10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from  _______ to _______            

Commission File number 1-9273

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	75-1285071
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1770 Promontory Circle, Greeley, CO	80634-9038
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (970) 506-8000

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer	ý	Accelerated Filer	¨
Non-accelerated Filer	¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨
		Emerging growth company	¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý

Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, as of October 31, 2018, was 248,980,659.

INDEX

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements	2
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017	2
	Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017	3
	Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income  Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017	4
	Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Stockholders’ Equity Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017	5
	Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017	6
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018	7
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	41
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	56
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	59
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION		60
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	60
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	62
Item 6.	Exhibits	63
SIGNATURES		65

1

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	401,306		$	581,510
Restricted cash	14,534			8,021
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for      doubtful accounts	559,559			565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties	652			2,951
Inventories	1,182,962			1,255,070
Income taxes receivable	4,568			—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	116,536			102,550
Assets held for sale	2,616			708
Total current assets	2,282,733			2,516,288
Deferred tax assets	3,167			—
Other long-lived assets	17,162			18,165
Identified intangible assets, net	581,119			617,163
Goodwill	971,611			1,001,889
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,120,646			2,095,147
Total assets	$	5,976,438		$	6,248,652
Accounts payable	$	817,927		$	733,027
Accounts payable to related parties	6,795			2,889
Revenue contract liability	28,873			36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146			410,152
Income taxes payable	42,369			222,073
Current maturities of long-term debt	24,026			47,775
Total current liabilities	1,323,136			1,452,523
Long-term debt, less current maturities	2,302,194			2,635,617
Noncurrent income taxes payable	7,731			—
Deferred tax liabilities	205,604			208,492
Other long-term liabilities	70,230			96,359
Total liabilities	3,908,895			4,392,991
Common stock	2,604			2,602
Treasury stock	(231,758		)	(231,758		)
Additional paid-in capital	1,941,766			1,932,509
Retained earnings	429,212			173,943
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(83,548		)	(31,140		)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,058,276			1,846,156
Noncontrolling interest	9,267			9,505
Total stockholders’ equity	2,067,543			1,855,661
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	5,976,438		$	6,248,652

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

2

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	2,697,604		$	2,793,885		$	8,280,995		$	8,025,511
Cost of sales	2,527,863			2,315,301			7,549,367			6,815,701
Gross profit	169,741			478,584			731,628			1,209,810
Selling, general and administrative expense	84,138			102,191			257,396			284,009
Administrative restructuring charges	257			4,147			2,181			8,496
Operating income	85,346			372,246			472,051			917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334			24,636			125,901			66,315
Interest income	(4,241		)	(2,128		)	(10,665		)	(3,600		)
Foreign currency transaction gain	(6,711		)	(888		)	(2,802		)	(2,500		)
Miscellaneous, net	653			(1,083		)	(1,781		)	(5,198		)
Income before income taxes	60,311			351,709			361,398			862,288
Income tax expense	30,848			113,396			106,367			278,046
Net income	29,463			238,313			255,031			584,242
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	—			6,093			—			23,486
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling      interests	153			(460		)	(238		)	514
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$	29,310		$	232,680		$	255,269		$	560,242
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic	248,981			248,753			248,933			248,732
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents	198			235			143			230
Diluted	249,179			248,988			249,076			248,962
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation      per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic	$	0.12		$	0.94		$	1.03		$	2.25
Diluted	$	0.12		$	0.93		$	1.03		$	2.25

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

3

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	29,463		$	238,313		$	255,031		$	584,242
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Gains (losses) arising during the period	(20,385		)	22,378			(60,516		)	89,153
Income tax effect	—			3,211			1,624			3,211
Derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges
Gains (losses) arising during the period	131			(779		)	28			(137		)
Reclassification to net earnings for losses realized	143			—			329			9
Available-for-sale securities
Gains arising during the period	70			—			1,302			—
Income tax effect	(17		)	—			(317		)	—
Reclassification to net earnings for gains realized	(364		)	—			(1,263		)	—
Income tax effect	89			—			307			—
Defined benefit plans
Gains (losses) arising during the period	566			393			7,158			(4,078		)
Income tax effect	(138		)	(148		)	(1,743		)	1,539
Reclassification to net earnings of losses realized	301			233			902			699
Income tax effect	(73		)	(88		)	(219		)	(264		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(19,677		)	25,200			(52,408		)	90,132
Comprehensive income	9,786			263,513			202,623			674,374
Less: Comprehensive income for Granite Holdings Sàrl        prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	—			460			—			88,050
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to        noncontrolling interests	153			(460		)	(238		)	514
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride        Corporation	$	9,633		$	263,513		$	202,861		$	585,810

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

4

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
	Common Stock						Treasury Stock					Additional Paid-in Capital			Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Noncontrolling Interest			Total
	Shares			Amount			Shares		Amount
	(In thousands)
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation balance at December 31, 2017	260,168			$	2,602		(11,416	)	$	(231,758	)	$	1,932,509		$	173,943		$	(31,140	)	$	9,505		$	1,855,661
Net income (loss)	—			—			—		—			—			255,269			—			(238		)	255,031
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—			—			—		—			—			—			(52,408		)	—			(52,408		)
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans	228			2			—		—			(2		)	—			—			—			—
Requisite service period recognition	—			—			—		—			9,259			—			—			—			9,259
Balance at September 30, 2018	260,396			$	2,604		(11,416	)	$	(231,758	)	$	1,941,766		$	429,212		$	(83,548	)	$	9,267		$	2,067,543
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation balance at December 25, 2016	$	259,682		$	2,597		(10,636	)	$	(217,117	)	$	1,686,742		$	(520,635	)	$	(64,243	)	$	9,403		$	896,747
Granite Holdings Sàrl balance at December 25, 2016	13,000			304,691			—		—			1,413,590			(262,150		)	(265,615		)	(1,131		)	1,189,385
Combined balance at December 25, 2016	272,682			307,288			(10,636	)	(217,117		)	3,100,332			(782,785		)	(329,858		)	8,272			2,086,132
Net income	—			—			—		—			—			583,728			—			514			584,242
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—			—			—		—			—			—			90,132			—			90,132
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans	486			5			—		—			(5		)	—			—			—			—
Requisite service period recognition	—			—			—		—			2,454			—			—			—			2,454
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	—			—			(780	)	(14,641		)	—			—			—			—			(14,641		)
Deemed equity contribution resulting from the transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	—			—			—		—			237,195			—			—			—			237,195
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	(13,000		)	(304,691		)	—		—			(1,413,590		)	238,663			203,209			1,131			(1,275,278		)
Balance at September 24, 2017	260,168			$	2,602		(11,416	)	$	(231,758	)	$	1,926,386		$	39,606		$	(36,517	)	$	9,917		$	1,710,236

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

5

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	255,031		$	584,242
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	211,450			204,625
Noncash loss on early extinguishment of debt	6,037			—
Foreign currency transaction loss related to borrowing arrangements	4,221			6,830
Amortization of premium related to Senior Notes	(501		)	—
Accretion of discount related to Senior Notes	567			—
Asset impairment	884			4,947
Gain on property disposals	(452		)	(540		)
Gain on equity-method investments	(48		)	(44		)
Share-based compensation	9,259			2,454
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(2,147		)	25,768
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	(3,437		)	(146,477		)
Inventories	64,787			(149,806		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(15,428		)	(15,377		)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	78,107			(36,105		)
Income taxes	(175,569		)	149,063
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(9,087		)	(9,660		)
Other operating assets and liabilities	1,606			(1,429		)
Cash provided by operating activities	425,280			618,491
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(231,875		)	(258,364		)
Purchase of acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	—			(658,520		)
Proceeds from property disposals	2,707			2,585
Cash used in investing activities	(229,168		)	(914,299		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings	703,090			1,013,662
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(1,071,441		)	(609,678		)
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between     JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	5,558			5,038
Payment of capitalized loan costs	(11,081		)	(4,550		)
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program	—			(14,641		)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(373,874		)	389,831
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	4,071			15,084
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(173,691		)	109,107
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	589,531			297,523
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	415,840		$	406,630

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

6

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms) is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Pilgrim’s products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the countries listed above. Additionally, the Company exports chicken products to approximately 100 countries. Pilgrim’s fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole chickens, whole cut-up chickens and selected chicken parts that are either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s prepared chicken products include fully cooked, ready-to-cook and individually frozen chicken parts, strips, nuggets and patties, some of which are either breaded or non-breaded and either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s other products include ready-to-eat meals, multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts. As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production of our products. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 14 U.S. states, the U.K., Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. As of September 30, 2018, Pilgrim’s had approximately 51,300 employees and the capacity to process approximately 45.3 million birds per work week for a total of more than 13.1 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 5,200 contract growers supply poultry for the Company’s operations. As of September 30, 2018, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owned 78.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated and Combined financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 30, 2018. For further information, refer to the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.

On September 8, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Granite Holdings Sàrl and its subsidiaries (together, “Moy Park”) from JBS in a common-control transaction. Moy Park was acquired by JBS from an unrelated third party on September 30, 2015. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries combined with the accounts of Moy Park. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Moy Park. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP using management’s best estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of the contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The estimates and judgments will also affect the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments. Significant estimates made by the Company include the allowance for doubtful accounts, allowances for product claims and sales deductions, reserves related to inventory obsolescence or valuation, useful lives of long-lived assets, goodwill, valuation of deferred tax assets, insurance accruals, valuation of pension and other postretirement benefits obligations, income tax accruals, certain derivative positions and valuations of acquired businesses.

The functional currency of the Company's U.S. and Mexico operations and certain holding-company subsidiaries in Luxembourg, the U.K. and Ireland is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of its U.K. operations is the British pound. The functional currency of the Company's operations in France and the Netherlands is the euro. For foreign currency-denominated

7

entities other than the Company's Mexico operations, translation from local currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for most assets and liabilities using the exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from translation of these financial records are reflected as a separate component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the Company's Mexico operations, remeasurement from the Mexican peso to U.S. dollars is performed for monetary assets and liabilities using the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet date. Remeasurement is performed for non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Net adjustments resulting from remeasurement of these financial records are reflected in Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

During 2017, the Company reported an adjustment resulting from the translation of a British pound-denominated note payable owed to JBS as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company designated this note payable as a hedge of its net investment in Moy Park. This adjustment remains in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018 and will be reclassified if the Company disposes of its investment in Moy Park.

The Company or its subsidiaries may use derivatives for the purpose of mitigating exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are reported in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

We made the following reclassification to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 in order to conform to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of September 30, 2018:

	December 31, 2017
	As Presented in 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K		Adjustment Resulting from Adoption of FASB Guidance			As Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable	$	762,444	$	(29,417	)	$	733,027
Accrued expense and other current liabilities	417,342		(7,190		)	410,152
Revenue contract liability	—		36,607			36,607

Book Overdraft

The majority of the Company’s disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

Restricted Cash

The Company is required to maintain cash balances with a broker as collateral for exchange traded futures contracts. These balances are classified as restricted cash as they are not available for use by the Company to fund daily operations. The balance of restricted cash may also include investments in U.S. Treasury Bills that qualify as cash equivalents, as required by the broker, to offset the obligation to return cash collateral.

The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	401,306	$	581,510
Restricted cash	14,534		8,021
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows	$	415,840	$	589,531

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018

8

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, using the cumulative effect adjustment, often referred to as modified retrospective approach. Under this method, we did not restate the prior financial statements presented, and would record any adjustments in the opening balance sheet for January 2018. There was no cumulative effect to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information was not restated and continues to be presented under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures will include the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period during 2018, as compared to the prior guidance. We expect minimal impact from the adoption of the new standard to the financial statements on a go forward basis, except for expanded disclosures. Revenue is currently recognized at destination and will continue to be recognized at point in time under the new guidance. Additional information regarding revenue recognition is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which, in an effort to improve consistency and transparency, requires the service cost component of defined benefit pension cost and postretirement benefit cost (“net benefit cost”) to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted as of September 30, 2018

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), along with several updates, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity may elect to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach or the beginning of the period of adoption using a cumulative-effect adjustment approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We will adopt the new standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year, and recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the period of adoption. We are progressing in our assessment of leasing and other arrangements, and the evaluation of the impact of the new guidance on these arrangements and our financial statements. While we continue to assess the potential impacts of the standard, we anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of the increase in assets and liabilities from recognition of operating leases. However, we do not believe the standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statement of Income. Implementation of a system solution for administering our leases and facilitating compliance with the new guidance is in process with completion expected prior to the required adoption date.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Among the simplification updates, the standard eliminates the requirement in current GAAP to separately recognize periodic hedge ineffectiveness. Mismatches between the changes in value of the hedged item and hedging instrument may still occur but they will no longer be separately reported. The standard requires the presentation of the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

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In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company will need to decide whether to reclassify the stranded tax effects associated with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. If the Company chooses to reclassify we will need to calculate the amount of the reclassification and prepare the related disclosures The accounting standards is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, an accounting standard update to improve non-employee share-based payment accounting. The accounting standard update more closely aligns the accounting for employee and non-employee share based payments. The accounting standards update is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to fair value measurements. The new guidance removes certain disclosure requirements related to transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy along with the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additions to the disclosure requirements include more quantitative information related to significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and gains and losses included in other comprehensive income. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to defined benefit plans by eliminating certain required disclosures, clarifying existing disclosures, and adding new disclosures. Changes include removing disclosures related to the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year, adding narrative disclosure of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the defined benefit obligation, and clarifying the disclosures required for plans with projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

2. BUSINESS ACQUISITION

On September 8, 2017, the Company purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Moy Park from JBS for cash of $301.3 million and a note payable to the seller in the amount of £562.5 million (the "JBS S.A. Promissory Note"). Moy Park is one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers. With 4 fresh processing plants, 10 prepared foods cook plants, 3 feed mills, 6 hatcheries and 1 rendering facility currently operating in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands, Moy Park possesses the capacity to process approximately 6.1 million birds per seven-day work week, in addition to the capacity to produce approximately 460.0 million pounds of prepared foods per year. Its product portfolio comprises fresh and further processed poultry, ready-to-eat meals, breaded and multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts, supplied to major food retailers and restaurant chains in Europe (including the U.K.). Moy Park has approximately 10,400 employees as of September 30, 2018. The Moy Park operations comprise our U.K. and Europe segment.

The acquisition was treated as a common-control transaction under U.S. GAAP. A common-control transaction is a transfer of net assets or an exchange of equity interests between entities under the control of the same parent. The accounting and reporting for a transaction between entities under common control is not to be considered a business combination under U.S. GAAP. Since there is no change in control over the net assets from the parent’s perspective, there is no change in basis in the assets or liabilities. Therefore, Pilgrim's, as the receiving entity, recognized the assets and liabilities received at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the parent’s financial statements. The difference between the proceeds transferred and the carrying amounts of the net assets on the date of the acquisition is recognized in equity.

Transaction costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition were approximately $19.9 million. These costs were expensed as incurred. Beginning September 8, 2017, the results of operations and financial position of Moy Park have been included in the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company. The results of operations and financial

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position of Moy Park have been combined with the results of operations and financial position of Pilgrim's from September 30, 2015, the common control date, through September 7, 2017.

Net sales generated by Moy Park during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were $526.7 million and $514.3 million, respectively. Net sales generated by Moy Park during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were $1.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. Moy Park generated net income during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 totaling $17.7 million and $8.2 million, respectively. Moy Park generated net income during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 totaling $39.5 million and $25.6 million, respectively.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined financial results for the Company and Moy Park as if the acquisition had been completed at the beginning of the Company’s prior year, December 25, 2016.

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except per share amount)
Net sales	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	255,504		558,036
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted	1.03		2.24

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company’s results of operations would have been had it completed the acquisition on the date assumed, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from any synergies resulting from the acquisition.    

3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value must be categorized into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation:

Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2	Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or
Level 3	Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company held derivative assets and liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity futures instruments, commodity options instruments and foreign currency instruments to manage translation and remeasurement risk.

