Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) 8-K Pilgrim’s Pride Closes Fiscal Year 2015 with an Operating Income of $1.04 Billion and a Margin of 12.8%, Confirming Benefits of Portfolio Strategy

Pilgrim’s Pride Closes Fiscal Year 2015 with an Operating Income of $1.04 Billion and a Margin of 12.8%, Confirming Benefits of Portfolio Strategy

GREELEY, Colo., February 10, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (NASDAQ: PPC) today reported fiscal year 2015 financial results with Net Sales of $8.18 billion, Net Income of $645.9 million, and an Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $2.60. For fiscal year 2014, Net Sales was $8.58 billion, Net Income was $711.6 million, and Adjusted Earnings Per Share was $2.96, respectively. The company generated $1.21 billion of adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) in 2015, or a 14.9% margin, compared to $1.35 billion, or a 15.8% margin, in the year before, demonstrating a consistent solid year-on-year performance despite a much softer market environment.

For the fourth quarter of 2015, Pilgrim’s recorded Net Sales of $1.96 billion, compared to $2.11 billion for the same period in 2014. Fourth quarter 2015 Net Income was $63.1 million compared to the $167.2 million reported in the prior year. Adjusted Earnings Per Share was $0.26 in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $0.83 in the same period last year, while adjusted EBITDA was $150.0 million last quarter, or a 7.7% margin, versus $367.8 million, or a 17.4% margin, for the same period a year ago.

“Our case ready and small bird operations continued to deliver strong results in spite of challenges in the export markets, while the weakest chicken cutout in the past five years continued to impact the commodity segments of our business, as well as our Mexico operations. Despite the headwinds, our team managed to deliver margins that are above periods when prices were at similar levels. Our performance is commendable and strongly validates the benefits of our strategy,” stated Bill Lovette, Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's.

“The implementation and execution of our portfolio model over the past five years are critical in supporting our ability to deliver stronger profitability while giving more consistent financial results, as we minimize the impact of specific market conditions in any given segment or geography. For example, as part of this operating strategy, in Fresh Chicken we are able to leverage our well-balanced mix of bird sizes to support key customers’ needs while in prepared foods, we could utilize our well-regarded Pierce brand to lead our efforts in building and solidifying relationships at key accounts.”

“During 2015, we paid out $1.5 billion in special dividend, acquired additional Mexican operations to improve our geographic diversification and competitiveness in one of the strongest emerging markets, and repurchased $99.2 million in shares, signifying our commitment to maximizing shareholder value creation while remaining financially disciplined.”

“Our cash flow generation was strong and our team remained relentless in identifying additional methods to increase operational efficiencies, enhance relationships with key customers, and build competitive advantages. To further support these initiatives and maximize return on capital, we have approved a targeted capital spending deployment for 2016, which enhances our growth prospects, improves our ability to partner with key customers and

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supports their growth. Additionally, our team has identified $185 million in operational improvements for 2016, to build on the over $1.0 billion in cumulative improvements we have made to the business in the last five years. We are committed to reinvesting our strong cash flow generation back into the business with the goal of more closely aligning with this strategy and optimizing our capital allocation, while remaining on track on the relentless pursuit of operational excellence.”

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss Pilgrim’s quarterly results will be held tomorrow, February 11, at 7:00 a.m. MT (9 a.m. ET). Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call using the link below. Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

To pre-register, go to: http://services.choruscall.com/links/ppc160211.html

You may also reach the pre-registration link by logging in through the investor section of our website at www.pilgrims.com and clicking on the link under “Upcoming Events.”

For those who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, access is available by dialing +1 (866) 777-2509 within the US, or +1 (412) 317-5413, and requesting the “Pilgrim’s Pride Conference.” Please note that to submit a question to management during the call, you must be logged in via telephone.

Replays of the conference call will be available on Pilgrim’s website approximately two hours after the call concludes and can be accessed through the “Investor” section of www.pilgrims.com. The webcast will be available for replay through May 11, 2016.

