Poultry prices punish Pilgrim’s Pride profits 

GREELEY — Greeley-based poultry producer Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (Nasdaq: PPC) saw its sales and profits plunge in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.

The company this week posted net sales of $4.6 billion, down 2.8% year over year.

Meanwhile, the company’s operating income plummeted from $512.3 in the second quarter of 2025 to $66 million in the most-recent period.

“Throughout the quarter, chicken demand remained firm in all regions as affordability continued to resonate with consumers across retail and foodservice,” Pilgrim’s CEO Fabio Sandri said in a prepared statement. “We continued our investments to drive sales growth and reduce volatility, mitigating downsides in the chicken commodity markets.”

Pricing dips in the broader poultry commodities market were a factor in Pilgrim’s profitability in the second quarter.

“While consumer interest in chicken continued to be healthy across all channels, supply growth rose faster than demand.” Sandri’s statement said. “Our relentless focus on closing operational gaps and further investments in plant upgrades to increase our internal supply capabilities and support Key Customer growth will further improve our ability to mitigate the impact of volatile commodity fundamentals, creating a more resilient earnings profile.”

Just before 9:15 a.m. Friday, Pilgrim’s stock price was $27.47, down 6.37% in early trading.

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