The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

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	September 30, 2018
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	4,822		$	4,822
Foreign currency instruments	430			430
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(517		)	(517		)
Commodity options instruments	(11,279		)	(11,279		)
Foreign currency instruments	(1,943		)	(1,943		)

	December 31, 2017
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	301		$	301
Commodity options instruments	421			421
Foreign currency instruments	45			45
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(296		)	(296		)
Commodity option instruments	(3,551		)	(3,551		)
Foreign currency instruments	(211		)	(211		)

See “Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.

The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations. For each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet but for which fair value is disclosed, the Company is not required to provide the quantitative disclosure about significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our fixed-rate debt obligation recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%, at Level 1 inputs	$	(1,002,598	)	$	(966,340	)	$	(750,000	)	$	(774,375	)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%, at Level 1 inputs	(843,538		)	(805,622		)	(604,820		)	(619,080		)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%, at Level 1 inputs	—			—			(403,444		)	(418,787		)
Secured loans, at Level 3 inputs	(450		)	(449		)	(873		)	(855		)

See “Note 11. Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements” for additional information.

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The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, derivative trading accounts' margin cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other liabilities approximate their fair values due to their relatively short maturities. Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the Company’s Level 1 fixed-rate debt obligations was based on the quoted market price at September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable. The fair value of the Company’s Level 3 fixed-rate debt obligation was based on discounted cash flows at September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable.

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.

4.    TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable	$	526,063		$	548,472
Notes receivable - current	4,630			5,130
Other receivables	36,888			20,021
Receivables, gross	567,581			573,623
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(8,022		)	(8,145		)
Receivables, net	$	559,559		$	565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties(a)	$	652		$	2,951

(a)Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	(8,145	)
Provision charged to operating results	(1,398		)
Account write-offs and recoveries	1,629
Effect of exchange rate	(108		)
Balance, end of period	$	(8,022	)

5.     INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Raw materials and work-in-process	$	734,289	$	722,083
Finished products (a)	355,736		444,796
Operating supplies	42,350		35,442
Maintenance materials and parts	50,587		52,749
Total inventories	$	1,182,962	$	1,255,070

(a) Finished products contains a $54.4 million reclassification related to both in-transit and non-chicken finished products that were previously presented in Feed, eggs and other on our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 to conform to the inventories presented as of September 30, 2018.

6. INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

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We recognize investments in available-for-sale securities as cash equivalents, current investments or long-term investments depending upon each security's length to maturity. Additionally, those securities identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current.

The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Cash equivalents:
Fixed income securities	$	253,500	$	253,500	$	330,456	$	330,456
Other	32,273		32,273		942		942

Securities classified as cash and cash equivalents mature within 90 days. Securities classified as short-term investments mature between 91 and 365 days. Securities classified as long-term investments mature after 365 days. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. Gross realized gains during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $2.5 million and $5.4 million, respectively, while gross realized losses were immaterial. Gross realized gains during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $2.0 million and $3.1 million, respectively, while gross realized losses were immaterial. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities recognized as either short or long-term investments are historically disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 that have been included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the net amount of gains and losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 are disclosed in “Note 15. Stockholders’ Equity”.

7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. The Company considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for approximately the next 12 months. The Company may purchase longer-term derivative financial instruments on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.

The Company has operations in Mexico and Europe (including the U.K.) and, therefore, has exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when the financial results of those operations are remeasured in U.S. dollars. The Company has purchased foreign currency forward contracts to manage this translational foreign exchange risk.

The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.

We have not designated certain derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase or foreign currency transaction exposures on our Mexico operations as cash flow hedges. Items designated as cash flow hedges are disclosed and described further below. Therefore, we recognized changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

We have designated certain derivative financial instruments related to our U.K. and Europe segment that we have purchased to mitigate foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Before the settlement date of the financial derivative instruments, we recognize changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the cash flow hedge into accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) while we recognize changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion immediately in earnings. When the derivative financial instruments associated with the effective portion are settled, the amount in AOCI is then reclassified

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to earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

The Company recognized net losses of $7.4 million and net gains of $6.9 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. The Company recognized net losses of $25.0 million and net gains of $7.3 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(Fair values in thousands)
Fair values:
Commodity derivative assets	$	4,822		$	722
Commodity derivative liabilities	(11,796		)	(3,847		)
Foreign currency derivative assets	430			45
Foreign currency derivative liabilities	(1,943		)	(211		)
Collateral posted with brokers(a)	14,534			8,021
Derivatives coverage(b):
Corn	14.6		%	3.1		%
Soybean meal	11.0		%	1.7		%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
Corn	September 2019			March 2019
Soybean meal	December 2019			December 2018

(a) Collateral posted with brokers consists primarily of cash, short term treasury bills, or other cash equivalents.

(b) Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

The following tables present the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges:

	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
Total	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
	Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)
Total	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)

At September 30, 2018, the pre-tax deferred net gains on derivatives recorded in AOCI that are expected to be reclassified to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income during the next twelve months are less than $0.1 million.

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This expectation is based on the anticipated settlements on the hedged investments in foreign currencies that will occur over the next twelve months, at which time the Company will recognize the deferred gains (losses) to earnings.

8. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The activity in goodwill by segment for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows:

	December 31, 2017		Currency Translation			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	—		$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	834,346		(30,278		)	804,068
Mexico	125,607		—			125,607
Total	$	1,001,889	$	(30,278	)	$	971,611

Identified intangible assets consisted of the following:

	December 31, 2017			Amortization			Currency Translation			Reclassification			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount:
Trade names	$	79,686		$	—		$	—		$	(1,343	)	$	78,343
Customer relationships	251,952			—			(3,287		)	1,343			250,008
Non-compete agreements	320			—			—			—			320
Trade names not subject to amortization	403,594			—			(13,740		)	—			389,854
Accumulated amortization:
Trade names	(40,888		)	(2,796		)	—			623			(43,061		)
Customer relationships	(77,194		)	(17,248		)	1,033			(623		)	(94,032		)
Non-compete agreements	(307		)	(6		)	—			—			(313		)
Total identified intangible assets	$	617,163		$	(20,050	)	$	(15,994	)	$	—		$	581,119

Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

.

Customer relationships	5-16 years
Trade names	3-20 years
Non-compete agreements	3 years

At September 30, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization at that date.

9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:

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	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Land	$	197,182		$	205,087
Buildings	1,682,584			1,681,610
Machinery and equipment	2,582,087			2,533,522
Autos and trucks	57,846			58,159
Construction-in-progress	238,806			187,094
PP&E, gross	4,758,505			4,665,472
Accumulated depreciation	(2,637,859		)	(2,570,325		)
PP&E, net	$	2,120,646		$	2,095,147

The Company recognized depreciation expense of $64.4 million and $63.8 million during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. The Company recognized depreciation expense of $187.0 million and $181.1 million during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively.

During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, Pilgrim's spent $231.9 million on capital projects and transferred $149.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017, the Company spent $258.4 million on capital projects and transferred $272.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, the Company sold certain PP&E for $1.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in cash and recognized net gain on these sales of $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. PP&E sold in thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 included a processing plant in Alabama, a residential building in Georgia, vacant land in Georgia and North Carolina, and miscellaneous equipment. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $1.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively, and recognized a net loss of $0.2 million and a net gain of $0.5 million, respectively. PP&E sold in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 included a processing plant in Texas, a feed mill in Arkansas, poultry farms in Alabama and Texas, vacant land in Texas, and miscellaneous equipment.

Management has committed to the sale of a processing complex in Minnesota and miscellaneous equipment that no longer fit into the operating plans of the Company. The Company is actively marketing these assets for immediate sale and believes a sale of each asset can be consummated within the next 12 months. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company reported properties and related assets totaling $2.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, in the line item Assets held for sale on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair values of the Minnesota processing complex and the miscellaneous equipment that were classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2018 were both based on quoted market prices.

The Company tested the recoverability of its Minnesota processing complex held for sale as of April 1, 2018, July 1, 2018, and September 30, 2018. The Company determined that the aggregate carrying amount at September 30, 2018 of this asset group was not recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group and recognized impairment cost of $0.8 million within the U.S. segment, which it reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

The Company has closed or idled various facilities in the U.S. and in the U.K. Neither the Board of Directors nor JBS has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these idled assets. Management is therefore not certain that it can or will divest any of these assets within one year, is not actively marketing these assets and, accordingly, has not classified them as assets held for sale. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. At September 30, 2018, the carrying amounts of these idled assets totaled $47.4 million based on depreciable value of $155.6 million and accumulated depreciation of $108.2 million. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $0.1 million related to leasehold improvements at an idled administrative office.

At September 30, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use at that date.

10. CURRENT LIABILITIES

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Current liabilities, other than current notes payable to banks, income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable:
Trade accounts	$	740,735	$	661,759
Book overdrafts	62,799		56,022
Other payables	14,393		15,246
Total accounts payable	817,927		733,027
Accounts payable to related parties(a)	6,795		2,889
Revenue contract liability(b)	28,873		36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Compensation and benefits	152,707		181,678
Interest and debt-related fees	31,771		29,750
Insurance and self-insured claims	81,475		79,911
Derivative liabilities:
Commodity futures	517		296
Commodity options	11,279		3,551
Foreign currency derivatives	1,943		211
Other accrued expenses	123,454		114,755
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146		410,152
	$	1,256,741	$	1,182,675

(a)Additional information regarding accounts payable to related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

(b)Additional information regarding revenue contract liabilities is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

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11.LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS

Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements, including current notes payable to banks, consisted of the following components:

	Maturity	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
		(In thousands)
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements:
Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%	2025	$	1,002,598		$	754,820
Senior notes payable, net of discount at 5.875%	2027	843,538			600,000
Senior notes payable at 6.25%	2021	—			403,444
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
Term note payable at 3.60%	2023	500,000			780,000
Revolving note payable at 5.25%	2023	—			73,262
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95%	2019	—			76,307
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5%	2018	—			9,590
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%	2018	1,479			1,815
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%	2023	—			—
Secured loans with payables at weighted average of 3.73%	Various	450			873
Capital lease obligations	Various	4,917			9,239
Long-term debt		2,352,982			2,709,350
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(24,026		)	(47,775		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities		2,328,956			2,661,575
Less: Capitalized financing costs		(26,762		)	(25,958		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:		$	2,302,194		$	2,635,617

U.S. Senior Notes

On March 11, 2015, the Company completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% senior notes due 2025. On September 29, 2017, the Company completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes. The issuance price of this add-on offering was 102.0%, which created gross proceeds of $255.0 million. The additional $5.0 million will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed another add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in March 2015 and September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2025”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 99.25%, which created gross proceeds of $248.1 million. The $1.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2025 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2015 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

The Senior Notes due 2025 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2015 Indenture”). The 2015 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in March 2015 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in September 2017 and March 2018.

On September 29, 2017, the Company completed a sale of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% senior notes due 2027. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2027”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 97.25%, which created gross proceeds of $243.1 million. The $6.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Senior Notes due 2027. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2027 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2017 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

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The Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2017 Indenture”). The 2017 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2027 bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 30, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018.

The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 are each guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company’s guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2025, the 2015 Indenture, the Senior Notes due 2027 and the 2017 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 when due, among others.

The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 to repay in full the JBS S.A. Promissory Note issued as part of the Moy Park acquisition and for general corporate purposes. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018 to pay the second tender price of Moy Park Notes (as described below), repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Moy Park Senior Notes

Between May 29, 2014 and April 17, 2015, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the sale of £300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2021 (the “Moy Park Senior Notes”). Between November 3, 2017 and March 8, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the purchase for cash of the Moy Park Senior Notes through a tender offer. As of March 8, 2018, £234.3 million principal amount of Moy Park Senior Notes had been validly tendered and purchased by Moy Park (Bondco) plc.

On May 29, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc redeemed all remaining Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding at the redemption price equal to 101.56% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The principal value of the Moy Park Senior Notes redeemed on May 29, 2018 was £65.7 million. As of September 30, 2018, there are no Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding.

U.S. Credit Facility

On July 20, 2018, the Company, and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a $750.0 million revolving credit commitment and a term loan commitment of up to $500.0 million (the “Term Loans”). The Company used the proceeds from the term loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility, together with cash on hand, to repay the outstanding loans under the Company’s previous credit agreement with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto.

The U.S. Credit Facility includes an accordion feature that allows the Company, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.25 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.

The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2023. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on July 20, 2023. Installments of principal are required to be made, in an amount equal to 1.25%of the original principal amount of the Term Loans, on a quarterly basis prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $705.1 million. The Company had letters of credit of $44.9 million and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan commitment as of September 30, 2018.

The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% through August 2, 2018 and, thereafter, based on the Company’s net

20

senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.25% through August 2, 2018 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.

The U.S. Credit Facility contains customary financial and other various covenants for transactions of this type, including restrictions on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends, make certain restricted payments, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with the Company’s affiliates, or merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, among other things. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that the Company may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year.

All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of the Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company's domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., and 65% of the equity interests in its direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company is currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.

Mexico Credit Facility

On September 27, 2016, certain of the Company's Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $750.0 million Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2019. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility bear interest at a per annum rate of 9.07%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability under the Mexico Credit Facility were both $40.1 million. As of September 30, 2018, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility.

Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility Agreement

On June 2, 2018, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries entered into an unsecured multicurrency revolving facility agreement (the “Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement”) with the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, as agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement provides for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £100.0 million. The multicurrency revolving loan commitments under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement matures on June 2, 2023. Outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) LIBOR or, in relation to any loan in euros, EURIBOR, plus (ii) a margin, ranging from 1.25% to 2.00% based on Leverage (as defined in the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement). All obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement are guaranteed by certain of Moy Park's subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and borrowing availability were both $130.3 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement as of September 30, 2018.

The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains representations and warranties, covenants, indemnities and conditions that the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type. Pursuant to the terms of the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement, Moy Park is required to meet certain financial and other restrictive covenants. Additionally, Moy Park is prohibited from taking certain actions without consent of the lenders, including, without limitation, incurring additional indebtedness, entering into certain mergers or other business combination transactions, permitting liens or other encumbrances on its assets and making restricted payments, including dividends, in each case except as expressly permitted under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains events of default that the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type. If a default occurs, any outstanding obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement may be accelerated.

Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement

On March 19, 2015, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with Barclays Bank plc, which expired on March 19, 2018. The agreement provided for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £20.0 million.

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Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement

Moy Park Ltd., entered into a £45.0 million receivables finance agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Receivables Finance Agreement”), with Barclays Bank plc. Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. repaid the Receivables Finance Agreement in full using available cash and proceeds from the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement and terminated the Receivables Finance Agreement with Barclays Bank plc on June 4, 2018.

Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Facility

In June 2009, Moy Park France Sàrl entered into a €20.0 million invoice discounting facility with GE De Facto (the “Invoice Discounting Facility”). The facility limit was decreased by 50 percent in June 2018. The Invoice Discounting Facility is payable on demand and the term is extended on an annual basis. The agreement can be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. Outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment, borrowing availability and outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility were $11.6 million, $10.1 million, and $1.5 million, respectively.

The Invoice Discounting Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.

12.    INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded income tax expense of $106.4 million, a 29.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $278.0 million, a 32.2% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction in pre-tax income as well as a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate as a result of the recently enacted comprehensive tax legislation, partially offset by the recognition of the one-time transition tax discussed below.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revises the ongoing U.S. corporate income tax law by lowering the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, implementing a territorial tax system, imposing a one-time tax on foreign unremitted earnings and setting limitations on deductibility of certain costs (e.g., interest expense), among other things.

