SF
SMITHFIELD FOODS INC (SFD)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 FY2025 delivered record adjusted operating profit of $298M (up 20% YoY) and adjusted operating margin of 7.9%, with consolidated net sales of $3.79B (+11% YoY), driven by strength across Packaged Meats, Fresh Pork, and Hog Production .
- Versus consensus, Smithfield posted a revenue beat ($3.79B vs $3.62B) and an EBITDA beat ($381M vs $366M), while EPS was in line at $0.55; estimates context from S&P Global shown below with asterisks*.
- Guidance raised: Total Company adjusted operating profit to $1.15–$1.35B (from $1.10–$1.30B) and Hog Production adjusted operating profit to $0–$100M (from −$50–$50M); other FY2025 guide items reaffirmed .
- Stock reaction catalysts: improved Hog Production outlook (despite a $15M mark-to-market drag in Q2), formula-based pricing/private label resilience amid raw material inflation, and demonstrated tariff agility, including resumption of shipments to China .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record adjusted operating profit of $298M and adjusted margin of 7.9%; CEO: “record second quarter adjusted operating profit… 7.9%” underscoring resilient execution amid macro/tariff volatility .
- Packaged Meats posted $296M adjusted operating profit (14.2% margin), with strong volume/price mix and private label formula pricing mitigating raw material inflation; CFO cited bellies +24% YoY and trim +10–14% YoY with mix shift to lunch meat/dry sausage .
- Hog Production swung to $22M adjusted operating profit vs prior-year loss, supported by improved markets, efficiency initiatives (genetics, health, nutrition) and raised full-year outlook; management “leans towards the higher end” of the guide .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP operating profit declined YoY to $260M from $334M, reflecting litigation charges and unallocated items; GAAP EPS from continuing ops fell to $0.48 from $0.67, though adjusted EPS rose to $0.55 .
- Raw material inflation pressured Packaged Meats margins (bellies +24%, trim +10–14%); management expects some seasonal margin compression in Q3 before holiday ham seasonality benefits Q4 .
- Hog Production reported approximately $15M mark-to-market loss on derivatives impacting Q2, though positions are expected to materialize in the back half; hedging mechanics (non-OCI) pulled losses forward .
Financial Results
Quarterly Performance vs Prior Periods
Q2 Year-over-Year Comparison
Q2 Actual vs Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Segment Sales (Q2)
Segment Operating Performance (Q2)
KPIs and Balance Sheet
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “We delivered record second quarter adjusted operating profit of $298,000,000… adjusted operating profit margin of 7.9%… demonstrating the resilience of our business model as [we] navigated a dynamic consumer spending and geopolitical environment.”
- CEO: “We navigated the China tariff disruption, minimizing the impact by selling into alternative countries and channels and subsequently resuming shipments to China.”
- CFO: “Consolidated sales in the second quarter were $3,800,000,000 representing an 11%… increase… record second quarter adjusted operating profit of $298,000,000… adjusted EPS was $0.55.”
- Packaged Meats President: “We increased feature and display activity by 200 bps vs last year… maximizing ROI of trade spend… driving industry-leading profit margin of 14.2%.”
- CEO: “Automation has enabled us to redeploy labor… and reduce our overall labor count helping to offset inflationary pressures.”
Q&A Highlights
- Private label and consumer mix: Circana data showed Q2 volume share up 60 bps; private label growth elevating quality, with Smithfield advantaged as premier supplier; emphasis on feature/display (+200 bps) over deep discounting .
- Hog Production outlook and hedging: ~$15M mark-to-market drag in Q2 from positions expected to materialize in H2; hedging mix includes instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting; guidance “leans towards the higher end” given futures curve .
- Seasonality: Q3 typically softer than Q4 due to holiday ham seasonality; formula pricing mechanisms help pass through raw material costs over time .
- Fresh Pork margin dynamics: Expect seasonal compression in spreads in Q2/Q3; mitigating via cost structure improvements and value-added product mix .
- Volume trajectory: Packaged Meats full-year volume expected up ~1% ex-seasonal hams, supported by innovation and foodservice growth (e.g., ready-to-eat roasted bacon) .
Estimates Context
- Q2 FY2025 results compared favorably to consensus on revenue and EBITDA and were in line on EPS: revenue $3.786B vs $3.619B*, EBITDA $381M vs $366M*, EPS $0.55 vs $0.5504* .
- Estimate breadth: 5 EPS and 3 revenue estimates for Q2*; implications include likely upward adjustments to Hog Production segment contribution and confirmation of packaged meats margin resilience despite input inflation.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Beat-and-raise quarter: Revenue and EBITDA beats, with raised FY2025 total Company and Hog Production adjusted operating profit guidance; positive estimate revision risk.
- Packaged Meats durability: 14.2% adjusted margin despite input inflation; formula pricing/private label scale and mix shift to higher-margin SKUs underpin profitability .
- Tariff agility: Demonstrated ability to re-route exports and resume shipments to China; Fresh Pork profitability improved YoY despite compressed spreads .
- Hog Production inflection: Profit swing and higher-end guidance bias, even after a $15M mark-to-market headwind; efficiency programs (genetics/health/nutrition) provide structural support .
- Balance sheet strength: Net debt/Adj. EBITDA 0.7x, liquidity ~$3.23B, supporting continued investment (automation/capacity) and $1.00/share annual dividend expectation .
- Near-term trading lens: Expect Q3 seasonality and raw material cost pressures, but Q4 holiday ham seasonality and mix/feature strategies should support margin trajectory .
- Medium-term thesis: Continued margin expansion via automation, capacity in high-margin categories, and private label partnerships; tariff/macro volatility likely manageable via multi-channel flexibility .
Source Documents
- Q2 FY2025 8-K press release and financials:
- Q2 FY2025 earnings call transcript:
- Q1 FY2025 press release and 8-K:
- Q4 FY2024 press release and 8-K: