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Smithfield Foods Reports 11.6% Increase in Operating Profit

Smithfield Foods reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 operating profit of $290 million, up 11.6% from $260 million a year earlier, as net sales slipped 2.3% to $3.7 billion from $3.786 billion.

Net income climbed 26.6% to $238 million from $188 million, while diluted earnings rose to $0.60 per share from $0.48. Adjusted diluted earnings increased to $0.62 from $0.55.

For the first six months of fiscal 2026, operating profit rose 7.1% to a record $623 million from $582 million, even as net sales edged down 0.8% to $7.5 billion from $7.558 billion. First-half net income increased 17.6% to $484 million from $412 million, and diluted earnings improved to $1.23 per share from $1.05.

Cash flow also strengthened. Net cash from operating activities totaled $204 million in the first half, up $96 million from $108 million a year earlier.

By segment, packaged meats second-quarter sales fell 2.7% to $2.023 billion from $2.079 billion, and operating profit dropped 12.0% to $265 million from $301 million. Fresh pork sales declined 3.5% to $2.008 billion from $2.080 billion, with operating profit down to $14 million from $35 million. Hog production sales fell 8.2% to $772 million from $840 million, but operating profit jumped to $64 million from $22 million.

In the first half, packaged meats sales rose 1.7% to $4.172 billion from $4.103 billion, while operating profit fell 4.7% to $540 million from $567 million. Fresh pork sales dropped 2.3% to $4.020 billion from $4.114 billion, and operating profit declined 21.0% to $92 million from $117 million. Hog production sales decreased 13.1% to $1.541 billion from $1.772 billion, but operating profit climbed to $68 million from $23 million.

Smithfield ended the quarter with $1.35 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $2.298 billion of availability under committed credit facilities, for total available liquidity of $3.648 billion. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 0.4x on a trailing 12-month basis.

The company trimmed its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook. Total company sales are now expected to be roughly flat versus fiscal 2025, compared with prior guidance for low-single-digit growth. Full-year adjusted operating profit is now projected at $1.225 billion to $1.375 billion, down from $1.325 billion to $1.475 billion.

By segment, full-year adjusted operating profit guidance was cut to: Packaged meats: $1.075 billion to $1.150 billion, from $1.100 billion to $1.200 billion Fresh pork: $180 million to $240 million, from $200 million to $260 million * Hog production: $75 million to $125 million, from $150 million to $200 million

Capital spending is still expected to be $350 million to $450 million, and the tax rate outlook remains 22.5% to 24.5%. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -1.96%, and are now trading at a price of $23.96. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.

The above analysis is intended for educational purposes only and was performed on the basis of publicly available data. It is not to be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any buy, sell, or other recommendations mentioned in the article are direct quotations of consensus recommendations from the analysts covering the stock, and do not represent the opinions of Market Inference or its writers. Past performance, accounting data, and inferences about market position and corporate valuation are not reliable indicators of future price movements. Market Inference does not provide financial advice. Investors should conduct their own review and analysis of any company of interest before making an investment decision.

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