The Company is applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act. In certain cases, as described below, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of certain effects of the Tax Act. In other cases, the Company has not been able to make a reasonable estimate and continues to account for those items based on existing accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, and the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to enactment. For example, the Company has yet to make a reasonable estimate for the effect of the various federal income tax elements of the Tax Act on its state tax rate. In all cases, the Company will continue to make and refine its calculations as additional analysis is completed. Estimates may also be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the Tax Act. These changes could be material to income tax expense.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company estimated no tax liability on foreign unremitted earnings due to a net earnings and profits (“E&P”) deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, the Company did not accrue any amount of tax expense for the Tax Act’s one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated, unremitted earnings going back to 1986 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Upon further analysis of certain aspects of the Tax Act and a refinement of the historical calculation of E&P on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income, the Company made sufficient progress during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 in the E&P analysis of its foreign subsidiaries and recalculated significant overall positive E&P. Therefore, due to this recalculation, the Company estimates a $26.4 million tax liability for the one-time transition tax as of September 30, 2018. This one-time transition adjustment increased the effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 by approximately 7.0%. Additionally, this amount will be reported on the Company's federal income tax return for the tax period ended December 31, 2017. As the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the tax law and further Tax Act guidance is released, the Company will continue to refine its E&P analysis and adjust its calculations of the one-time transition tax accordingly. Any adjustment may materially and adversely affect the measurement of this liability. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the one-time transition tax or any additional outside basis difference inherent in these foreign subsidiaries, as these amounts continue to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.

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The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for GILTI, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, the Company is still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and has not yet determined the accounting policy it will elect. As of September 30, 2018, the Company is estimating a $5.9 million federal GILTI tax liability, which is reflected in the Company's estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Tax Act provides for a foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) deduction, which is available to domestic C corporations that derive income from the export of property and services. As of September 30, 2018, the Company estimated a federal FDII benefit of $0.2 million, which is reflected in the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company will continue to refine its FDII calculations, which may result in changes to this estimated benefit.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carry back and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. As of September 30, 2018, the Company did not believe it had sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of a portion of its foreign net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, there is a tax effect of ($0.3) million and $4.5 million, respectively, reflected in other comprehensive income.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, there are immaterial tax effects reflected in income tax expense due to excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a variety of consolidated and standalone income tax returns in various jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, our income tax filings are subject to review by various taxing authorities. In general, tax returns filed by our Company and our subsidiaries for years prior to 2011 are no longer subject to examination by tax authorities.

13.    REVENUE RECOGNITION

The vast majority of the Company's revenue is derived from contracts which are based upon a customer ordering our products. While there may be master agreements, the contract is only established when the customer’s order is accepted by the Company. The Company accounts for a contract, which may be verbal or written, when it is approved and committed by both parties, the rights of the parties are identified along with payment terms, the contract has commercial substance and collectability is probable.

The Company evaluates the transaction for distinct performance obligations, which are the sale of its products to customers. Since its products are commodity market-priced, the sales price is representative of the observable, standalone selling price. Each performance obligation is recognized based upon a pattern of recognition that reflects the transfer of control to the customer at a point in time, which is upon destination (customer location or port of destination), which faithfully depicts the transfer of control and recognition of revenue. There are instances of customer pick-up at the Company's facility, in which case control transfers to the customer at that point and the Company recognizes revenue. The Company's performance obligations are typically fulfilled within days to weeks of the acceptance of the order.

The Company makes judgments regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from revenue and cash flows with customers. Determination of a contract requires evaluation and judgment along with the estimation of the total contract value and if any of the contract value is constrained. Due to the nature of our business, there is minimal variable consideration, as the contract is established at the acceptance of the order from the customer. When applicable, variable consideration is estimated at contract inception and updated on a regular basis until the contract is completed. Allocating the transaction price to a specific performance obligation based upon the relative standalone selling prices includes estimating the standalone selling prices including discounts and variable consideration.

Disaggregated Revenue

Revenue has been disaggregated into the categories below to show how economic factors affect the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.

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	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Domestic		Export		Net Sales		Domestic		Export		Net Sales
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,800,789	$	63,380	$	1,864,169	$	5,411,391	$	193,318	$	5,604,709
U.K. and Europe	456,187		70,535		526,722		1,398,494		235,631		1,634,125
Mexico	306,713		—		306,713		1,042,161		—		1,042,161
Net Sales	$	2,563,689	$	133,915	$	2,697,604	$	7,852,046	$	428,949	$	8,280,995

Shipping and Handling Costs

In the rare case when shipping and handling activities are performed after a customer obtains control of the good, the Company has elected to account for shipping and handling as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer the good. When revenue is recognized for the related good before the shipping and handling activities occur, the related costs of those shipping and handling activities are accrued. Shipping and handling costs are recorded within cost of sales.

Contract Costs

The Company can incur incremental costs to obtain or fulfill a contract such as broker expenses that are not expected to be recovered. The amortization period for such expenses is less than one year; therefore, the costs are expensed as incurred.

Taxes

There is no change in accounting for taxes due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, as there is no material change to the timing of revenue recognition. We exclude all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the entity from a customer (for example, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes) from the transaction price.

Contract Balances

The Company receives payment from customers based on terms established with the customer. Payments are typically due within two weeks of delivery. There are rarely contract assets related to costs incurred to perform in advance of scheduled billings. Revenue contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of satisfying the performance under the customer contract. The revenue contract liability relates to customer prepayments and the advanced consideration received from governmental agency contracts for which performance obligations to the end customer have not been satisfied.

Changes in the revenue contract liability balances during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	36,607
Revenue recognized	(42,358		)
Cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period	34,624
Balance, end of period	$	28,873

Accounts Receivable

The Company records accounts receivable when revenue is recognized. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the receivables balance to an amount it estimates is collectible from customers. Estimates used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on historical collection experience, current trends, aging of accounts receivable and periodic credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition. The Company writes off accounts receivable when it becomes apparent, based upon age or customer circumstances, that such amounts will not be collected. Generally, the Company does not require collateral for its accounts receivable.

14. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company sponsors programs that provide retirement benefits to most of its employees. These programs include qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan and defined contribution retirement savings plan. Expenses recognized under all these retirement plans were as follows:

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	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Total retirement plans expense	$	2,968	$	2,735	$	9,133	$	7,963

Defined Benefit Plans Obligations and Assets

The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the defined benefit plans were as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:	(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	178,247		$	1,603		$	167,159		$	1,648
Interest cost	4,097			35			4,178			38
Actuarial losses (gains)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	165,700		$	1,460		$	173,199		$	1,600

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in plan assets:	(In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	$	112,570		$	—		$	97,526		$	—
Actual return on plan assets	1,853			—			9,321			—
Contributions by employer	9,474			111			10,538			111
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	$	117,040		$	—		$	109,814		$	—

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Funded status:	(In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:	(In thousands)
Current liability	$	(12,155	)	$	(148	)	$	(12,168	)	$	(149	)
Long-term liability	(36,505		)	(1,312		)	(53,509		)	(1,454		)
Recognized liability	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits			Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other    comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	46,241	$	(32	)	$	54,235	$	35

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The accumulated benefit obligation for the Company's defined benefit pension plans was $165.7 million and $178.2 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Each of the Company's defined benefit pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. As of September 30, 2018, the weighted average duration of the Company's defined benefit pension obligation is 30.98 years.

Net Periodic Benefit Costs

Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	1,366		$	12	$	1,392		$	13	$	4,097		$	35	$	4,178		$	38
Estimated return on plan assets	(1,516		)	—		(1,314		)	—		(4,549		)	—		(3,940		)	—
Amortization of net loss	300			—		233			—		902			—		699			—
Net costs	$	150		$	12	$	311		$	13	$	450		$	35	$	937		$	38

Economic Assumptions

The weighted average assumptions used in determining pension and other postretirement plan information were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end    of period:
Discount rate	4.28	%	4.08	%	3.69	%	3.39	%

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other    postretirement cost:
Discount rate	3.69	%	3.39	%	4.32	%	3.81	%
Expected return on plan assets	5.50	%	N/A		5.50	%	NA

The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company's pension and other benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate for each plan was established by comparing the projection of expected benefit payments to the AA Above Median yield curve. The expected benefit payments were discounted by each corresponding discount rate on the yield curve. For payments beyond 30 years, the Company extended the curve assuming the discount rate derived in year 30 is extended to the end of the plan's payment expectations. Once the present value of the string of benefit payments was established, the Company determined the single rate on the yield curve, that when applied to all obligations of the plan, would exactly match the previously determined present value. As part of the evaluation of pension and other postretirement assumptions, the Company applied assumptions for mortality that incorporate generational white and blue collar mortality trends. In determining its benefit obligations, the Company used generational tables that take into consideration increases in plan participant longevity. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all pension and other postretirement benefit plans used variations of the RP2014 mortality table and the MP2015 mortality improvement scale.

The sensitivity of the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits to changes in the discount rate is set out below. The impact of a change in the discount rate of 0.25% on the projected benefit obligation for other benefits is less than $1,000. This sensitivity analysis is based on changing one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to variations in significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as for calculating the liability recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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	Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25%			Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25%
	(In thousands)
Impact on projected benefit obligation for pension benefits	$	(4,729	)	$	4,488

The expected rate of return on plan assets was primarily based on the determination of an expected return and behaviors for each plan's current asset portfolio that the Company believes are likely to prevail over long periods. This determination was made using assumptions for return and volatility of the portfolio. Asset class assumptions were set using a combination of empirical and forward-looking analysis. To the extent historical results were affected by unsustainable trends or events, the effects of those trends or events were quantified and removed. The Company also considered anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals when developing this rate.

Plan Assets

The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	1	%	5	%
Pooled separate accounts(a):
Equity securities	4	%	5	%
Fixed income securities	4	%	4	%
Common collective trust funds(a):
Equity securities	47	%	56	%
Fixed income securities	40	%	30	%
Real estate	4	%	—	%
Total assets	100	%	100	%

(a) Pooled separate accounts (“PSAs”) and common collective trust funds (“CCTs”) are two of the most common types of alternative vehicles in which benefit plans invest. These investments are pooled funds that look like mutual funds, but they are not registered with the SEC. Often times, they will be invested in mutual funds, real estate trusts or other marketable securities, but the unit price generally will be different from the value of the underlying securities because the fund may also hold cash for liquidity purposes, and the fees imposed by the fund are deducted from the fund value rather than charged separately to investors. Some PSAs and CCTs have no restrictions as to their investment strategy and can invest in riskier investments, such as derivatives, hedge funds, private equity funds, or similar investments.

Absent regulatory or statutory limitations, the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the pooled separate accounts is 50% in each of fixed income securities and equity securities and the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the common collective trust funds is 30% in fixed income securities and 70% in equity securities. The plans only invest in fixed income and equity instruments for which there is a readily available public market. The Company develops its expected long-term rate of return assumptions based on the historical rates of returns for equity and fixed income securities of the type in which its plans invest.

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The fair value measurements of plan assets fell into the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	September 30, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total		Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	701	$	—	$	—	$	701	$	6,128	$	—	$	—	$	6,128
Pooled separate accounts:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		2,927		—		2,927		—		3,483		—		3,483
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e)	—		363		—		363		—		420		—		420
International equity funds(f)	—		1,758		—		1,758		—		1,665		—		1,665
Fixed income funds(g)	—		5,052		—		5,052		—		4,799		—		4,799
Common collective trusts funds:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		21,121		—		21,121		—		22,695		—		22,695
Small U.S. equity funds(e)	—		7,957		—		7,957		—		20,592		—		20,592
International equity funds(f)	—		25,452		—		25,452		—		19,923		—		19,923
Fixed income funds(g)	—		46,493		—		46,493		—		32,865		—		32,865
Real estate(h)	—		5,216		—		5,216		—		—		—		—
Total assets	$	701	$	116,339	$	—	$	117,040	$	6,128	$	106,442	$	—	$	112,570

(a) Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.

(b) Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.

(c) Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.

(d) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.

(e) This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.

(f) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.

(g) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). These investment options typically carry more risk than short-term fixed income investment options, but less overall risk than equities.

(h) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in real estate investment trusts or private equity pools that own real estate. These long-term investments are primarily in office buildings, industrial parks, apartments or retail complexes. These investment options typically carry more risk, including liquidity risk, than fixed income investment options.

The valuation of plan assets in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 2 securities primarily include equity and fixed income securities funds.

Benefit Payments

The following table reflects the benefits as of September 30, 2018 expected to be paid through 2027 from the Company's pension and other postretirement plans. Because its pension plans are primarily funded plans, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come primarily from the trusts established for these plans. Because the Company's other postretirement plans are unfunded, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come from its own assets.

	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
2018	$	4,592	$	37
2019	11,889		148
2020	11,687		146
2021	11,337		143
2022	11,160		139
2023-2027	50,628		611
Total	$	101,293	$	1,224

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The Company anticipates contributing $2.7 million and less than $0.1 million, as required by funding regulations or laws, to its pension plans and other postretirement plans, respectively, during the remainder of 2018.

Unrecognized Benefit Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period	$	54,235		$	35		$	46,494		$	(31	)
Amortization	(902		)	—			(699		)	—
Actuarial loss (gain)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Asset loss (gain)	2,695			—			(5,381		)	—
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period	$	46,241		$	(32	)	$	49,847		$	(6	)

The Company expects to recognize in net pension cost throughout the remainder of 2018 an actuarial loss of $0.3 million that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2018.

Risk Management

Through its defined benefit plans, the Company is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed below:

Asset volatility. The plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if plan assets under perform this yield, this will create a deficit. The pension plans hold a significant proportion of equities, which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long-term while contributing volatility and risk in the short-term. The Company monitors the level of investment risk but has no current plan to significantly modify the mixture of investments. The investment position is discussed more below.

Changes in bond yields. A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase plan liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an increase in the value of the plans’ bond holdings.

The investment position is managed and monitored by a committee of individuals from various departments. This group actively monitors how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the pension obligations. The group has not changed the processes used to manage its risks from previous periods. The group does not use derivatives to manage its risk. Investments are well diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. The majority of equities are in U.S. large and small cap companies with some global diversification into international entities. The plans are not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.

Remeasurement

The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.

15. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

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	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018(a)
	Gains Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities			Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	42,081		$	(1,848	)	$	(71,434	)	$	61		$	(31,140	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(58,892		)	33			5,415			985			(52,459		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			329			683			(956		)	56
Impact of currency translation	—			(5		)	—			—			(5		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(58,892		)	357			6,098			29			(52,408		)
Balance, end of period	$	(16,811	)	$	(1,491	)	$	(65,336	)	$	90		$	(83,548	)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017(a)
	Losses Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Gains on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(265,714	)	$	99		$	(64,243	)	$	—	$	(329,858	)
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction	204,577			(1,368		)	—			—		203,209
Comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	92,364			(137		)	(2,539		)	—		89,688
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			9			435			—		444
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	92,364			(128		)	(2,104		)	—		90,132
Balance, end of period	$	31,227		$	(1,397	)	$	(66,347	)	$	—	$	(36,517	)

(a) All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

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	Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017			Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
	(In thousands)
Realized loss on settlement of derivative      financial instruments classified as cash flow      hedges	$	(329	)	$	(9	)	Cost of sales
Realized gain on sale of securities	1,263			—			Interest income
Amortization of defined benefit pension      and other postretirement plan actuarial      losses:
Union employees pension plan(b)(d)	(36		)	(18		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(270		)	(212		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(596		)	(469		)	Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax	32			(708		)
Tax benefit	(88		)	264
Total reclassification for the period	$	(56	)	$	(444	)

(a) Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.

(b) The Company sponsors the Union Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.

(c) The Company sponsors the GK Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the SERP Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Directors’ Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors and the Retiree Life Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees (collectively, the “Legacy Gold Kist Plans”).

(d) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

Restrictions on Dividends

The U.S. Credit Facility, the 2015 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2017 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2027 restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.    

16. INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company sponsors a short-term incentive plan that provides the grant of either cash or share-based bonus awards payable upon achievement of specified performance goals (the “STIP”). Full-time, salaried exempt employees of the Company and its affiliates who are selected by the administering committee are eligible to participate in the STIP. At September 30, 2018, the Company has accrued $7.1 million related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded under the STIP during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. The Company assumed responsibility for the JFC LLC Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2014, as amended (the “JFC LTIP”) through its acquisition of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “GNP”) on January 6, 2017. The Company has accrued $2.2 million in costs related to the JFC LTIP at September 30, 2018. The Company assumed responsibility for the Moy Park Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2013, as amended (the “MPIP”) through its acquisition of Moy Park on September 8, 2017. The Company has accrued $0.5 million in costs related to the MPIP at September 30, 2018.

The Company also sponsors a performance-based, omnibus long-term incentive plan that provides for the grant of a broad range of long-term equity-based and cash-based awards to the Company’s officers and other employees, members of the Board of Directors and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the IRC, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At September 30, 2018, we have reserved approximately 4.4 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.