About Pilgrim’s Pride

Pilgrim’s employs approximately 39,000 people and operates chicken processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 12 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit www.pilgrims.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that state the intentions, plans, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations or predictions of the future of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and its management are considered forward-looking statements. It is important to note that actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements include: matters affecting the poultry industry generally; the ability to execute the Company’s business plan to achieve desired cost savings and profitability; future pricing for feed ingredients and the Company’s products; outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in Pilgrim’s Pride’s flocks or elsewhere, affecting its ability to conduct its operations and/or demand for its poultry products; contamination of Pilgrim’s Pride’s products, which has previously and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls; exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate; management of cash resources; restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, Pilgrim’s Pride’s leverage; changes in laws or regulations affecting Pilgrim’s Pride’s operations or the application thereof; new immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause the costs of doing business to increase, cause Pilgrim’s Pride to change the way in which it does business, or otherwise disrupt its operations; competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of Pilgrim’s Pride’s largest customers; currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign operations; disruptions in international markets and distribution channel, including anti-dumping proceedings and countervailing duty proceedings; and the impact of uncertainties of litigation as well as other risks described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and

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Exchange Commission. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:	Dunham Winoto
	Director, Investor Relations
	IRPPC@pilgrims.com
	(970) 506-8192
	www.pilgrims.com

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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	439,638		$	576,143
Investment in available-for-sale securities	—			—
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	348,994			378,890
Account receivable from related parties	2,668			5,250
Inventories	801,357			790,305
Income taxes receivable	71,410			10,288
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	75,602			95,439
Assets held for sale	6,555			1,419
Total current assets	1,746,224			1,857,734
Other long-lived assets	15,672			24,406
Identified intangible assets, net	47,453			26,783
Goodwill	156,565			—
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,352,529			1,182,795
Total assets	$	3,318,443		$	3,091,718
Notes payable to banks	$	28,726		$	—
Accounts payable	482,954			399,486
Accounts payable to related parties	7,000			4,862
Accrued expenses	314,966			311,879
Income taxes payable	13,228			3,068
Current maturities of long-term debt	86			262
Total current liabilities	846,960			719,557
Long-term debt, less current maturities	985,509			3,980
Deferred tax liabilities	131,882			74,172
Other long-term liabilities	92,282			97,208
Total liabilities	2,056,633			894,917
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued	—			—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 259,685,145 and 259,029,033 shares issued at year-end 2015 and year-end 2014, respectively; 254,823,286 and 259,029,033 shares outstanding at year-end 2015 and year-end 2014, respectively	2,597			2,590
Treasury stock, at cost, 4,861,859 shares at year-end 2015	(99,233		)	—
Additional paid-in capital	1,675,674			1,662,354
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(261,252		)	591,492
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,930		)	(62,541		)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	1,258,856			2,193,895
Noncontrolling interest	2,954			2,906
Total stockholders’ equity	1,261,810			2,196,801
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,318,443		$	3,091,718

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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
	December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	1,960,780		$	2,110,436		$	8,180,104		$	8,583,365
Cost of sales	1,800,087			1,731,287			6,925,727			7,189,370
Gross profit	160,693			379,149			1,254,377			1,393,995
Selling, general and administrative expense	52,920			50,157			203,881			188,594
Administrative restructuring charges	—			—			5,605			2,286
Operating income	107,773			328,992			1,044,891			1,203,115
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	10,678			36,690			37,548			82,097
Interest income	(587		)	(1,852		)	(3,673		)	(4,826		)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	2,134			23,047			25,940			27,979
Miscellaneous, net	(547		)	(1,917		)	(7,682		)	(4,526		)
Income before income taxes	96,095			273,024			992,758			1,102,391
Income tax expense	33,045			106,021			346,796			390,953
Net income	63,050			167,003			645,962			711,438
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(98		)	(184		)	48			(210		)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$	63,148		$	167,187		$	645,914		$	711,648
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	255,216			258,999			258,442			258,974
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents	262			544			234			497
Diluted	255,478			259,543			258,676			259,471
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic	$	0.25		$	0.65		$	2.50		$	2.75
Diluted	$	0.25		$	0.64		$	2.50		$	2.74

