LUBBOCK, TX – Tyson Foods’ third-quarter results show poultry profits strengthening while tight cattle supplies continue driving heavy beef losses. Chicken generated $488 million in adjusted operating income, compared with a $138 million adjusted loss in beef.
Beef volume fell 15.9 percent from last year as average prices increased 12.1 percent. Quarterly beef sales declined to $5.39 billion, showing higher wholesale values were not enough to offset reduced processing volume.
Chicken volume increased 1 percent, while average prices rose 2.2 percent. The segment’s adjusted margin improved to 11.2 percent as expanding production, lower feed pressure, and steady demand supported processing returns.
Pork also improved, with volume rising 5.2 percent and adjusted operating income reaching $60 million. Tyson expects pork production to increase 2 percent and chicken production to rise 3 percent during fiscal 2026.
The company projects a full-year beef loss between $500 million and $650 million, while chicken income could reach $2.05 billion. Those forecasts suggest protein supplies will continue pushing processor economics in opposite directions.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Tight cattle supplies support prices but weaken beef processing margins as poultry production expands.