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The following awards were outstanding during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018:

Award Type	Benefit Plan	Awards Granted	Grant Date	Grant Date Fair Value per Award	Vesting Condition	Vesting Date	Awards Forfeited to Date		Settlement Method
RSU	LTIP	389,424	01/19/2017	18.38	Performance / Service	(a)	389,424	(a)	Stock
RSU	LTIP	410,000	02/14/2018	25.59	Service	01/01/2019	—		Stock
RSU	LTIP	161,215	03/01/2018	24.93	Service	(b)	7,646		Stock
RSU	LTIP	266,478	03/01/2018	24.93	Performance / Service	(c)	30,167		Stock
RSU	LTIP	11,144	05/10/2018	21.54	(d)	(d)	—		Stock

(a) Performance conditions associated with these awards were not satisfied. Therefore, 100% of the awards were forfeited during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018.

(b) These restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Expected compensation cost related to these units totals $4.0 million based on a closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss over the remaining vesting period.

(c) If performance conditions related to the Company's 2018 operating results are satisfied, these restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Expected compensation cost related to these units before considering the impact of individual participant forfeitures totals $6.6 million based on a closing stock price for the Company's common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss upon satisfaction of the performance conditions over the remaining vesting period.

(d) These restricted stock units were granted to the four non-employees who currently serve on the Company's Board of Directors. Each participating director's units will vest upon his departure from the Company's Board of Directors. Compensation cost was recognized in profit/loss upon the grant date.

Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost:
Cost of sales	$	124	$	32	$	293	$	219
Selling, general and administrative expense	3,502		475		8,966		2,235
Total	$	3,626	$	507	$	9,259	$	2,454
Income tax benefit	$	883	$	132	$	2,254	$	733

The Company’s RSU activity is included below:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
Outstanding at beginning of period	389		$	18.39	906		$	20.00
Granted	849		25.20		462		18.72
Vested	—		—		(486	)	17.73
Forfeited	(427	)	18.97		(251	)	25.36
Outstanding at end of period	811		$	25.22	631		$	18.68

No awards vested during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. The total fair value of awards vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 was $8.6 million.

At September 30, 2018, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $11.2 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.56 years.

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Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.

17.    RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

During 2017, the Company initiated a restructuring initiative to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities within its GNP operations located in Luverne, Minnesota and St. Cloud, Minnesota. Implementation of the initiative is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $7.0 million, and approximately $5.4 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. These activities were initiated in the first quarter of 2017 and are expected to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2020.

During 2018, the Company elected to close its 40 North Foods product incubator operation located in Boulder, Colorado. Implementation of this restructuring initiative is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $0.7 million, and approximately $0.6 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. These activities were initiated in the second quarter of 2018 and are expected to be substantially completed by the third quarter of 2019.

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with these restructuring initiatives by major type of cost:

	GNP		40 North Foods		Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred
	(In thousands)
Employee termination benefits	$	4,074	$	449	$	4,523
Inventory adjustments	472		—		472
Asset impairments	470		103		573
Other charges(a)	1,983		150		2,133
Total estimated cost	$	6,999	$	702	$	7,701

^(a)  Comprised of other costs directly related to the restructuring initiatives, including prepaid software impairment, St. Cloud, Minnesota office lease costs, Luverne, Minnesota plant closure costs, and Boulder, Colorado office lease costs.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized the following costs and incurred the following cash outlays related to these restructuring initiatives:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Expenses			Cash Outlay		Expenses			Cash Outlay
	(In thousands)
GNP initiative:
Employee termination benefits	$	(43	)	$	272	$	936		$	1,437
Inventory adjustments	—			—		(227		)	—
Asset impairments	311			—		781			—
Other charges	—			—		—			65
	268			272		1,490			1,502
40 North Foods initiative:
Employee termination benefits	—			38		449			443
Asset impairments	—			—		103			—
Other	(11		)	17		139			26
	(11		)	55		691			469
Total	$	257		$	327	$	2,181		$	1,971

These expenses are reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.

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The following table reconciles liabilities and reserves associated with this restructuring initiative from the beginning to the end of the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. Ending liability balances for employee termination benefits and other charges are reported in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The ending reserve balance for inventory adjustments is reported in the line item Inventories in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	GNP Initiative												40 North Foods Initiative
	Employee Termination Benefits			Inventory Adjustments			Other Charges			Total			Employee Termination Benefits			Other Charges			Total
	(In thousands)
Beginning liability or reserve	$	800		$	699		$	752		$	2,251		$	—		$	—		$	—
Restructuring charges	936			(227		)	76			785			449			139			588
Payments and disposals	(1,437		)	(472		)	(735		)	(2,644		)	(443		)	(26		)	(469		)
Ending liability or reserve	$	299		$	—		$	93		$	392		$	6		$	113		$	119

18.    PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT

Hurricane Maria became the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years when it came ashore on September 20, 2017. The Company suffered significant damage because of the storm. Pilgrim’s lost 2.1 million birds on the island, many of the Company’s contract growers lost their poultry houses, and the Company incurred damage at its processing plant, feed mill and hatchery. PPC does not expect that its operations on the island will be fully functional until the fourth quarter of 2018.

Estimated damages incurred by the Company through September 30, 2018 included property and casualty losses totaling $5.2 million and a business interruption claim totaling $14.8 million. Pilgrim’s expects to receive insurance proceeds related to these damages in the amount of $11.5 million and has recorded a receivable from its insurance provider for that amount. The amount of insurance recovery related to both the property and casualty losses and the business interruption claim are included in Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.

19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

General

The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Financial Instruments

The Company’s loan agreements generally obligate the Company to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental increased costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, some of the Company’s loan agreements contain a withholding tax provision that requires the Company to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law. These increased costs and withholding tax provisions continue for the entire term of the applicable transaction, and there is no limitation on the maximum additional amounts the Company could be obligated to pay under such provisions. Any failure to pay amounts due under such provisions generally would trigger an event of default, and, in a secured financing transaction, would entitle the lender to foreclose upon the collateral to realize the amount due.

Litigation

The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.

Tax Claims and Proceedings

A Mexico subsidiary of the Company is currently appealing an unfavorable tax adjustment proposed by Mexican Tax Authorities due to an examination of a specific transaction undertaken by the Mexico subsidiary during tax years 2009 and 2010. Amounts under appeal are $24.3 million and $16.1 million for tax years 2009 and 2010, respectively. No loss has been recorded for these amounts at this time.

Other Claims and Proceedings

Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, a series of purported federal class action lawsuits styled as In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:16-cv-08637 were brought against PPC and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. The class plaintiffs have filed three consolidated amended complaints: one on behalf of direct purchasers and two on behalf of distinct groups of indirect purchasers. The defendants, including PPC, filed motions to dismiss these actions. On November 20, 2017, the court denied all pending motions to dismiss with the exception of certain state-law claims by indirect purchasers that were dismissed or narrowed in scope. Discovery is proceeding and is currently scheduled to be complete by October 14, 2019. Between December 2017 and September 2018, eleven individual direct action complaints (Affiliated Foods, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:17-cv-08850; Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., No. 1:18-cv-00245; Sysco Corp. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00700; US Foods Inc. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00702; Action Meat Distributors, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-03471; Jetro Holdings, LLC, v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04000; Associated Grocers of the South, Inc., et al., v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-4616; The Kroger Co., et al., v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04534; Ahold Delhaize USA, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05351; Samuels as Trustee In Bankruptcy for Central Grocers, Inc. et al v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05341; W. Lee Flowers & Company, Inc. v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05345; and BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05877) were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by individual direct purchaser entities, the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. The Court’s scheduling order currently requires completion of fact discovery on October 14, 2019, class certification briefing and expert reports proceeding from November 12, 2019 to July 14, 2020 and summary judgment to proceed 60 days after the Court rules on motions for class certification. The Court has ordered the parties to coordinate scheduling of the direct action complaints with the class complaints with any necessary modifications to reflect time of filing. Discovery will be consolidated. In May 2018, an individual direct action complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 2:18-cv-02258), the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. On September 13, 2018, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to transfer this action to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois where the parties anticipate it will be coordinated with the remaining complaints.

On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of PPC’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against PPC and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PPC’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by PPC’s failure to disclose that (i) the Company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) PPC’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that PPC lacked effective internal control over financial reporting. The complaint also states that PPC’s industry was anticompetitive. On April 4, 2017, the Court appointed another stockholder, George James Fuller, as lead plaintiff. On May 11, 2017, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which extended the end date of the putative class period to November 17, 2017. PPC and the other defendants moved to dismiss on June 12, 2017, and the plaintiff filed its opposition on July 12, 2017. PPC and the other defendants filed their reply on August 1, 2017. On March 14, 2018, the Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and issued final judgment in favor of PPC and the other defendants. On April 11, 2018, the plaintiff moved for reconsideration of the Court’s decision and for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint. PPC and the other defendants filed a response to the plaintiff’s motion on April 25, 2018. The plaintiff's motion for reconsideration is currently pending.

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On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against PPC and four other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to reduce competition for grower services and depress the price paid to growers. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act and seek, among other relief, treble damages. The complaint was consolidated with a subsequently filed consolidated amended class action complaint styled as In re Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation, Case No. CIV-17-033-RJS (the “Grower Litigation”). The defendants (including PPC) jointly moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on September 9, 2017. The Court initially held oral argument on January 19, 2018, during which it considered and granted only motions from certain other defendants. challenging jurisdiction. Oral argument on the remaining pending motions in the Oklahoma court occurred on April 20, 2018. Rulings on the motion are pending. In addition, on March 12, 2018, the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”) enjoined plaintiffs from litigating the Grower Litigation complaint as pled against the Company because allegations in the consolidated complaint violate the confirmation order relating to the Company’s 2008-2009 bankruptcy proceedings. Specifically, the 2009 bankruptcy confirmation order bars any claims against the Company based on conduct occurring before December 28, 2009. On March 13, 2018, Pilgrim’s notified the trial court of the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction. To date, plaintiffs have not amended the consolidated complaint to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction order or the confirmation order.

On March 9, 2017, a stockholder derivative action styled as DiSalvio v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30207, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer, Fabio Sandri, in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent PPC and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On April 17, 2017, a related stockholder derivative action styled Brima v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30308, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The Brima complaint contains largely the same allegations as the DiSalvio complaint. On May 4, 2017, the plaintiffs in both the DiSalvio and Brima actions moved to (i) consolidate the two stockholder derivative cases, (ii) stay the consolidated action until the resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan putative securities class action, and (iii) appoint co-lead counsel. The Court granted the motion on May 8, 2017, staying the proceedings pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan action.

In January 2018, a stockholder derivative action entitled Raul v. Nogueira de Souza, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, as nominal defendant, as well as the Company’s directors, its Chief Financial Officer, and majority shareholder, JBS S.A. The complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) defendants permitted the Company to omit material information from its proxy statements filed in 2014 through 2017 related to the conduct of Wesley Mendonça Batista and Joesley Mendonça Batista, (ii) the individual defendants and JBS S.A. breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent the Company and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the Broiler Litigation and (iii) issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On May 17, 2018, the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to stay proceedings pending a final resolution of the Hogan class action litigation. The court-ordered deadline for the defendants to file an answer or otherwise respond to the complaint was originally set for July 30, 2018. This deadline was extended to August 31, 2018, at which time the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to voluntarily dismiss the complaint without prejudice. The Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion on September 4, 2018.

On January 25, 2018, a stockholder derivative action styled as Sciabacucchi v. JBS S.A., et al., was brought against all of PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., JBS USA Holding Lux S.à r.l. (“JBS Holding Lux”) and several members of the Batista family, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties arising out of the Company’s acquisition of Moy Park. On March 15, 2018, the members of the Batista family were dismissed from the action without prejudice by stipulation. On March 20, 2018, nominal defendant PPC filed its answer. On March 20, 2018, the remaining defendants, including PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., and JBS Holding Lux moved to dismiss the complaint. On April 19, 2018, director defendants Bell, Macaluso, and Cooper filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On April 19, 2018, defendants JBS S.A., JBS Holding Lux, and director defendants Lovette, Nogueira de Souza, Tomazoni, Farahat, Molina, and de Vasconcellos, Jr. filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On May 24, 2018, Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis filed a derivative complaint, which was virtually identical to the Sciabacucchi complaint. On July 2, 2018, the Court granted a stipulation consolidating the cases and making the first complaint (Sciabacucchi) the operative complaint. On July 3, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed the Special Committee defendants—Bell, Macaluso and Cooper. On July 9, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed de Vasconcellos, Jr. and filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss by the entity and non-Special Committee defendants, who filed their reply on August 9, 2018. The motion is set for oral argument on November 15,  2018.

The Company believes it has strong defenses in each of the above litigations and intends to contest them vigorously. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these litigations, the Company could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.

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J&F Investigation

                On May 3, 2017, certain officers of J&F Investimentos S.A. (“J&F,” and the companies controlled by J&F, the “J&F Group”), a company organized in Brazil and an indirect controlling shareholder of the Company, including a former senior executive and former board members of the Company, entered into plea bargain agreements (collectively, the “Plea Bargain Agreements”) with the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal) (the “MPF”), in connection with certain misconduct by J&F and individuals acting in their individual capacity as J&F executives. The details of such misconduct are set forth in separate annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements, and include admissions of payments to politicians and political parties in Brazil during a ten-year period in exchange for receiving, or attempting to receive, favorable treatment for certain J&F Group companies in Brazil.

Pursuant to the terms of the Plea Bargain Agreements, the General Prosecutor of the Republic (Procuradoria-Geral da República or the “PGR”) agreed to grant immunity to the individuals in exchange for such individuals agreeing, among other considerations, to: (1) pay fines totaling 225.0 million Brazilian reais; and (2) cooperate with the MPF, including providing supporting evidence of misconduct identified in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements.

                On June 5, 2017, J&F, for itself and in its role as the controlling shareholder of the J&F Group Companies, entered into a leniency agreement (the “Leniency Agreement”) with the MPF, whereby J&F assumed responsibility for the conduct that was described in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements. In connection with the Leniency Agreement, J&F has agreed to pay a fine of 10.3 billion Brazilian reais, adjusted for inflation, over a 25-year period. In exchange, the MPF agreed not to initiate or propose any criminal, civil or administrative actions against J&F, the J&F Group and the officers of J&F that ratify or adhere to the Leniency Agreement with respect to such conduct. On November 14, 2017 and June 4, 2018, J&F made equal payments of 50.0 million Brazilian reais, which were accepted by the MPF.

In August and September 2017, the Fifth Chamber of Coordination and Reviews of the MPF and the 10th Federal Court of the Federal District in Brasília, respectively, ratified the Leniency Agreement. Revocation or non-compliance with certain provisions of the Leniency Agreement by J&F may result in its termination.

In September 2017 and February 2018, the PGR requested that the Supreme Court of Brazil (Supremo Tribunal Federal or “STF”) terminate (rescisão) the Plea Bargain Agreements of four individuals, two of them are controlling shareholders of J&F and a former directors of J&F on grounds that they failed to disclose certain conduct to the authorities, as required by their Plea Bargain Agreements, including certain alleged support from a prosecutor (the “Prosecutor”) with the preparation of the Plea Bargain Agreements and the Leniency Agreement before they were presented to the MPF. The PGR’s termination requests as to all four individuals are currently pending judgment by the STF. In case STF decides to terminate the Plea Bargain Agreements, the Leniency Agreement would remain valid and in full effect. Although the Leniency Agreement sets forth that it could be terminated if there were a request for the nullification of the Plea Bargain Agreements, which was not the case of the PGR’s request, we cannot assure you that the Leniency Agreement would not be impacted by any other form of termination of the Plea Bargain Agreements, besides the nullification.

On February 15, 2018, CVM started an administrative proceeding alleging that certain current and former members of the board of directors of JBS S.A. were not in compliance with their duty of care in respect to monitoring the implementation of JBS S.A.'s risk management (hedge) internal policy. None of JBS S.A. or its subsidiaries (including the Company) is a defendant in this matter.