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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
	December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	645,962		$	711,438
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	158,975			155,824
Asset impairment	4,813			—
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	—			38,129
Accretion of bond discount	—			2,243
Loss (gain) on property disposals	(10,372		)	(1,407		)
Gain on investment securities	—			—
Share-based compensation	2,975			4,928
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	29,512			78,943
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	61,294			(9,526		)
Inventories	57,078			10,638
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,840			(38,010		)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	61,882			44,833
Income taxes	(55,428		)	74,705
Deposits	—			—
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(3,500		)	(5,784		)
Other	3,797			(262		)
Cash provided by operating activities	976,828			1,066,692
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(175,764		)	(171,443		)
Business acquisition	(373,532		)	—
Purchases of investment securities	—			(55,100		)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	—			152,050
Proceeds from property disposals	14,610			11,108
Cash used in investing activities	(534,686		)	(63,385		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from notes payable to banks	28,726			—
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,680,000			—
Payments on long-term debt	(683,780		)	(910,234		)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	—			332
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Holding, S.à.r.l. and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	—			3,849
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	6,474			458
Payment of capitalized loan costs	(12,364		)	—
Purchase of treasury stock	(99,233		)	—
Payment of special cash dividends	(1,498,470		)	—
Cash used in financing activities	(578,647		)	(905,595		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	—			(29,775		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(136,505		)	67,937

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Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	576,143		508,206
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	439,638	$	576,143
Supplemental Disclosure Information:
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	$	24,210	$	71,558
Income taxes paid	360,347		257,152

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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION

Selected Financial Information

(Unaudited)

“EBITDA” is defined as the sum of net income (loss) plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of expense and deducting from EBITDA certain items of income that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance consisting of: (i) income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, (ii) restructuring charges, (iii) reorganization items, (iv) losses on early extinguishment of debt and (v) foreign currency transaction losses (gains). EBITDA is presented because it is used by management and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of results prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the US (“GAAP”), to compare the performance of companies. We believe investors would be interested in our Adjusted EBITDA because this is how our management analyzes EBITDA. The Company also believes that Adjusted EBITDA, in combination with the Company’s financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP, provides investors with additional perspective regarding the impact of certain significant items on EBITDA and facilitates a more direct comparison of its performance with its competitors. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP. They should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net income as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP.

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
(Unaudited)	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
	December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015		December 28, 2014
	(In thousands)
Net income from continuing operations	$	63,050		$	167,003		$	645,962	$	711,438
Add:
Interest expense, net	10,091			34,838			33,875		77,271
Income tax expense (benefit)	33,045			106,021			346,796		390,953
Depreciation and amortization	42,490			43,084			158,975		155,824
Minus:
Amortization of capitalized financing costs	930			6,348			3,638		13,712
EBITDA	147,746			344,598			1,181,970		1,321,774
Add:
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	2,134			23,047			25,940		27,979
Restructuring charges	—			—			5,605		2,286
Minus:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(98		)	(184		)	48		(210		)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	149,978		$	367,829		$	1,213,467	$	1,352,249

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The summary unaudited consolidated income statement data for the twelve months ended December 27, 2015 (the LTM Period) have been calculated by summing each of the unaudited thirteen week periods within the audited fifty-two week period ended December 27, 2015.

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of LTM Adjusted EBITDA
(Unaudited)		Thirteen Weeks Ended			Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirteen Weeks Ended			LTM Ended
		March 29, 2015			June 28, 2015		September 27, 2015		December 27, 2015			December 27, 2015
	(In thousands)
Net income from continuing operations		$	204,193		$	241,624	$	137,095	$	63,050		$	645,962
Add:
Interest expense, net		3,365			10,237		10,182		10,091			33,875
Income tax expense (benefit)		111,494			129,104		73,153		33,045			346,796
Depreciation and amortization		36,152			38,918		41,415		42,490			158,975
Asset impairments		—			—		—		—			—
Minus:
Amortization of capitalized financing costs		725			864		1,119		930			3,638
EBITDA		354,479			419,019		260,726		147,746			1,181,970
Add:
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)		8,974			2,059		12,773		2,134			25,940
Restructuring charges		—			4,813		792		—			5,605
Minus:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(22		)	135		33		(98		)	48
Adjusted EBITDA		$	363,475		$	425,756	$	274,258	$	149,978		$	1,213,467

