Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Pilgrims Pride, Raises Price Target to $45
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 09 2024
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Should l Buy PPC?
Source: Benzinga
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Analyst Views on PPC
Wall Street analysts forecast PPC stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 30.400
Low
40.00
Averages
45.80
High
56.00
Current: 30.400
Low
40.00
Averages
45.80
High
56.00
About PPC
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh, frozen and value-added chicken and pork products to retailers, distributors and foodservice operators. Its segments include United States (U.S.), Europe, and Mexico. Its fresh products consist of refrigerated whole or cut-up chicken, frozen whole chickens, breast fillets, mini breast fillets and prepackaged case-ready chicken. Its prepared products include portion-controlled breast fillets, tenderloins and strips, delicatessen products, salads, formed nuggets and patties and bone-in chicken parts. Its exported products consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold either refrigerated for distributors in the U.S. or frozen for distribution to export markets. Its market overview consists of chain restaurants, food processors, broad-line distributors and certain other institutions. Its retail market consists of grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Barclays Upgrades Pilgrims Pride Corp to Overweight, Lowers Target Price to $42 from $45
PILGRIMS PRIDE CORP Update: Barclays has raised its price target for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation from $45 to $42, indicating a shift in market expectations.
Weight Adjustment: The company is experiencing a change in its weight classification, moving from equal weight to overweight, suggesting a more favorable outlook from analysts.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- Apple's Positive Outlook: Bank of America reiterates a buy rating on Apple, forecasting that iPhone revenues will exceed expectations in 2026 due to record upgraders and strong gross margins despite commodity pressures, indicating sustained competitiveness in the smartphone market.
- Roblox Demand Slowdown: Bank of America downgrades Roblox to neutral, citing a significant decline in platform demand; while acknowledging its ability to compress development costs, the uncertainty around the timeline for demand recovery may impact its market performance.
- CoreWeave Growth Potential: Citi reiterates CoreWeave as a buy, raising its price target from $126 to $155, estimating a quarterly growth of 35-40% in AI infrastructure, showcasing strong performance across a diversified customer base.
- Hershey's Positive Outlook: TD Cowen upgrades Hershey to buy, expressing confidence that the company will raise its 2026 guidance and return to volume growth in 2027, reflecting strong recovery potential in the confectionery market.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Q1 2026 Earnings Insights
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In Q1 2026, Pilgrim's Pride reported net revenues of $4.53 billion, a slight increase from $4.46 billion last year, but adjusted EBITDA fell to $308 million with a margin drop from 12% to 6.8%, indicating significant profitability pressure due to lower commodity prices and planned downtimes.
- Significant Capital Expenditure Increase: The company spent $235 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, a substantial rise from $98 million in Q1 2025, with full-year CapEx expected to range between $900 million and $950 million, reflecting a strong commitment to facility upgrades and portfolio optimization.
- Growth in Prepared Foods: The Prepared Foods segment saw accelerated growth, with Just BARE's retail sales increasing nearly 40% year-over-year, which not only boosted market share but also strengthened the company's competitive position in the frozen fully cooked category.
- Cautious Future Outlook: While the USDA anticipates a growth rate of 2.5% for Q2 2026, management expressed caution regarding growth in the upcoming quarters, emphasizing challenges due to weather impacts and project-related downtimes that may hinder overall business recovery.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Miss: Pilgrim's Pride reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.51, missing expectations by $0.14, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $4.53 billion, a 1.6% year-over-year increase, beating market expectations by $120 million, suggesting resilience in sales despite challenges and reflecting steady market demand.
- Negative Stock Reaction: Shares fell 3.7% in after-hours trading, indicating investor disappointment over the earnings miss, which may lead to a reevaluation of the company's valuation in the short term.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: While revenue growth is a positive sign, analysts caution that the current cycle may be rolling over, necessitating close monitoring of future profitability and market performance, prompting investors to assess risks carefully.
See More
Three Under-the-Radar Companies with Wealth Potential
- Brand Incubator: Church & Dwight is building a strong brand portfolio through acquisitions of Hero Cosmetics and TheraBreath, aiming to grow Arm & Hammer sales from $2 billion to $3 billion, showcasing its growth potential in the consumer goods sector.
- Rapidly Growing Brand: Pilgrim's Pride's Just Bare brand surpassed $1 billion in annual retail sales in 2025, with a 45% year-over-year growth rate, indicating the company's successful branding strategy in the traditionally low-margin poultry industry.
- Battery Market Stability: Energizer Holdings expects to achieve over $30 million in organic growth in fiscal 2026 through the acquisition of Advanced Power Solutions, highlighting its sustained demand and growth potential in the battery market.
- Diverse Demand: Energizer enhances its competitive edge in battery demand structure by operating in adjacent categories like automotive products, ensuring stable growth for the company in the future.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Announces $250 Million Bond Tender Offer
- Bond Buyback Plan: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation has announced a tender offer for up to $250 million of its 6.250% Senior Notes, reflecting the company's commitment to optimizing its capital structure, which is expected to enhance financial flexibility.
