjusted segment operating loss was $(143) million, a (2.4)% margin, against income of $6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Pork adjusted profit up: Pork adjusted segment operating income was $111 million, a 6.7% margin, against $73 million and 4.5%. Pork sales were $1,609 million, with volume and average price each up 1.6%. Source

Chicken and Prepared Foods

  • Chicken volume rose 3.7%: Chicken sales were $4,212 million. Volume rose 3.7% and average price fell 0.1%. Adjusted segment operating income was $459 million, a 10.9% margin. Source
  • Chicken reported margin eased: Reported chicken operating income was $450 million, a 10.7% margin, against $460 million and 11.3%. Source
  • Prepared Foods sales rose on price: Prepared Foods sales were $2,673 million. Volume rose 0.2% and average price rose 7.9%. Adjusted segment operating income was $338 million, a 12.6% margin. Source

“I'm encouraged by the progress we've made and confident we will drive continued improvement across the controllable aspects of our business in fiscal 2026.”

Donnie King, President & CEO of Tyson Foods

Margins, costs and legal accruals

  • Gross margin fell to 5.6%: Gross profit was $808 million, a 5.6% margin, against $1,095 million and 8.0%. SG&A was $506 million, against $515 million. Source
  • Legal accruals reduced sales: Legal contingency accruals of $150 million were recognized as reductions to Sales: $90 million in Beef and $60 million in Pork. Those amounts are excluded from the average price and adjusted margin figures. Source
  • Restructuring charges excluded from adjusted: Restructuring and related charges of $115 million were added back to reach adjusted operating income. Legal contingency accruals of $155 million were also excluded. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose: Effective tax rate was 29.7%, against 23.5%. Net income attributable to Tyson was 0.6% of sales, against 2.6%. Source

Cash, debt and capital

  • Operating cash flow down $89 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $942 million, down $89 million from the prior year. Source
  • Free cash flow $690 million: Free cash flow was $690 million, down $70 million, after $252 million of property, plant and equipment additions. Source
  • Debt reduced, liquidity $4.5 billion: Total debt was reduced by $468 million in the quarter. Liquidity was $4.5 billion as of December 27, 2025. Source
  • Repurchases and dividends paid: Repurchases of Class A stock totaled $47 million and dividends paid were $177 million in the quarter. Source

Full-year fiscal 2026 ranges

  • 53-week year, 52-week basis: Fiscal 2026 has 53 weeks against 52 in fiscal 2025, and the full-year ranges are based on a comparable 52-week year. Source
  • Three segment ranges raised: Pork, Chicken and Prepared Foods adjusted operating income ranges were raised, and the Beef adjusted loss range moved up, narrowing the loss. Source
  • Free cash flow range raised: Free cash flow range for fiscal 2026 was raised, and the net interest expense estimate was lowered. Source
  • Total adjusted income range kept: The total company adjusted operating income range and the sales growth range were kept at their prior levels. Source

Industry protein production

  • USDA sees protein output up 1%: USDA indicates domestic production across beef, pork, chicken and turkey will rise about 1% in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Pork output projection cut to 2%: USDA projects pork domestic production up about 2%, from the increase of about 3% cited in the prior release. Source
  • Beef output seen down 2%: USDA projects beef domestic production down about 2% in fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Beef volume change Source(7.3) %
Pork volume change Source1.6 %
Chicken volume change Source3.7 %
Prepared Foods volume change Source0.2 %
International volume change Source(0.8) %
Total company volume change Source(0.3) %

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Legal contingency accruals of $150 million reduced reported sales in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Beef reported operating loss was $(319) million, a (5.5)% margin, against $(26) million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management expects liquidity to stay above its minimum target of $1.0 billion. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is confident of continued improvement in controllable aspects of the business in fiscal 2026. 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.