On June 25, 2018, the MPF announced criminal corruption charges against a controlling shareholder and a former executive of J&F with respect to the alleged support provided by the Prosecutor described above.

J&F is conducting an internal investigation in accordance with the terms of the Leniency Agreement, and has engaged outside advisors to assist in conducting this investigation, which is ongoing, and with which we are fully cooperating. JBS S.A. and the Company have engaged outside U.S. legal counsel to: (i) conduct an independent investigation in connection with matters disclosed in the Leniency Agreement and the Plea Bargain Agreements; and (ii) communicate with relevant U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice regarding the factual findings of that investigation. Additionally, JBS S.A. and the Company have taken, and are continuing to take, measures to enhance their compliance programs, including to prevent and detect bribery and corruption. We cannot predict when the J&F and JBS S.A. investigations will be completed or the results of such investigations, including whether any litigation will be brought against us or the outcome or impact of any resulting litigation. We will monitor the results of the investigations.  Any proceedings that require us to make substantial payments, affect our reputation or otherwise interfere with our business operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Separately, the controlling shareholders of J&F are both under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários or “CVM”) for possible violations of insider trading law involving shares of JBS S.A.

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and foreign exchange futures contracts prior to the announcement of the Plea Bargain Agreements. They are also facing criminal prosecution by the MPF based on similar allegations.

               Any further developments in these or other matters involving controlling shareholders, directors, or officers of J&F, or other parties affiliated with us, could subject JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company) to potential fines or penalties, may materially adversely affect the public perception or reputation of JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company) and could have a material adverse effect on JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company).

20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Pilgrim’s has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated companies.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Sales to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,035	$	4,221	$	10,043	$	13,618
JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC	—		7,271		7,096		23,787
JBS Chile Ltda	—		—		60		—
J&F Investimentos Ltd.	—		—		—		104
JBS Global (U.K.) Ltd.	—		—		—		19,217
Seara International Ltd.	—		2		—		2
Combo Mercado de Congelados	2		—		2		—
Total sales to related parties	$	4,037	$	11,494	$	17,201	$	56,728
Cost of goods purchased from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	29,094	$	31,161	$	90,921	$	83,444
Seara Meats B.V.	8,341		3,343		26,018		9,719
JBS Aves Ltda	40		—		1,123		—
JBS Toledo NV	—		149		290		190
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.	—		—		21		—
Total cost of goods purchased from related parties	$	37,475	$	34,653	$	118,373	$	93,353
Expenditures paid by related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	10,145	$	10,856	$	49,407	$	29,127
JBS S.A.	—		—		—		3,824
JBS Chile Ltda	2		—		5		—
Total expenditures paid by related parties	$	10,147	$	10,856	$	49,412	$	32,951
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	6,851	$	3,976
Seara Meats B.V.	—		—		—		4
JBS S.A.	—		—		164		5
Seara International Ltd.	—		—		31		80
Total expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	7,046	$	4,065

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	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts receivable from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	614	$	2,826
JBS Chile Ltda.	35		108
Seara International Ltd.	3		15
Seara Meats B.V.	—		2
Total accounts receivable from related parties	$	652	$	2,951
Accounts payable to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,039	$	440
Seara Meats B.V.	2,726		2,410
JBS Toledo NV	30		39
Total accounts payable to related parties	$	6,795	$	2,889

(a) The Company routinely executes transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA Food Company (“JBS USA”) and sell products to them. As of September 30, 2018, approximately $2.2 million of goods purchased from JBS USA were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(b) The Company has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate costs associated with JBS USA’s procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA will be reimbursed by JBS USA. This agreement expires on December 31, 2019.

21.    SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company operates in three reportable segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. The Company measures segment profit as operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S.

On September 8, 2017, the Company acquired Moy Park, one of the top food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers, from JBS S.A. in a common-control transaction. Moy Park's results from operations subsequent to the common-control date of September 30, 2015 comprise the U.K. and Europe segment.

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On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired GNP, a vertically integrated poultry business with locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. GNP's results from operations subsequent to the acquisition date are included in the U.S. segment.

Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,864,169	$	1,938,542	$	5,604,709	$	5,557,089
U.K. and Europe	526,722		514,325		1,634,125		1,473,854
Mexico	306,713		341,018		1,042,161		994,568
Total net sales	$	2,697,604	$	2,793,885	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	74,206		$	307,962		$	300,960		$	719,121
U.K. and Europe	23,470			18,569			68,545			51,874
Mexico	(12,355		)	45,692			102,512			146,241
Elimination	25			23			34			69
Total operating income	85,346			372,246			472,051			917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334			24,636			125,901			66,315
Interest income	(4,241		)	(2,128		)	(10,665		)	(3,600		)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(6,711		)	(888		)	(2,802		)	(2,500		)
Miscellaneous, net	653			(1,083		)	(1,781		)	(5,198		)
Income before income taxes	$	60,311		$	351,709		$	361,398		$	862,288

In addition to the net sales reported above, the U.S. segment also generated intersegment net sales of $23.6 million and $21.0 million in the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively, from transactions with the Mexico segment and intersegment net sales of $95.7 million and $66.7 million in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively, from transactions with the Mexico segment. These intersegment net sales were transacted at market prices.

Information on segments for goodwill and total assets are as follows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	804,068		834,346
Mexico	125,607		125,607
Total goodwill	$	971,611	$	1,001,889

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	4,573,467		$	4,444,918
U.K. and Europe	2,023,760			2,226,895
Mexico	982,809			934,511
Eliminations(a)	(1,603,598		)	(1,357,672		)
Total assets	$	5,976,438		$	6,248,652

(a) Eliminations for the period ended September 30, 2018 include the U.S. segment's eliminations of $302.7 million in intersegment receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.3 billion in intersegment receivables and investment with the U.K. and Europe segment. Eliminations for the period ended December 31, 2017 include the U.S. segments elimination of $302.8 million in intersegment

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receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.1 billion investment in the U.K. and Europe segment.

22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 31, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new $200.0 million share repurchase authorization for its common stock over the next twelve months. The Company plans to implement its stock repurchase program through various means, which may include but are not limit to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, the use of derivative instruments and/or accelerated share repurchase programs. The extent to which the Company repurchases its share and the timing of such repurchases will vary and depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by the Company's management team. The Company reserves the right to limit or terminate the repurchase program at any time without notice.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    

Description of the Company

We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. As of September 30, 2018, we had approximately 51,300 employees and the capacity to process approximately 45.3 million birds per work week for a total of approximately 13.1 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 5,200 contract growers supply poultry for our operations. As of September 30, 2018, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owned 78.5% of our outstanding common stock. See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information.

We operate on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in this quarterly report applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.

Executive Summary

We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $29.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. These operating results included gross profit of $169.7 million. During the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, we generated $121.3 million of cash from operations.

We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $255.3 million, or $1.03 per diluted common share, for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. These operating results included gross profit of $731.6 million. During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, we generated $425.3 million of cash from operations.

Our U.S. and Mexico segments use corn and soybean meal as the main ingredients for feed production, while our U.K. and Europe segment uses wheat as the main ingredient for feed production. The following table compares the highest and lowest prices reached on nearby futures for one bushel of corn, one ton of soybean meal and one metric ton of wheat during the current and previous years:

	Corn(a)				Soybean Meal(a)				Wheat(a)
	Highest Price		Lowest Price		Highest Price		Lowest Price		Highest Price		Lowest Price
2018:
Third Quarter	$	3.87	$	3.43	$	341.40	$	303.30	£	194.65	£	165.75
Second Quarter	4.27		3.66		391.70		329.90		156.75		142.40
First Quarter	4.01		3.63		394.10		319.60		139.20		134.70
2017:
Fourth Quarter	3.68		3.47		346.30		315.50		143.65		136.25
Third Quarter	4.15		3.46		346.20		296.50		154.00		137.25
Second Quarter	3.96		3.66		321.00		297.20		150.00		140.00
First Quarter	3.86		3.55		352.70		314.10		149.15		139.35

(a) We obtain corn and soybean meal prices from the Chicago Board of Trade, and we obtain wheat prices from the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange.

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We purchase derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs such as corn, soybean meal, wheat, soybean oil and natural gas. We will sometimes purchase a derivative instrument to minimize the impact of a commodity’s price volatility on our operating results. We will also purchase derivative financial instruments in an attempt to mitigate currency exchange rate exposure related to the financial statements of our Mexico segment that are denominated in Mexican pesos and our U.K. and Europe segment that are denominated in British pounds and euros.

For our Mexico segment, we do not designate derivative financial instruments that we purchase to mitigate commodity purchase or currency exchange rate exposures as cash flow hedges; therefore, we recognize changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings.

For our U.K. and Europe segment, we designate certain derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges; therefore, before the settlement date of the financial derivative instruments, we recognize changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the cash flow hedge in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) while we recognize changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion immediately in earnings. When the derivative financial instruments associated with the effective portion are settled, the amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is then reclassified to earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

During the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, we recognized net losses totaling $7.4 million and net gains totaling $6.9 million, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of our derivative financial instruments. During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, we recognized net losses totaling $25.0 million and net gains totaling $7.3 million, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of our derivative financial instruments.

Although changes in the market price paid for feed ingredients impact cash outlays at the time we purchase the ingredients, these changes do not immediately impact cost of sales. The cost of feed ingredients is recognized in cost of sales, on a first-in-first-out basis, at the same time that the sales of the chickens that consume the feed grains are recognized. Thus, there is a lag between the time cash is paid for feed ingredients and the time the cost of such feed ingredients is reported in cost of goods sold. For example, corn delivered to a feed mill and paid for one week might be used to manufacture feed the following week. However, the chickens that eat that feed might not be processed and sold for another 42 to 63 days, and only at that time will the costs of the feed consumed by the chicken become included in cost of goods sold.

Commodities such as corn, soybean meal and soybean oil are actively traded through various exchanges with future market prices quoted on a daily basis. These quoted market prices, although a good indicator of the commodity's base price, do not represent the final price for which we can purchase these commodities. There are several components in addition to the quoted market price, such as freight, storage and seller premiums, that are included in the final price that we pay for grain. Although changes in quoted market prices may be a good indicator of the commodity’s base price, the components mentioned above may have a significant impact on the total change in grain costs recognized from period to period.

Market prices for chicken products are currently at levels sufficient to offset the costs of feed ingredients. However, there can be no assurance that chicken prices will not decrease due to such factors as competition from other proteins and substitutions by consumers of non-protein foods because of uncertainty surrounding the general economy and unemployment.

Moy Park Acquisition

On September 8, 2017, we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Moy Park from JBS for cash of $301.3 million and a note payable to the seller in the amount of £562.5 million. Moy Park is one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers. With 4 fresh processing plants, 10 prepared foods cook plants, 3 feed mills, 6 hatcheries and 1 rendering facility currently operating in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands, Moy Park possesses the capacity to process approximately 6.1 million birds per seven-day work week, in addition to the capacity to produce approximately 460.0 million pounds of prepared foods per year. Its product portfolio comprises fresh and added-value poultry, ready-to-eat meals, breaded and multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts, supplied to major food retailers and restaurant chains in Europe (including the U.K.). Moy Park has approximately 10,400 employees as of September 30, 2018. The Moy Park operations comprise our U.K. and Europe segment. See “Note 2. Business Acquisition” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this report for additional information relating to this acquisition.

The acquisition was treated as a common-control transaction under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). A common-control transaction is a transfer of net assets or an exchange of equity interests between entities under the control of the same parent. The accounting and reporting for a transaction between entities under common control is not to

42

be considered a business combination under U.S. GAAP. Since there is no change in control over the net assets from the parent’s perspective, there is no change in basis in the assets or liabilities. Therefore, Pilgrim's, as the receiving entity, recognized the assets and liabilities received at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the parent’s financial statements. The difference between the proceeds transferred and the carrying amounts of the net assets on the date of the acquisition is recognized in equity.

2017 Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revises the ongoing U.S. corporate income tax law by lowering the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, implementing a territorial tax system, imposing one-time tax on foreign unremitted earnings and setting limitations on deductibility of certain costs (e.g., interest expense), among other things.

We are applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of September 30, 2018, we have not completed our accounting for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act. In certain cases, as described below, we have made a reasonable estimate of certain effects of the Tax Act. In other cases, we have not been able to make a reasonable estimate and continue to account for those items based on existing accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, and the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to enactment. For example, we have yet to make a reasonable estimate for the effect of the various federal income tax elements of the Tax Act on our state tax rate. In all cases, we will continue to make and refine our calculations as additional analysis is completed. Estimates may also be affected as we gain a more thorough understanding of the Tax Act. These changes could be material to income tax expense.

As of December 31, 2017, we estimated no tax liability on foreign unremitted earnings due to a net earnings and profits (“E&P”) deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, we did not accrue any amount of tax expense for the Tax Act’s one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated, unremitted earnings going back to 1986 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Upon further analysis of certain aspects of the Tax Act and a refinement of the historical calculation of E&P on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income, we made sufficient progress during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 in the E&P analysis of its foreign subsidiaries and recalculated significant overall positive E&P. Therefore, due to this recalculation, we estimate a $26.4 million tax liability for the one-time transition tax as of September 30, 2018. This one-time transition adjustment increased the effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 by approximately 7.0%. Additionally, this amount will be reported on our federal income tax return for the tax period ended December 31, 2017. As we gain a more thorough understanding of the tax law and further Tax Act guidance is released, we will continue to refine our E&P analysis and adjust our calculations of the one-time transition tax accordingly. Any adjustment may materially and adversely affect the measurement of this liability. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the one-time transition tax or any additional outside basis difference inherent in these foreign subsidiaries, as these amounts continue to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.

The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for GILTI, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, we are still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and have not yet determined the accounting policy that we will elect. As of September 30, 2018, we are estimating a $5.9 million federal GILTI tax liability, which is reflected in our estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Tax Act provides for a foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) deduction, which is available to domestic C corporations that derive income from the export of property and services. As of September 30, 2018, we estimated a federal FDII benefit of $0.2 million, which is reflected in our estimated annual effective tax rate. We will continue to refine our FDII calculations, which may result in changes to this estimated benefit.

Segment and Geographic Reporting

We operate in three reportable segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. We measure segment profit as operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S. For geographic reporting purposes, we include Puerto Rico within our U.S. segment and combine the U.K., France and the Netherlands operations into our U.K. and Europe segment. See “Note 21. Segment Reporting” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information.

43

Results of Operations

Thirteen Weeks EndedSeptember 30, 2018 Compared to Thirteen Weeks EndedSeptember 24, 2017

Net sales. Net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$96.3 million, or 3.4%, from net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. The following table provides net sales information:

Sources of net sales	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	1,864,169	$	(74,373	)	(3.8	)%
U.K. and Europe(b)	526,722		12,397			2.4	%
Mexico(c)	306,713		(34,305		)	(10.1	)%
Total net sales	$	2,697,604	$	(96,281	)	(3.4	)%

(a) U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$74.4 million, or 3.8%, from U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of a decrease in net sales per pound, partially offset by an increase in sales volume. The decrease in net sales per pound experienced by our U.S. segment contributed $177.3 million, or 9.1 percentage points, to the decrease in net sales. The decrease in net sales per pound was partially offset by an increase in sales volume experienced by our U.S. segment of $103.0 million, or 5.3 percentage points. Included in U.S. net sales generated during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were net sales to JBS USA Food Company totaling $4.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

(b) U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$12.4 million, or 2.4%, from U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of an increase in net sales per pound, partially offset by a decrease in sales volume and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. The increase in net sales per pound contributed $23.5 million, or 4.6 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. This increase in net sales per pound was partially offset by a decrease in sales volume of $9.4 million, or 1.8 percentage points, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation of $1.7 million, or 0.3 percentage points.

(c) Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$34.3 million, or 10.1%, from Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of a decrease in net sales per pound and the negative impact of foreign currency remeasurement, partially offset by an increase in sales volume. The decrease in net sales per pound and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement contributed $29.0 million, or 8.5 percentage points, and $19.7 million, or 5.8 percentage points, respectively, to the decrease in net sales. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in sales volume of $14.3 million, or 4.2 percentage points.