- Valid Tender Amount: As of April 10, 2026, $471.5 million of bonds have been validly tendered, exceeding the maximum tender amount, indicating a positive market response to the company's debt management strategy, which may influence future financing costs.
- Acceptance Ratio: Due to the valid tender amount exceeding the maximum tender amount, the company expects to accept tenders on a prorated basis of approximately 53%, a strategy that will ensure the company meets investor demand while controlling debt levels.
- Early Settlement Date: The company plans to make payments on April 14, 2026, for bonds validly tendered, which will enhance investor confidence and potentially increase shareholder value.
See More
Barclays Upgrades Pilgrims Pride Corp to Overweight, Lowers Target Price to $42 from $45
PILGRIMS PRIDE CORP Update: Barclays has raised its price target for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation from $45 to $42, indicating a shift in market expectations.
Weight Adjustment: The company is experiencing a change in its weight classification, moving from equal weight to overweight, suggesting a more favorable outlook from analysts.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- Apple's Positive Outlook: Bank of America reiterates a buy rating on Apple, forecasting that iPhone revenues will exceed expectations in 2026 due to record upgraders and strong gross margins despite commodity pressures, indicating sustained competitiveness in the smartphone market.
- Roblox Demand Slowdown: Bank of America downgrades Roblox to neutral, citing a significant decline in platform demand; while acknowledging its ability to compress development costs, the uncertainty around the timeline for demand recovery may impact its market performance.
- CoreWeave Growth Potential: Citi reiterates CoreWeave as a buy, raising its price target from $126 to $155, estimating a quarterly growth of 35-40% in AI infrastructure, showcasing strong performance across a diversified customer base.
- Hershey's Positive Outlook: TD Cowen upgrades Hershey to buy, expressing confidence that the company will raise its 2026 guidance and return to volume growth in 2027, reflecting strong recovery potential in the confectionery market.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Reports Q1 2026 Earnings Insights
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In Q1 2026, Pilgrim's Pride reported net revenues of $4.53 billion, a slight increase from $4.46 billion last year, but adjusted EBITDA fell to $308 million with a margin drop from 12% to 6.8%, indicating significant profitability pressure due to lower commodity prices and planned downtimes.
- Significant Capital Expenditure Increase: The company spent $235 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, a substantial rise from $98 million in Q1 2025, with full-year CapEx expected to range between $900 million and $950 million, reflecting a strong commitment to facility upgrades and portfolio optimization.
- Growth in Prepared Foods: The Prepared Foods segment saw accelerated growth, with Just BARE's retail sales increasing nearly 40% year-over-year, which not only boosted market share but also strengthened the company's competitive position in the frozen fully cooked category.
- Cautious Future Outlook: While the USDA anticipates a growth rate of 2.5% for Q2 2026, management expressed caution regarding growth in the upcoming quarters, emphasizing challenges due to weather impacts and project-related downtimes that may hinder overall business recovery.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Miss: Pilgrim's Pride reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.51, missing expectations by $0.14, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $4.53 billion, a 1.6% year-over-year increase, beating market expectations by $120 million, suggesting resilience in sales despite challenges and reflecting steady market demand.
- Negative Stock Reaction: Shares fell 3.7% in after-hours trading, indicating investor disappointment over the earnings miss, which may lead to a reevaluation of the company's valuation in the short term.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: While revenue growth is a positive sign, analysts caution that the current cycle may be rolling over, necessitating close monitoring of future profitability and market performance, prompting investors to assess risks carefully.
See More
Three Under-the-Radar Companies with Wealth Potential
- Brand Incubator: Church & Dwight is building a strong brand portfolio through acquisitions of Hero Cosmetics and TheraBreath, aiming to grow Arm & Hammer sales from $2 billion to $3 billion, showcasing its growth potential in the consumer goods sector.
- Rapidly Growing Brand: Pilgrim's Pride's Just Bare brand surpassed $1 billion in annual retail sales in 2025, with a 45% year-over-year growth rate, indicating the company's successful branding strategy in the traditionally low-margin poultry industry.
- Battery Market Stability: Energizer Holdings expects to achieve over $30 million in organic growth in fiscal 2026 through the acquisition of Advanced Power Solutions, highlighting its sustained demand and growth potential in the battery market.
- Diverse Demand: Energizer enhances its competitive edge in battery demand structure by operating in adjacent categories like automotive products, ensuring stable growth for the company in the future.
See More
Pilgrim's Pride Announces $250 Million Bond Tender Offer
- Bond Buyback Plan: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation has announced a tender offer for up to $250 million of its 6.250% Senior Notes, reflecting the company's commitment to optimizing its capital structure, which is expected to enhance financial flexibility.
- Valid Tender Amount: As of April 10, 2026, $471.5 million of bonds have been validly tendered, exceeding the maximum tender amount, indicating a positive market response to the company's debt management strategy, which may influence future financing costs.
- Acceptance Ratio: Due to the valid tender amount exceeding the maximum tender amount, the company expects to accept tenders on a prorated basis of approximately 53%, a strategy that will ensure the company meets investor demand while controlling debt levels.
- Early Settlement Date: The company plans to make payments on April 14, 2026, for bonds validly tendered, which will enhance investor confidence and potentially increase shareholder value.
See More
