Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN ) early Monday posted better than expected first quarter earnings results and upped its full-year outlook, citing better margins in its pork and beef segments.

Written by StockNews.com

The Springdale, AR-based meat producer reported Q1 EPS of $1.59, which was far higher than the $0.34 Wall Street consensus estimate of $1.25. Revenues edged 0.3% higher from last year to $9.18 billion, also topping analysts’ $9.04 billion view.

Tyson noted it booked record operating income in the latest period of $982 million, up 27% from the year-ago period. It also saw record total company operating margins of 10.7%, with Pork margins of 19.7% and Beef segment operating margins at 8.5%. TSN’s Chicken and Prepared Foods segment operating margins were within the normalized range.

Looking ahead, Tyson raised its 2017 EPS outlook to a range of $4.90 to $5.05, up from $4.75 to $4.85 and ahead of Wall Street’s $4.82 estimate. Revenues are still expected to be flat for the year at $36.9 billion, higher than analysts’ view for $36.41 billion.

The company commented via press release:

“The year is off to the best start in company history with record earnings, record operating income and record cash flows,” said Tom Hayes, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods. “Return on sales for each operating segment was in or above the normalized range. The tremendous returns generated in the Beef and Pork segments are providing fuel for growth in our value-added Chicken and Prepared Foods segments.”

Tyson Foods, Inc. shares rose $3.86 (+5.9%) in premarket trading Monday. Year-to-date, TSN has gained 6.01%, versus a 2.60% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

TSN currently has a StockNews.com POWR Rating of B (Buy), and is ranked #19 of 62 stocks in the Food Makers category.