Gross profit. Gross profit decreased by $308.8 million, or 64.5%, from $478.6 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 to $169.7 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding gross profit and cost of sales information:

Components of gross profit	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Percent of Net Sales
								Thirteen Weeks Ended
			Amount			Percent		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	In thousands, except percent data
Net sales	$	2,697,604	$	(96,281	)	(3.4	)%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of sales(a)(b)(c)	2,527,863		212,562			9.2	%	93.7	%	82.9	%
Gross profit	$	169,741	$	(308,843	)	(64.5	)%	6.3	%	17.1	%

Sources of gross profit	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	131,366		$	(245,843	)	(65.2	)%
U.K. and Europe(b)	41,288			(5,663		)	(12.1	)%
Mexico(c)	(2,938		)	(57,339		)	(105.4	)%
Elimination	25			2			8.7	%
Total gross profit	$	169,741		$	(308,843	)	(64.5	)%

44

Sources of cost of sales	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	1,732,803		$	171,470		11.0	%
U.K. and Europe(b)	485,435			18,061			3.9	%
Mexico(c)	309,650			23,033			8.0	%
Elimination	(25		)	(2		)	8.7	%
Total cost of sales	$	2,527,863		$	212,562		9.2	%

(a) Cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$171.5 million, or 11.0%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. Cost of sales increased primarily because of increased production volume, a $48.4 million increase in feed costs resulting from increased grain prices and live pounds produced, a $25.3 million increase in freight and storage costs resulting from driver shortages, a $14.3 million increase in derivative costs, a $12.6 million increase in grower costs resulting from increased pay rates and utility payments and a $12.4 million increase in payroll costs due to annual wage increases. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(b) Cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$18.1 million, or 3.9%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. U.K. and Europe cost of sales increased primarily because of increased production volume, a $6.1 million increase in payroll costs, a $5.8 million increase in freight costs, a $1.8 million increase in storage costs, a $1.5 million increase in live costs and a $1.3 million increase in packaging costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(c) Cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$23.0 million, or 8.0%, from cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. Mexico cost of sales increased primarily because of a $22.9 million increase in grain costs, a $13.0 million increase in processing cost due to increased production volume and a $4.4 increase in processing cost due to packaging and electricity rate increases. These increased costs were partially offset by the $18.4 million favorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

Operating income. Operating income decreased by $286.9 million, or 77.1%, from $372.2 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 to $85.3 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding operating income and SG&A expense:

Components of operating income	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Percent of Net Sales
								Thirteen Weeks Ended
			Amount			Percent		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except percent data)
Gross profit	$	169,741	$	(308,843	)	(64.5	)%	6.3	%	17.1	%
SG&A expense(a)(b)(c)	84,138		(18,053		)	(17.7	)%	3.1	%	3.7	%
Administrative restructuring charges(d)(e)	257		(3,890		)	(93.8	)%	—	%	0.1	%
Operating income	$	85,346	$	(286,900	)	(77.1	)%	3.2	%	13.3	%

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Sources of operating income	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.	$	74,206		$	(233,756	)	(75.9	)%
U.K. and Europe	23,470			4,901			26.4	%
Mexico	(12,355		)	(58,047		)	(127.0	)%
Elimination	25			2			8.7	%
Total operating income	$	85,346		$	(286,900	)	(77.1	)%
Sources of SG&A expense	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	56,903		$	(9,890	)	(14.8	)%
U.K. and Europe(b)	17,818			(8,871		)	(33.2	)%
Mexico(c)	9,417			708			8.1	%
Total SG&A expense	$	84,138		$	(18,053	)	(17.7	)%
Sources of administrative restructuring charges	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(d)	$	257		$	(2,197	)	(89.5	)%
U.K. and Europe	—			(1,693		)	(100.0	)%
Mexico	—			—			—	%
Total administrative restructuring charges	$	257		$	(3,890	)	(93.8	)%

(a) SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$9.9 million, or 14.8%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017, primarily because of a $14.0 million decrease in expenses related to the acquisition of Moy Park, partially offset by a $2.3 million increase in legal expenses related to pending litigation. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$8.9 million, or 33.2%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment decreased primarily because of a $4.5 million decrease in freight expenses and a $3.9 million decrease in payroll expenses. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$0.7 million, or 8.1%, from SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment increased primarily because of a $0.6 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(d) Administrative restructuring charges incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018 included impairment costs of $0.3 million related to the closure of our Luverne, Minnesota processing plant.

Net interest expense. Net interest expense increased38.1% to $31.1 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018 from $22.5 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017. Average borrowings increased from $1.9 billion in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 to $2.4 billion in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018. The weighted average interest rate increased from 4.5% in the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2017 to 5.3% in the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2018.

Income taxes. Income tax expense decreased to $30.8 million, a 51.1% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $113.4 million, a 32.2% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction in pre-tax income as well as a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate because of the recently enacted Tax Act, partially offset by the recognition of the one-time transition tax of $26.4 million.

46

Thirty-Nine Weeks EndedSeptember 30, 2018 Compared to Thirty-Nine Weeks EndedSeptember 24, 2017

Net sales. Net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018increased$255.5 million, or 3.2%, from net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. The following table provides net sales information:

Sources of net sales	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount		Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	5,604,709	$	47,620	0.9	%
U.K. and Europe(b)	1,634,125		160,271		10.9	%
Mexico(c)	1,042,161		47,593		4.8	%
Total net sales	$	8,280,995	$	255,484	3.2	%

(a) U.S. net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$47.6 million, or 0.9%, from U.S. net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of an increase in sales volume, offset by a decrease in net sales per pound. The increase in sales volume by our U.S. segment contributed $290.6 million, or 5.2 percentage points. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in net sales per pound contributing $243.0 million, or 4.4 percentage points. Included in U.S. net sales generated during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were net sales to JBS USA Food Company totaling $10.0 million and $13.6 million, respectively.

(b) U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$160.3 million, or 10.9%, from U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, an increase in sales volume and an increase in net sales per pound. The favorable impact of foreign currency translation contributed $92.0 million, or 6.2 percentage points. The increase in sales volume contributed $28.9 million, or 2.0 percentage points and the increase in net sales per pound contributed $39.4 million, or 2.7 percentage points.

(c) Mexico net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$47.6 million, or 4.8%, from Mexico net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 primarily because of an increase in sales volume and net sales per pound, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement. Increased sales volume resulted in an increase in net sales of $46.6 million, or 4.7 percentage points, and the increase in net sales per pound contributed $5.7 million, or 0.6 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. These increases were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement of $4.7 million, or 0.5 percentage points.

Gross profit. Gross profit decreased by $478.2 million, or 39.5%, from $1.2 billion generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 to $731.6 million generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding gross profit and cost of sales information:

Components of gross profit	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Percent of Net Sales
								Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			Amount			Percent		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	In thousands, except percent data
Net sales	$	8,280,995	$	255,484		3.2	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of sales(a)(b)(c)	7,549,367		733,666			10.8	%	91.2	%	84.9	%
Gross profit	$	731,628	$	(478,182	)	(39.5	)%	8.8	%	15.1	%

Sources of gross profit	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	467,660	$	(432,602	)	(48.1	)%
U.K. and Europe(b)	133,131		(4,603		)	(3.3	)%
Mexico(c)	130,803		(40,942		)	(23.8	)%
Elimination	34		(35		)	(50.7	)%
Total gross profit	$	731,628	$	(478,182	)	(39.5	)%

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Sources of cost of sales	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018			Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
				Amount		Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	5,137,049		$	480,224	10.3	%
U.K. and Europe(b)	1,500,994			164,871		12.3	%
Mexico(c)	911,358			88,536		10.8	%
Elimination	(34		)	35		(50.7	)%
Total cost of sales	$	7,549,367		$	733,666	10.8	%

(a) Cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$480.2 million, or 10.3%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. Cost of sales increased primarily because of an increase in production pounds, a $148.0 million increase in feed costs resulting from increased grain prices and live pounds produced, a $76.8 million increase in freight and storage costs resulting from driver shortages and inclement weather, a $52.6 million increase in grower costs resulting from increased pay rates and utilities payments, a $32.3 million increase in derivative costs and a $30.7 million increase in payroll costs due to annual wage increases. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(b) Cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$164.9 million, or 12.3%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. U.K. and Europe cost of sales increased primarily because of increased net sales, an $80.2 million increase in raw material costs resulting from increased sales volume, a $34.0 million increase in payroll costs and a $19.8 million increase in freight costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(c) Cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$88.5 million, or 10.8%, from cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. Mexico cost of sales increased primarily because of a $47.7 million increase in processing cost due to increased production volume, a $17.5 million increase in processing cost due to packaging and electricity rate increases and a $15.7 million increase in grain costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

Operating income. Operating income decreased by $445.3 million, or 48.5%, from $917.3 million generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 to $472.1 million generated in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding operating income and SG&A expense:

Components of operating income	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2017					Percent of Net Sales
								Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			Amount			Percent		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except percent data)
Gross profit	$	731,628	$	(478,182	)	(39.5	)%	8.8	%	15.1	%
SG&A expense(a)(b)(c)	257,396		(26,613		)	(9.4	)%	3.1	%	3.5	%
Administrative restructuring charges(d)(e)	2,181		(6,315		)	(74.3	)%	—	%	0.1	%
Operating income	$	472,051	$	(445,254	)	(48.5	)%	5.7	%	11.5	%

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Sources of operating income	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.	$	300,960	$	(418,161	)	(58.1	)%
U.K. and Europe	68,545		16,671			32.1	%
Mexico	102,512		(43,729		)	(29.9	)%
Elimination	34		(35		)	(50.7	)%
Total operating income	$	472,051	$	(445,254	)	(48.5	)%
Sources of SG&A expense	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)	$	164,519	$	(9,821	)	(5.6	)%
U.K. and Europe(b)	64,586		(19,579		)	(23.3	)%
Mexico(c)	28,291		2,787			10.9	%
Total SG&A expense	$	257,396	$	(26,613	)	(9.4	)%
Sources of administrative restructuring charges	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
			Amount			Percent
	(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(d)	$	2,181	$	(4,622	)	(67.9	)%
U.K. and Europe	—		(1,693		)	(100.0	)%
Mexico	—		—			—	%
Total administrative restructuring charges	$	2,181	$	(6,315	)	(74.3	)%

(a) SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$9.8 million, or 5.6%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017, primarily because of a $13.7 million decrease in expenses related to the Moy Park acquisition and a $4.0 million decrease in benefits expenses, partially offset by an $8.0 million increase in consulting fees and legal expenses related to pending litigation. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018decreased$19.6 million, or 23.3%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment decreased primarily because of a $12.1 million decrease in freight expenses and a $7.6 million decrease in payroll expenses. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018increased$2.8 million, or 10.9%, from SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment increased primarily because of $1.3 million increase in employee relations expenses and a $1.0 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(d) Administrative restructuring charges incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 included $1.0 million in severance costs related to the GNP acquisition, $0.7 million in severance, asset impairment and lease obligations costs resulting from termination of 40 North Foods operations and $0.5 million of facility closure costs related to the Luverne, Minnesota facility.

Net interest expense. Net interest expense increased83.6% to $115.2 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 from $62.8 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. Average borrowings increased from $1.8 billion in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 to $2.6 billion in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. The weighted average interest rate increased from 4.5% in the thirty-nine weeks ended ended September 24, 2017 to 5.2% in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018.

Income taxes. Income tax expense decreased to $106.4 million, a 29.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $278.0 million, a 32.2% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction a reduction in pre-tax income as well as a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate because of the recently enacted Tax Act, partially offset by the recognition of the one-time transition tax of $26.4 million.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table presents our available sources of liquidity as of September 30, 2018:

Source of Liquidity	Facility Amount		Amount Outstanding		Amount Available
	(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents					$	401.3
Borrowing arrangements:
U.S. Credit Facility(a)	$	750.0	$	—	$	705.1
Mexico Credit Facility(b)	40.1		—		40.1
U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities(c)	141.9		1.5		140.4

(a) Availability under the U.S. Credit Facility (as described below) is also reduced by our outstanding standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2018 totaled $44.9 million.

(b) As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the Mexico Credit Facility (as described below) was $40.1 million.  The Mexico Credit Facility provides for a loan commitment of $750.0 million Mexican pesos.

(c) As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities (as described below) were $140.4 million. The U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities provide for loan commitments of £100.0 million (or $130.3 million U.S. dollar equivalent) and €20.0 million (or $11.6 million U.S. dollar equivalent).

Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements

U.S. Senior Notes

On March 11, 2015, we completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2025. On September 29, 2017, we completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes. The issuance price of this add-on offering was 102.0%, which created gross proceeds of $255.0 million. The additional $5.0 million will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. On March 7, 2018, we completed another add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in March 2015 and September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2025”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 99.25%, which created gross proceeds of $248.1 million. The $1.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2025 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2015 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

The Senior Notes due 2025 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among us, our guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2015 Indenture”). The 2015 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in March 2015 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in September 2017 and March 2018.

On September 29, 2017, we completed a sale of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% senior notes due 2027. On March 7, 2018, we completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2027”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 97.25%, which created gross proceeds of $243.1 million. The $6.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Senior Notes due 2027. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2027 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2017 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

The Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among us, our guarantor subsidiary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2017 Indenture”). The 2017 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2027 bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 30, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018.

The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 are each guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of our other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of us and our guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of our and our guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2025, the 2015 Indenture, the Senior Notes due 2027 and the 2017 Indenture also contain customary covenants

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and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 when due, among others.

We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 to repay in full the JBS S.A. Promissory Note issued as part of the Moy Park acquisition and for general corporate purposes. We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018 to pay the second tender price of Moy Park Notes (as described below), repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Moy Park Senior Notes

Between May 29, 2014 and April 17, 2015, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the sale of £300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2021 (the “Moy Park Senior Notes”). Between November 3, 2017 and March 8, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the purchase for cash of the Moy Park Senior Notes through a tender offer. As of March 8, 2018, £234.3 million principal amount of Moy Park Senior Notes had been validly tendered and purchased by Moy Park (Bondco) plc.

On May 29, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc redeemed all remaining Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding at the redemption price equal to 101.56% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The principal value of the Moy Park Senior Notes redeemed on May 29, 2018 was £65.7 million. As of September 30, 2018, there are no Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding.

U.S. Credit Facility

On July 20, 2018, we, and certain of our subsidiaries entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a $750.0 million revolving credit commitment and a term loan commitment of up to $500.0 million (the “Term Loans”). We used the proceeds from the term loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility, together with cash on hand, to repay the outstanding loans under our previous credit agreement with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto.

    The U.S. Credit Facility includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.25 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.

The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2023. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on July 20, 2023. Installments of principal are required to be made, in an amount equal to 1.25%of the original principal amount of the Term Loans, on a quarterly basis prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require us to use the proceeds we receive from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, we had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $705.1 million. We had letters of credit of $44.9 million and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan commitment as of September 30, 2018.

The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% through August 2, 2018 and, thereafter, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.25% through August 2, 2018 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.

The U.S. Credit Facility contains customary financial and other various covenants for transactions of this type, including restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends, make certain restricted payments, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with our affiliates, or merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, among other things. The U.S. Credit Facility requires us to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that we may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year. We are currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.

All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries and continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of us and our non-Mexico subsidiaries,

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(ii) 100% of the equity interests in our domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., and 65% of the equity interests in our direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of us and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility.

Mexico Credit Facility

On September 27, 2016, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $750.0 million Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2019. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility bear interest at a per annum rate of 9.07%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability under the Mexico Credit Facility were both $40.1 million. As of September 30, 2018, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility.

Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility Agreement

On June 2, 2018, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries entered into an unsecured multicurrency revolving facility agreement (the “Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement”) with the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, as agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement provides for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £100.0 million. The multicurrency revolving loan commitments under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement matures on June 2, 2023. Outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) LIBOR or, in relation to any loan in euros, EURIBOR, plus (ii) a margin, ranging from 1.25% to 2.00% based on Leverage (as defined in the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement). All obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement are guaranteed by certain of Moy Park's subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and borrowing availability were both $130.3 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement as of September 30, 2018.

