FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tyson Foods, Inc. executives told investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Agriculture Conference that its strong capital structure and sound business fundamentals have given the company a solid foundation for growth, stability and consistency.
"While we don't typically provide earnings guidance, we do think we'll deliver at least $2.78 in fiscal 2014, which would be in excess of 23% EPS growth, and we're poised for at least 10% EPS growth in 2015 and beyond," said Jon Kathol, Tyson's vice president of investor relations.
Kathol said Tyson's business strategy centers on accelerating growth of domestic value-added products and international chicken production, innovation of products, services and insights and developing a deep bench of talent to support the company's growth.
Donnie King, president of prepared foods, customer and consumer solutions for Tyson, told investors, "We are more consumer focused and provide insights-driven solutions for our customers and consumers."
King cited Tyson's entry into the breakfast food category with its Wright® Brand sausage and Tyson® Day Starts™ frozen breakfast sandwiches, flatbreads and wrapped omelets as examples of the company's research-based product innovation that are part of Tyson's efforts to grow its Prepared Foods segment.
About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc., with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The Company was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to be involved with son Don Tyson leading the company for many years and grandson John H. Tyson serving as the current Chairman of the Board of Directors. Tyson Foods produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. The Company provides products and services to customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. It has approximately 115,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The Company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in the press release may constitute forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to expected performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii) changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii) adverse results from litigation; (xiii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes in debt ratings or outlook; (xiv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xv) our ability to make effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; and (xvii) those factors listed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" included in our September 28, 2013, Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.
Source: Tyson Foods