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PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of EBITDA Margin
(Unaudited)		Thirteen Weeks Ended						Fifty-Two Weeks Ended					Thirteen Weeks Ended						Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
		December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015		December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014
	(In thousands)
Net income from continuing operations		$	63,050		$	167,003		$	645,962	$	711,438		3.22		%	7.91		%	7.90		%	8.29		%
Add:
Interest expense, net		10,091			34,838			33,875		77,271			0.51		%	1.65		%	0.41		%	0.90		%
Income tax expense (benefit)		33,045			106,021			346,796		390,953			1.69		%	5.02		%	4.24		%	4.55		%
Depreciation and amortization		42,490			43,084			158,975		155,824			2.17		%	2.04		%	1.94		%	1.82		%
Asset impairments		—			—			—		—			—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%
Minus:													—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%
Amortization of capitalized financing costs		930			6,348			3,638		13,712			0.05		%	0.30		%	0.04		%	0.16		%
EBITDA		147,746			344,598			1,181,970		1,321,774			7.54		%	16.33		%	14.45		%	15.40		%
Add:
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)		2,134			23,047			25,940		27,979			0.11		%	1.09		%	0.32		%	0.33		%
Restructuring charges		—			—			5,605		2,286			—		%	—		%	0.07		%	0.03		%
Minus:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(98		)	(184		)	48		(210		)	—		%	(0.01		)%	—		%	—		%
Adjusted EBITDA		$	149,978		$	367,829		$	1,213,467	$	1,352,249		7.65		%	17.43		%	14.83		%	15.75		%
Net Revenue:		$	1,960,780		$	2,110,436		$	8,180,104	$	8,583,365		$	1,960,780		$	2,110,436		$	8,180,104		$	8,583,365

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A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common diluted share to adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common diluted share is as follows:

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings
(Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
	December 27, 2015		December 28, 2014		December 27, 2015		December 28, 2014
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$	63,148	$	167,187	$	645,914	$	711,648
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—		25,271		1,470		29,475
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	2,134		23,047		25,940		27,979
Income (loss) before loss on early extinguishment of debt and foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	65,282		215,505		673,324		769,102
Weighted average diluted shares of common stock outstanding	255,478		259,543		258,676		259,471
Income (loss) before loss on early extinguishment of debt and foreign currency transaction losses (gains) per common diluted share	$	0.26	$	0.83	$	2.60	$	2.96

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Net debt is defined as total long term debt less current maturities, plus current maturities of long term debt and notes payable, minus cash, cash equivalents and investments in available-for-sale securities.  Net debt is presented because it is used by management, and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other parties, in addition to and not in lieu of debt as presented under GAAP, to compare the indebtedness of companies.  A reconciliation of net debt is as follows:

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Net Debt
(Unaudited)
	December 29, 2013		December 28, 2014			December 27, 2015
	(In thousands)
Long term debt, less current maturities	$	501,999	$	3,980		$	985,509
Add:  Current maturities of long term debt and notes payable	410,234		262			28,812
Minus:  Cash and cash equivalents	508,206		576,143			439,638
Minus:  Available-for-sale securities	96,902		—			—
Net debt (cash position)	$	307,125	$	(571,901	)	$	574,683

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PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
Supplementary Selected Segment and Geographic Data
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
	December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014		December 27, 2015			December 28, 2014
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands)
Sources of net sales by country of origin:
US:	$	1,663,361		$	1,888,332	$	7,143,354		$	7,647,036
Mexico:	297,419			222,104		1,036,750			936,329
Total net sales:	$	1,960,780		$	2,110,436	$	8,180,104		$	8,583,365
Sources of cost of sales by country of origin:
US:	$	1,505,336		$	1,544,147	$	6,016,493		$	6,444,234
Mexico:	294,775			187,140		909,329			745,136
Elimination:	(24		)	—		(95		)	—
Total cost of sales:	$	1,800,087		$	1,731,287	$	6,925,727		$	7,189,370
Sources of gross profit by country of origin:
US:	$	158,025		$	344,185	$	1,126,861		$	1,202,802
Mexico:	2,644			34,964		127,421			191,193
Elimination:	24			—		95			—
Total gross profit:	$	160,693		$	379,149	$	1,254,377		$	1,393,995

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