December 19, 2012

Sanderson Farms, Inc. reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 31, 2012 with a higher net sales of US$648.4 million compared with US$559.8 million for the same period a year ago.

For the quarter, the company reported net income of US$9.3 million, or US$0.41 per share, compared with a net loss of US$21.6 million, or US$0.97 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Net sales for fiscal 2012 were US$2.386 billion compared with US$1.978 billion for fiscal 2011. Net income for the year totalled US$53.9 million, or US$2.35 per share, compared with a net loss of US$127.1 million, or US$5.74 per share, for last year.

Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms, Inc., said, "While poultry markets improved compared to fiscal 2011, grain prices surged to record levels during August as a result of drought conditions across much of the corn belt. As a result, the improvement in poultry market prices was offset in part by higher feed costs. Our increased sales and return to profitability during the year reflect higher production as we completed the ramp up to near full production at our Kinston, North Carolina, facility. For the year, we sold 2.952 billion pounds of dressed poultry, another record, compared with 2.794 billion pounds in fiscal 2011."

According to Sanderson, overall market prices for poultry products were higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 compared with prices a year ago. As measured by a simple average of the Georgia dock price for whole chickens, prices were higher by approximately 7.7% in the company's fourth fiscal quarter compared with the same period in fiscal 2011, and were higher by 7.3% for the fiscal year compared with the prior year. The higher Georgia Dock whole bird price is consistent with steady demand for our retail chill pack product during this fiscal year. Boneless breast meat prices averaged 11.6% higher in the fourth quarter than the prior-year period. For fiscal 2012, boneless prices were 9.1% higher when compared with fiscal 2011.

Jumbo wing prices averaged US$1.58 per pound during the fiscal year, up 81.2% from the average of US$0.87 per pound for fiscal 2011. The average market price for bulk leg quarters decreased approximately 1% for the quarter, but increased approximately 16.7% for fiscal 2012. The relatively strong dark meat prices reflect good export demand during the year. Prices paid for corn and soymeal increased during the year and were up 11.6% and 39.7%, respectively, during the fourth fiscal quarter when compared with the fourth quarter a year ago. For the year, total feed costs in broiler flocks processed were 1.4% higher than fiscal 2011.

Sanderson Farms, Inc. is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food items.