| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 75 | 32.5x | 17.8x | Top tier | |
Growth | 46 | 2.9% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 41 | 3.7% | 4.5% | Around median | |
Safety | 60 | 3.1x | 2.6x | Around median | |
Capital Return | 71 | 3.73% | 2.12% | Top tier | |
Momentum | 34 | 2.3% | 2.9% | Bottom tier | |
Sentiment | 91 | 7 | 3 | Top tier |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Tyson Foods is a diversified protein foods company that generates revenue from chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods, and international operations. The quality of its earnings increasingly depends on branded and value-added products, including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, State Fair, and Aidells, while the beef business remains more exposed to the commodity cycle and cattle costs. In prepared foods, the company relies on deli meats, sausages, breakfast products, and snacks, while the chicken model depends largely on demand committed in advance by strategic customers rather than the spot market.
In Q3 of fiscal 2026, revenue reached $13.9 billion, gross profit was $921 million, net income according to EDGAR was approximately $182 million, and earnings per share were $0.52. On an adjusted basis, the company reported operating income of $547 million, an operating margin of 3.9%, and earnings per share of $0.99, up 9% year over year. Total sales remained nearly stable, as a 3.4% increase in average selling price offset a 2.8% decline in volume, while reported revenue of $13.87 billion fell short of analysts' expectations of $14.01 billion.
The segment mix in Q3 of fiscal 2026 revealed sharp divergence: chicken generated operating income of $488 million and a margin of 11.2%, while prepared foods recorded sales of $2.6 billion, operating income of $321 million, and a margin of 12.6%. In contrast, the beef segment lost $138 million as volume declined 15.9% and prices rose 12.1%, while the pork segment generated $60 million at a margin of 3.8%, and the international segment generated $48 million at a margin of 8%. During the first nine months of fiscal 2026, operating cash flow reached $1.47 billion and free cash flow was $913 million after capital expenditures of $556 million.
The analyst consensus is "Buy," with an average price target of $69.67 and a range of $65 to $78; the average target is slightly above the 52-week range high of $69.48, while the highest target clearly exceeds that high. In contrast, the 52-week range remains wide at $50.56 to $69.48, and coverage dated August 13, 2026 cited a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.6 times, reflecting the valuation's sensitivity to weak profitability and beef losses despite the positive analyst outlook.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-29; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
The most important factor is the U.S. cattle cycle and the supply shortage that raised procurement costs in the beef segment. In Q3 of fiscal 2026, segment volume declined 15.9% despite a 12.1% increase in prices, and the segment recorded an operating loss of $138 million. Tyson Foods expects an annual segment loss of between $500 million and $650 million, while the impact of reopening the Mexican border to cattle could take approximately a year.
Management said that approximately three-quarters of the chicken segment's operating income comes from a committed-demand model with strategic customers and from branded or value-added products. The segment generated operating income of $488 million and a margin of 11.2% in Q3 of fiscal 2026, up $40 million year over year. Retail and foodservice volumes also increased 3.8%, even as the market value of commodity chicken cuts declined, according to management's commentary.
Prepared foods generated sales of $2.6 billion in Q3 of fiscal 2026, up 1.7%, and recorded market-share gains throughout the thirteen weeks. Hillshire Snacking increased 18.4%, Hillshire Farm Lunch Meat 7%, Aidells dinner sausage 5.8%, and Jimmy Dean Refrigerated Breakfast 2.7%. Jimmy Dean high-protein and Hillshire Reserve lunchmeat support the strategy of targeting everyday convenience, protein, and higher-value products.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
The company ended Q3 of fiscal 2026 with liquidity of $4 billion and net leverage of 2.1 times. During the first nine months, it generated $1.47 billion in operating cash flow and spent $556 million on capital expenditures, resulting in free cash flow of $913 million. It also returned $652 million to shareholders during the period and expects annual free cash flow of between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion.
Tyson Foods introduced Jeff Schomburger as the incoming chief executive officer on the August 3, 2026 call, following more than ten years of service on the board of directors. Donnie King explicitly said he would step down as chief executive officer but remain a member of the board and involved in the company's long-term direction. Schomburger emphasized that the priority is to continue the existing strategy, accelerate operational execution, and strengthen the brands and the multi-category protein portfolio.