The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains representations and warranties, covenants, indemnities and conditions that we believe are customary for transactions of this type. Pursuant to the terms of the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement, Moy Park is required to meet certain financial and other restrictive covenants. Additionally, Moy Park is prohibited from taking certain actions without consent of the lenders, including, without limitation, incurring additional indebtedness, entering into certain mergers or other business combination transactions, permitting liens or other encumbrances on its assets and making restricted payments, including dividends, in each case except as expressly permitted under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains events of default that we believe are customary for transactions of this type. If a default occurs, any outstanding obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement may be accelerated.

Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement

On March 19, 2015, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with Barclays Bank plc, which expired on March 19, 2018. The agreement provided for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £20.0 million.

Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement

Moy Park Ltd., entered into a £45.0 million receivables finance agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Receivables Finance Agreement”), with Barclays Bank plc. Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. repaid the Receivables Finance Agreement in full using available cash and proceeds from the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement and terminated the Receivables Finance Agreement with Barclays Bank plc on June 4, 2018.

Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Facility

In June 2009, Moy Park France Sàrl entered into a €20.0 million invoice discounting facility with GE De Facto (the “Invoice Discounting Facility”). The facility limit was decreased by 50 percent in June 2018. The Invoice Discounting Facility is payable on demand and the term is extended on an annual basis. The agreement can be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. Outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment, borrowing availability and outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility were $11.6 million, $10.1 million, and $1.5 million, respectively.

The Invoice Discounting Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain

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transactions with JBS and our other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.

Collateral

Substantially all of our domestic inventories and domestic fixed assets are pledged as collateral to secure the obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility. In addition, there is no collateral pledged on the other U.K. and Europe credit facilities.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We maintain operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value of assets at the end of the term of the lease. The terms of the lease maturities range from one to ten years. We estimate the maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is approximately $53.9 million; however, the actual amount would be offset by any recoverable amount based on the fair market value of the underlying leased assets. No liability has been recorded related to this contingency as the likelihood of payments under these guarantees is not considered to be probable, and the fair value of the guarantees is immaterial. We historically have not experienced significant payments under similar residual guarantees.

We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Historical Flow of Funds

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018

Cash provided by operating activities was $425.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. The cash flows provided by operating activities resulted primarily from net income of $255.0 million, net noncash expenses of $229.3 million, a change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $78.1 million, a change in inventories of $64.8 million and a change in other operating assets and liabilities of $1.6 million. These cash flows were offset by the use of $175.6 million in cash related to income taxes, the use of $15.4 million in cash related to prepaid expenses and other current assets, the use of $9.1 million in cash related to long-term pension and other postretirement obligations and the use of $3.4 million in cash related to trade accounts and other receivables.

The change in trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, represented a $3.4 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. This change is primarily due to customer payment timing.

The change in inventories represented a $64.8 million source of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. This change resulted primarily from a decrease in our finished products inventory.

The change in prepaid expenses and other current assets represented a $15.4 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. This change resulted primarily from a net increase in both commodity derivatives and value-added tax receivables.

The change in accounts payable, revenue contract liabilities, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including accounts payable to related parties, represented a $78.1 million source of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. This change resulted primarily from the timing of payments.

The change in income taxes, which includes income taxes receivable, income taxes payable, deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities reserves for uncertain tax positions, and the tax components within accumulated other comprehensive loss, represented a $175.6 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. This change resulted primarily from the timing of estimated tax payments.

Net noncash expenses provided $229.3 million in cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. Net noncash expense items included depreciation and amortization of $211.5 million, share-based compensation of $9.3 million, noncash loss on early extinguishment of debt of $6.0 million and foreign currency transaction loss related to borrowing arrangements of $4.2 million, which were partially offset by a deferred income tax benefit of $2.1 million.

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Cash used in investing activities totaled $229.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. Cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $231.9 million. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. Cash proceeds generated from property disposals for the period totaled $2.7 million.

Cash used by financing activities totaled $373.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018. Cash proceeds from long-term debt totaled $703.1 million and cash proceeds from equity contributions under a tax sharing agreement with JBS USA Food Company Holdings totaled $5.6 million. These sources of cash were offset by $1.1 billion in cash used for payments on revolving lines of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations and $11.1 million in cash used to pay capitalized loan costs.

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017

Cash provided by operating activities was $618.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. The cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily from net income of $584.2 million, net noncash expenses of $244.0 million, changes in income taxes of $149.1 million and deferred income tax expense of $25.8 million. These cash flows were offset by the use of $149.8 million in cash related to inventories, the use of $146.5 million in cash related to trade accounts and other receivables and the use of $36.1 million in cash related to accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

The change in trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, represented a $146.5 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. This change is primarily due to customer payment timing.

The change in inventories represented a $149.8 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. This change in cash related to inventories was primarily related to increases in work-in-process and finished products.

The change in prepaid expenses and other current assets represented a $15.4 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. This change resulted primarily from a net decrease in commodity derivatives.

The change in accounts payable, revenue contract liabilities, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including accounts payable to related parties, represented a $36.1 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. This change resulted primarily from the timing of payments.

The change in income taxes, which includes income taxes receivable, income taxes payable, deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities reserves for uncertain tax positions, and the tax components within accumulated other comprehensive loss, represented a $149.1 million source of cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. This change resulted primarily from the timing of estimated tax payments.

Net noncash expenses provided $244.0 million in cash related to operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. Net noncash expense items included depreciation and amortization of $204.6 million, cash proceeds of $25.8 million related to deferred income tax expense, cash proceeds of $6.8 million from foreign currency transactions related to borrowing arrangements and cash proceeds of $4.9 million and $2.5 million related to asset impairment and share-based compensation, respectively.

Cash used in investing activities totaled $914.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. Cash used to acquire GNP, net of cash acquired, totaled $658.5 million, and cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $258.4 million. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and tailor processes to meet specific customer needs in order to further solidify our competitive advantages. Cash proceeds from property disposals totaled $2.6 million.

Cash proceeds from financing activities totaled $389.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017. Cash proceeds from long-term debt totaled $1.0 billion and cash proceeds from equity contributions under a tax sharing agreement with JBS USA Food Company Holdings totaled $5.0 million. These sources of cash were partially offset by $609.7 million in cash used for payments on revolving lines of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations, and $14.6 million in cash used for the purchase of common stock under a share repurchase program.    

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Contractual Obligations

Contractual obligations at September 30, 2018 were as follows:

Contractual Obligations(a)	Total		Less than One Year		One to Three Years		Three to Five Years		Greater than Five Years
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt(b)	$	2,351,929	$	20,671	$	50,008	$	431,250	$	1,850,000
Interest(c)	929,376		125,502		247,928		244,977		310,969
Capital leases	5,368		3,669		1,687		12		—
Operating leases	235,458		55,855		84,808		55,821		38,974
Derivative liabilities	13,739		13,739		—		—		—
Purchase obligations(d)	413,088		412,995		93		—		—
Total	$	3,948,958	$	632,431	$	384,524	$	732,060	$	2,199,943

(a) The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2018 was $11.9 million. We did not include this amount in the contractual obligations table above as reasonable estimates cannot be made at this time of the amounts or timing of future cash outflows.

(b) Long-term debt is presented at face value and excludes $44.9 million in letters of credit outstanding related to normal business transactions.

(c) Interest expense in the table above assumes the continuation of interest rates and outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2018.

(d) Includes agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum, or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.

We expect cash flows from operations, combined with availability under our credit facilities, to provide sufficient liquidity to fund current obligations, projected working capital requirements, maturities of long-term debt and capital spending for at least the next twelve months.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted in 2018

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. We adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2018.

In March 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost, which requires the service cost component of net benefit cost to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. We adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2018.

Not Yet Adopted as of September 30, 2018

In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on lease arrangements, which requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. We will adopt this new guidance effective December 31, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements. We anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of the increase in assets and liabilities from recognition of operating leases. However, we do not believe the standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statement of Income.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. We will adopt this new guidance effective December 31, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In July 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to improve non-employee share-based payment accounting. The accounting standard update more closely aligns the accounting for employee and non-employee share based payments. We

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will adopt this new guidance effective December 31, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to fair value measurements. This accounting standard update removes certain disclosure requirements related to transfers between fair value hierarchy levels and the valuation processes used for certain fair value measurements. The update requires additional disclosures as to significant unobservable inputs used in certain fair value measurements and gains and losses included in other comprehensive income. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to defined benefit plans. The update removes disclosures related to the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year, adds narrative disclosure of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the defined benefit obligation, and clarifies the disclosures required for plans with projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information relating to these recent accounting pronouncements.

Critical Accounting Policies

During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, (i) updates to our critical accounting policies related to the adoption of ASC 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018 are included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition”, (ii) no existing accounting policies became critical accounting policies because of an increase in the materiality of associated transactions or changes in the circumstances to which associated judgments and estimates relate and (iii) other than the changes included in "Note 13. Revenue Recognition", there were no significant changes in the manner in which critical accounting policies were applied or in which related judgments and estimates were developed.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

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 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.

Commodity Prices

We purchase certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean meal 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. In the past, 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, (i) executing purchase agreements with suppliers for future physical delivery of feed ingredients at established prices and (ii) purchasing or selling derivative financial instruments such as futures and options.

For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% change in the weighted-average cost of our

primary feed ingredients as of September 30, 2018. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on our feed consumption during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, such a change would have resulted in a change to cost of sales of approximately $76.6 million, excluding the impact of any feed ingredients derivative financial instruments in that period. A 10.0% change in ending feed ingredient inventories at September 30, 2018 would be $12.2 million, excluding any potential impact on the production costs of our chicken inventories.

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 10.0% change in corn and soybean meal prices on September 30, 2018 would have resulted in a change of approximately $0.8 million in the fair value of our net commodity derivative asset position, including margin cash, as of that date.

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Interest Rates

Our variable-rate debt instruments represent approximately 21.3% of our total debt at September 30, 2018. Holding other variables constant, including levels of indebtedness, an increase in interest rates of 25 basis points would have increased our interest expense by $0.3 million for the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018.

Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical decrease in interest rates of 10.0%. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, a hypothetical10.0%decrease in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $10.7 million asofSeptember 30, 2018.

Foreign Currency

Our earnings are also affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to the Mexican peso net monetary position of our Mexico subsidiaries. We manage this exposure primarily by attempting to minimize our Mexican peso net monetary position. 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. We currently anticipate that the future cash flows of our Mexico subsidiaries will be reinvested in our Mexico segment.

The Mexican peso exchange rate can directly and indirectly impact our financial condition and results of operations in

several ways, including potential economic recession in Mexico because of devaluation of their currency. Foreign currency exchange losses, representing the change in the U.S. dollar value of the net monetary assets of our Mexican subsidiaries denominated in Mexican pesos, were a net gain of $6.8 million and $1.2 million in the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. Foreign currency exchange losses, representing the change in the U.S. dollar value of the net monetary assets of our Mexican subsidiaries denominated in Mexican pesos, were a gain of $3.1 million and $2.4 million in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. The average exchange rates for the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were 18.95 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar and 17.81 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar, respectively. For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% deterioration in the current exchange rate used to convert Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars as of September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on the net monetary asset position of our Mexico segment at September 30, 2018, such a change would have resulted in a decrease in foreign currency transaction gains recognized in the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 of approximately $5.9 million. Based on the net monetary asset position of our Mexico segment at September 24, 2017, such a change would have resulted in a decrease in foreign currency transaction gains recognized in the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 of approximately $2.0 million. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in the Mexican peso could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, we are exposed to foreign exchange-related variability of investments and earnings from our foreign investments in Europe (including the U.K.). 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. At September 30, 2018, our U.K. and Europe segment had net assets of approximately $2.0 billion, denominated in British pounds, after consideration of our derivative and nonderivative financial instruments. Based on our sensitivity analysis, a 10.0% adverse change in exchange rates would cause a reduction of $202.4 million to our net assets.  

At September 30, 2018, we had foreign currency forward contracts, which were designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, with an aggregate notional amount of $18.3 million to hedge a portion of our investments in Europe (including the U.K.). On the basis of our sensitivity analysis, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound by 10.0% would result in a $1.9 million negative change in our cash flows on settlement while a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the euro by 10.0% would result in a less than $0.1 million negative change in our cash flows on settlement. 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.

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Impact of Inflation

Due to low to moderate inflation in the U.S., Europe (including the U.K.) and Mexico and our rapid inventory turnover rate, the results of operations have not been significantly affected by inflation during the past three-year period.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain written and oral statements made by our Company and subsidiaries of our Company may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes statements made herein, in our other filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in certain other oral and written presentations. Statements of our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future, denoted by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “imply,” “intend,” “should,” “foresee” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the following:

• Matters affecting the chicken industry generally, including fluctuations in the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken;

• Our ability to obtain and maintain commercially reasonable terms with vendors and service providers;

• Our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations;

• Our ability to retain management and other key individuals;

• Outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in our own flocks or elsewhere, affecting our ability to conduct our operations and/or demand for our poultry products;

• Contamination of our products, which has previously and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls;

• Exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate;

• Changes in laws or regulations, including the Tax Act, affecting our operations or the application thereof;

• Our ability to ensure that our directors, officers, employees, agents, third-party intermediaries and the companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations will comply with anti-corruption laws or other laws governing the conduct of business with government entities;

• New immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause our costs of business to increase, cause us to change the way in which we do business or otherwise disrupt our operations;

• Competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of our largest customers;

• Inability to consummate, or effectively integrate, any acquisition, including the acquisition of Moy Park, or to realize the associated anticipated cost savings and operating synergies;

• Currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign segments;

• Restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, the leverage of Pilgrim's Pride;

• Disruptions in international markets and distribution channels;

• Our ability to maintain favorable labor relations with our employees and our compliance with labor laws;

• Extreme weather or natural disasters;

• The impact of uncertainties in litigation; and

• Other risks described herein and under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC.

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Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of these factors, among others, many of which are beyond our control.

In making these statements, we are not undertaking, and specifically decline to undertake, any obligation to address or update each or any factor in future filings or communications regarding our business or results, and we are not undertaking to address how any of these factors may have caused changes to information contained in previous filings or communications. Although we have attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, we must caution investors and others that other factors may in the future prove to be important and affect our business or results of operations.

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by our Company in the reports that it files with the SEC is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of September 30, 2018, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information we are required to disclose in our reports filed with the SEC is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In connection with the evaluation described above, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, identified no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Tax Claims and Proceedings

A Mexico subsidiary of the Company is currently appealing an unfavorable tax adjustment proposed by Mexican Tax Authorities due to an examination of a specific transaction undertaken by the Mexico subsidiary during tax years 2009 and 2010. Amounts under appeal are $24.3 million and $16.1 million for tax years 2009 and 2010, respectively. No loss has been recorded for these amounts at this time.

Other Claims and Proceedings

Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, a series of purported federal class action lawsuits styled as In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:16-cv-08637 were brought against PPC and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. The class plaintiffs have filed three consolidated amended complaints: one on behalf of direct purchasers and two on behalf of distinct groups of indirect purchasers. The defendants, including PPC, filed motions to dismiss these actions. On November 20, 2017, the Court denied all pending motions to dismiss with the exception of certain state-law claims by indirect purchasers that were dismissed or narrowed in scope. Discovery is proceeding and is currently scheduled to be complete by October 14, 2019. Between December 2017 and September 2018, eleven individual direct action complaints (Affiliated Foods, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:17-cv-08850; Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., No. 1:18-cv-00245; Sysco Corp. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00700; US Foods Inc. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00702; Action Meat Distributors, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-03471; Jetro Holdings, LLC, v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04000; Associated Grocers of the South, Inc., et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-4616; and The Kroger Co., et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04535; Ahold Delhaize USA, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05351; Samuels as Trustee In Bankruptcy for Central Grocers, Inc. et al v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05341; W. Lee Flowers & Company, Inc. v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05345; and BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05877) were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by individual direct purchaser entities, the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. The Court’s scheduling order currently requires completion of fact discovery on June 13, 2019, class certification briefing and expert reports proceeding from November 12, 2019 to July 14, 2020 and summary judgment to proceed 60 days after the Court rules on motions for class certification. The Court has ordered the parties to coordinate scheduling of the direct action complaints with the class complaints with any necessary modifications to reflect time of filing. Discovery will be consolidated. In May 2018, an individual direct action complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 2:18-cv-02258), the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. On September 13, 2018, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to transfer this action to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois where the parties anticipate it will be coordinated with the remaining complaints.

