Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk-Sensitive Instruments and Positions
The risk inherent in our market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is primarily the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and the credit quality of available-for-sale
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securities as discussed below. The sensitivity analyses presented do not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor do they consider additional actions our management may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ from those described below.
Commodity Prices
We purchase certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and wheat, for use as ingredients in the feed we either sell commercially or consume in our live operations. As a result, our earnings are affected by changes in the price and availability of such feed ingredients. We have from time to time attempted to minimize our exposure to the changing price and availability of such feed ingredients using various techniques, including, but not limited to, (1) executing purchase agreements with suppliers for future physical delivery of feed ingredients at established prices and (2) purchasing or selling derivative financial instruments such as futures and options.
For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10% increase in the weighted-average cost of our primary feed ingredients as of the periods presented. The impact of this fluctuation, if realized, could be mitigated by related commodity hedging activity. However, fluctuations greater than 10% could occur.
Year Ended December 28, 2025
Amount Impact of 10% Increase in Feed Ingredient Prices
(In thousands)
Feed ingredient purchases (a)
$ 3,357,311 $ 335,731
Feed ingredient inventory (b)
172,237 17,224
(a) Based on our feed consumption, a 10% increase in the price of our feed ingredient purchases would have increased cost of sales for the year ended December 28, 2025.
(b) A 10% increase in ending feed ingredient prices would have increased inventories as of December 28, 2025.
December 28, 2025
Amount Impact of 10% Increase to the Fair Value of Commodity Derivative Assets
(In thousands)
Commodity derivative assets (a)
$ 8,167 $ 817
(a) We purchase commodity derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for the next 12 months. A 10% increase in corn, soybean meal, soybean oil and wheat prices would have resulted in an increase in the fair value of our net commodity derivative asset position, including margin cash, as of December 28, 2025.
Interest Rates
Fixed-rate debt . Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential decrease in fair value resulting from a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 10%. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, a hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by $87.9 million as of December 28, 2025.
Foreign Currency
Mexico Foreign Investments
We are exposed to foreign exchange-related variability of investments and earnings from our Mexican subsidiaries. Foreign currency market risk is the possibility that our financial results or financial position could be better or worse than planned because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10% change in exchange rates used to convert Mexican peso to U.S. dollars, and the effect of this change on our Mexican foreign investments.
Net Assets. As of December 28, 2025, our Mexican subsidiaries that are denominated in Mexican peso had net assets of $711.2 million. A 10% weakening in Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar exchange rate would cause a decrease in the net assets of our Mexican subsidiaries by $(64.7) million. A 10% strengthening in the Mexican peso against the U.S dollar exchange rate would cause an increase in the net assets of our Mexican subsidiaries of $79.0 million
We are also exposed to the effect of potential currency exchange rate fluctuations to the extent that amounts are repatriated from Mexico to the U.S. The Mexican peso exchange rate can directly and indirectly impact our financial condition and results of operations.
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Europe Foreign Investments
We are exposed to foreign exchange-related variability of investments and earnings from our Europe subsidiaries. Foreign currency market risk is the possibility that our financial results or financial position could be better or worse than planned because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10% change in exchange rates used to convert British pound and euro to U.S. dollars, and the effect of this change on our Europe foreign investments.
Net Assets. As of December 28, 2025, our Europe subsidiaries that are denominated in the British pound had net assets of $1.1 billion. A 10% weakening in the British pound against the U.S. dollar exchange rate would cause a decrease in the net assets of our Europe subsidiaries by $96.0 million. A 10% strengthening in the British pound against the U.S. dollar exchange rate would cause an increase in the net assets of our Europe subsidiaries by $117.3 million.
Cash flow hedging transactions. We periodically enter into foreign currency forward contracts, which are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, to hedge foreign currency risk on a portion of sales generated and purchases made by our Europe reportable segment. A 10% weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and U.S. dollar against the euro would result in immaterial changes in the fair values of these derivative instruments. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in currency rates could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.
Quality of Investments
Certain retirement plans that we sponsor invest in a variety of financial instruments. We have analyzed our portfolios of investments and, to the best of our knowledge, none of our investments, including money market funds units, commercial paper and municipal securities, have been downgraded, and neither we nor any fund in which we participate hold significant amounts of structured investment vehicles, auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit derivatives, hedge funds investments, fund of funds investments or perpetual preferred securities. Certain postretirement funds in which we participate hold significant amounts of mortgage-backed securities. However, none of the mortgages collateralizing these securities are considered subprime.
Impact of Inflation
The U.S., Mexico and most of Europe continue to experience inflation at above-historical levels, though to a lesser degree than in the prior year. None of the locations in which we operate are experiencing hyperinflation. We have responded to these inflationary challenges by continuing negotiations with customers to recoup the extraordinary costs we have experienced. We also continue to focus on operational initiatives that aim to deliver labor efficiencies, better agricultural performance and improved yields.
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