On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of PPC’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against PPC and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PPC’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by PPC’s failure to disclose that (i) the Company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) PPC’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that PPC lacked effective internal control over financial reporting. The complaint also states that PPC’s industry was anticompetitive. On April 4, 2017, the Court appointed another stockholder, George James Fuller, as lead plaintiff. On May 11, 2017, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which extended the end date of the putative class period to November 17, 2017. PPC and the other defendants moved to dismiss on June 12, 2017, and the plaintiff filed its opposition on July 12, 2017. PPC and the other defendants filed their reply on August 1, 2017. On March 14, 2018, the Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and issued final judgment in favor of PPC and the other defendants. On April 11, 2018, the plaintiff moved for reconsideration of the Court’s decision and for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint. PPC and the other defendants filed a response to the plaintiff’s motion on April 25, 2018. The plaintiff's motion for reconsideration is currently pending.

On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against PPC and four other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to reduce competition for grower

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services and depress the price paid to growers. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act and seek, among other relief, treble damages. The complaint was consolidated with a subsequently filed consolidated amended class action complaint styled as In re Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation, Case No. CIV-17-033-RJS (the “Grower Litigation”). The defendants (including PPC) jointly moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on September 9, 2017. The Court initially held oral argument on January 19, 2018, during which it considered and granted only certain other defendants’ motions challenging jurisdiction. Oral argument on the remaining pending motions in the Oklahoma court occurred on April 20, 2018. Rulings on the motion are pending. In addition, on March 12, 2018, the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”) enjoined Plaintiffs from litigating the Grower Litigation complaint as pled against the Company because allegations in the consolidated complaint violate the confirmation order relating to the Company’s 2008-2009 bankruptcy proceedings. Specifically, the 2009 bankruptcy confirmation order bars any claims against the Company based on conduct occurring before December 28, 2009. On March 13, 2018, Pilgrim’s notified the trial court of the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction. To date, plaintiffs have not amended the consolidated complaint to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction order or the confirmation order.

On March 9, 2017, a stockholder derivative action styled as DiSalvio v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30207, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer, Fabio Sandri, in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent PPC and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On April 17, 2017, a related stockholder derivative action styled Brima v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30308, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The Brima complaint contains largely the same allegations as the DiSalvio complaint. On May 4, 2017, the plaintiffs in both the DiSalvio and Brima actions moved to (i) consolidate the two stockholder derivative cases, (ii) stay the consolidated action until the resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan putative securities class action, and (iii) appoint co-lead counsel. The Court granted the motion on May 8, 2017, staying the proceedings pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan action.

In January 2018, a stockholder derivative action entitled Raul v. Nogueira de Souza, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, as nominal defendant, as well as the Company’s directors, its Chief Financial Officer, and majority shareholder, JBS S.A. The complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) defendants permitted the Company to omit material information from its proxy statements filed in 2014 through 2017 related to the conduct of Wesley Mendonça Batista and Joesley Mendonça Batista, (ii) the individual defendants and JBS S.A. breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent the Company and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the Broiler Litigation and (iii) issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On May 17, 2018, the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to stay proceedings pending a final resolution of the Hogan class action litigation. The court-ordered deadline for the defendants to file an answer or otherwise respond to the complaint was originally set for July 30, 2018. This deadline was extended to August 31, 2018, at which time the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to voluntarily dismiss the complaint without prejudice. The Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion on September 4, 2018.

On January 25, 2018, a stockholder derivative action styled as Sciabacucchi v. JBS S.A., et al., was brought against all of PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., JBS USA Holding Lux S.à r.l. (“JBS Holding Lux”) and several members of the Batista family, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties arising out of the Company’s acquisition of Moy Park. On March 15, 2018, the members of the Batista family were dismissed from the action without prejudice by stipulation. On March 20, 2018, nominal defendant PPC filed its answer. On March 20, 2018, the remaining defendants, including PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., and JBS Holding Lux moved to dismiss the complaint. On April 19, 2018, director defendants Bell, Macaluso, and Cooper filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On April 19, 2018, defendants JBS S.A., JBS Holding Lux, and director defendants Lovette, Nogueira de Souza, Tomazoni, Farahat, Molina, and de Vasconcellos, Jr. filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On May 24, 2018, Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis filed a derivative complaint, which was virtually identical to the Sciabacucchi complaint. On July 2, 2018, the Court granted a stipulation consolidating the cases and making the first complaint (Sciabacucchi) the operative complaint. On July 3, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed the Special Committee defendants—Bell, Macaluso and Cooper. On July 9, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed de Vasconcellos, Jr. and filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss by the entity and non-Special Committee defendants, who filed their reply on August 9, 2018. The motion is set for oral argument on November 15, 2018.

We believe we have strong defenses in each of the above litigations and intend to contest them vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these ligations, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

We are also subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, we have made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is

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uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this quarterly report, you should carefully consider the risks discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, including under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which, along with risks disclosed in this report, are risks we believe could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. These risks are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results.

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ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS 

2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 27, 2000 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2 of WLR Foods, Inc.’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 000-17060) dated September 28, 2000).
2.2	Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 3, 2006, by and among the Company, Protein Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Gold Kist Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.(D)(1) to Amendment No. 11 to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (No. 005-81998) filed on December 5, 2006).
2.3	Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated September 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed September 18, 2009).
2.4	Amendment No.1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated December 28, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A (No. 001-09273) filed January 22, 2010).
2.5	Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2017, among JBS S.A., Granite Holdings S.à r.l., Onix Investments UK Limited and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on September 11, 2017).
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-A (No. 001-09273) filed on December 27, 2012).
3.2	Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on November 8, 2017).
4.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (included as Exhibit 3.1).
4.2	Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of the Company, as amended (included as Exhibit 3.2).
4.3	Stockholders Agreement dated December 28, 2009 between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A (No. 001-09273) filed on December 27, 2012).
4.4	Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 29, 2009).
4.5	Indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, Form of Senior 5.750% Note due 2025, and Form of Guarantee attached (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on March 11, 2015).
4.6	Indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc., Gold’n Plump Poultry, LLC, Gold’n Plump Farms, LLC, JFC LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on October 3, 2017).
4.7	Form of Senior 5.750% Note due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.5).
4.8	Form of Senior 5.875% Note due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.6).
10.1	Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2018, by and among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, certain of its subsidiaries, CoBank ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on July 24, 2018).
12	Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017.*
31.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2	Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
32.2	Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

* Filed herewith.

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** Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
Date: October 31, 2018	/s/ Fabio Sandri
	Fabio Sandri
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

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EX-12

EXHIBIT 12

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RATIO EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Earnings:
Income before income taxes	$	361,398	$	862,288
Add: Total fixed charges (see below)	146,484		81,091
Less: Interest capitalized	3,500		5,345
Total earnings	$	504,382	$	938,034
Fixed charges:
Interest(a)	$	129,401	$	71,660
Portion of noncancelable lease expense representative of interest factor(b)	17,083		9,431
Total fixed charges	$	146,484	$	81,091
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	3.44		11.57

(a)    Interest includes amortization of capitalized financing fees.

(b)    One-third of noncancelable lease expense is assumed to be representative of the interest factor.

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION BY PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, William W. Lovette, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 31, 2018	/s/ William W. Lovette
	William W. Lovette
	Principal Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION BY PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Fabio Sandri, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 31, 2018	/s/ Fabio Sandri
	Fabio Sandri
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. § 1350 ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:

The quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 (the “Form 10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 31, 2018	/s/ William W. Lovette
	William W. Lovette
	Principal Executive Officer

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. § 1350 ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:

The quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 (the “Form 10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 31, 2018	/s/ Fabio Sandri
	Fabio Sandri
	Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	PILGRIMS PRIDE CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000802481
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		248,980,659

XML

CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 401,306	$ 581,510
Restricted cash	14,534	8,021
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	559,559	565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties	652	2,951
Inventories	1,182,962	1,255,070
Income taxes receivable	4,568	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	116,536	102,550
Assets held for sale	2,616	708
Total current assets	2,282,733	2,516,288
Deferred tax assets	3,167	0
Other long-lived assets	17,162	18,165
Identified intangible assets, net	581,119	617,163
Goodwill	971,611	1,001,889
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,120,646	2,095,147
Total assets	5,976,438	6,248,652
Accounts payable	817,927	733,027
Accounts payable to related parties	6,795	2,889
Revenue contract liability	28,873	36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146	410,152
Income taxes payable	42,369	222,073
Current maturities of long-term debt	24,026	47,775
Total current liabilities	1,323,136	1,452,523
Long-term debt, less current maturities	2,302,194	2,635,617
Noncurrent income taxes payable	7,731	0
Deferred tax liabilities	205,604	208,492
Other long-term liabilities	70,230	96,359
Total liabilities	3,908,895	4,392,991
Common stock	2,604	2,602
Treasury stock	(231,758)	(231,758)
Additional paid-in capital	1,941,766	1,932,509
Retained earnings	429,212	173,943
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(83,548)	(31,140)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,058,276	1,846,156
Noncontrolling interest	9,267	9,505
Total stockholders’ equity	2,067,543	1,855,661
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 5,976,438	$ 6,248,652

XML

CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,697,604	$ 2,793,885	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
Cost of sales	2,527,863	2,315,301	7,549,367	6,815,701
Gross profit	169,741	478,584	731,628	1,209,810
Selling, general and administrative expense	84,138	102,191	257,396	284,009
Administrative restructuring charges	257	4,147	2,181	8,496
Operating income	85,346	372,246	472,051	917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334	24,636	125,901	66,315
Interest income	(4,241)	(2,128)	(10,665)	(3,600)
Foreign currency transaction gain	(6,711)	(888)	(2,802)	(2,500)
Miscellaneous, net	653	(1,083)	(1,781)	(5,198)
Income before income taxes	60,311	351,709	361,398	862,288
Income tax expense	30,848	113,396	106,367	278,046
Net income	29,463	238,313	255,031	584,242
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	6,093	0	23,486
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	153	(460)	(238)	514
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 29,310	$ 232,680	$ 255,269	$ 560,242
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,981	248,753	248,933	248,732
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	198	235	143	230
Diluted (in shares)	249,179	248,988	249,076	248,962
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.94	$ 1.03	$ 2.25
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.93	$ 1.03	$ 2.25

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 29,463	$ 238,313	$ 255,031	$ 584,242
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Gains (losses) arising during the period	(20,385)	22,378	(60,516)	89,153
Income tax effect	0	3,211	1,624	3,211
Derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges
Gains (losses) arising during the period	131	(779)	28	(137)
Reclassification to net earnings for losses realized	143	0	329	9
Available-for-sale securities
Gains arising during the period	70	0	1,302	0
Income tax effect	(17)	0	(317)	0
Reclassification to net earnings for gains realized	(364)	0	(1,263)	0
Income tax effect	89	0	307	0
Defined benefit plans
Gains (losses) arising during the period	566	393	7,158	(4,078)
Income tax effect	(138)	(148)	(1,743)	1,539
Reclassification to net earnings of losses realized	301	233	902	699
Income tax effect	(73)	(88)	(219)	(264)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(19,677)	25,200	(52,408)	90,132
Comprehensive income	9,786	263,513	202,623	674,374
Less: Comprehensive income for Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	460	0	88,050
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	153	(460)	(238)	514
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 9,633	$ 263,513	$ 202,861	$ 585,810

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Common Stock	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Treasury Stock	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Additional Paid-in Capital	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Noncontrolling Interest	Granite Holdings Sarl	Granite Holdings Sarl Common Stock	Granite Holdings Sarl Treasury Stock	Granite Holdings Sarl Additional Paid-in Capital	Granite Holdings Sarl Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Granite Holdings Sarl Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Granite Holdings Sarl Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2016		272,682	10,636						259,682	10,636						13,000	0
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 25, 2016	$ 2,086,132	$ 307,288	$ (217,117)	$ 3,100,332	$ (782,785)	$ (329,858)	$ 8,272	$ 896,747	$ 2,597	$ (217,117)	$ 1,686,742	$ (520,635)	$ (64,243)	$ 9,403	$ 1,189,385	$ 304,691	$ 0	$ 1,413,590	$ (262,150)	$ (265,615)	$ (1,131)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	584,242
Net income including NCI and acquiree prior to acquisition	584,242				583,728		514
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	90,132					90,132
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		486
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 5		(5)
Requisite service period recognition	2,454			2,454
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(780)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(14,641)		$ (14,641)
Deemed equity contribution resulting from the transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	237,195			237,195
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction (in shares)		(13,000)
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	(1,275,278)	$ (304,691)		(1,413,590)	238,663	203,209	1,131
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 24, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, end of period at Sep. 24, 2017	1,710,236	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	1,926,386	39,606	(36,517)	9,917
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	1,855,661	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	1,932,509	173,943	(31,140)	9,505
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	255,031				255,269		(238)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(52,408)					(52,408)
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		228
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 2		(2)
Requisite service period recognition	9,259			9,259
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		260,396	11,416
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 2,067,543	$ 2,604	$ (231,758)	$ 1,941,766	$ 429,212	$ (83,548)	$ 9,267

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 255,031	$ 584,242
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	211,450	204,625
Noncash loss on early extinguishment of debt	6,037	0
Foreign currency transaction loss related to borrowing arrangements	4,221	6,830
Amortization of premium related to Senior Notes	(501)	0
Accretion of discount related to Senior Notes	567	0
Asset impairment	884	4,947
Gain on property disposals	(452)	(540)
Gain on equity-method investments	(48)	(44)
Share-based compensation	9,259	2,454
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(2,147)	25,768
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	(3,437)	(146,477)
Inventories	64,787	(149,806)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(15,428)	(15,377)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	78,107	(36,105)
Income taxes	(175,569)	149,063
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(9,087)	(9,660)
Other operating assets and liabilities	1,606	(1,429)
Cash provided by operating activities	425,280	618,491
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(231,875)	(258,364)
Purchase of acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(658,520)
Proceeds from property disposals	2,707	2,585
Cash used in investing activities	(229,168)	(914,299)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings	703,090	1,013,662
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(1,071,441)	(609,678)
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	5,558	5,038
Payment of capitalized loan costs	(11,081)	(4,550)
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program	0	(14,641)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(373,874)	389,831
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	4,071	15,084
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(173,691)	109,107
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	589,531	297,523
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 415,840	$ 406,630

XML

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms) is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Pilgrim’s products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the countries listed above. Additionally, the Company exports chicken products to approximately 100 countries. Pilgrim’s fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole chickens, whole cut-up chickens and selected chicken parts that are either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s prepared chicken products include fully cooked, ready-to-cook and individually frozen chicken parts, strips, nuggets and patties, some of which are either breaded or non-breaded and either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s other products include ready-to-eat meals, multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts. As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production of our products. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 14 U.S. states, the U.K., Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. As of September 30, 2018, Pilgrim’s had approximately 51,300 employees and the capacity to process approximately 45.3 million birds per work week for a total of more than 13.1 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 5,200 contract growers supply poultry for the Company’s operations. As of September 30, 2018, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owned 78.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated and Combined financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 30, 2018. For further information, refer to the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.

On September 8, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Granite Holdings Sàrl and its subsidiaries (together, “Moy Park”) from JBS in a common-control transaction. Moy Park was acquired by JBS from an unrelated third party on September 30, 2015. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries combined with the accounts of Moy Park. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Moy Park. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP using management’s best estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of the contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The estimates and judgments will also affect the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments. Significant estimates made by the Company include the allowance for doubtful accounts, allowances for product claims and sales deductions, reserves related to inventory obsolescence or valuation, useful lives of long-lived assets, goodwill, valuation of deferred tax assets, insurance accruals, valuation of pension and other postretirement benefits obligations, income tax accruals, certain derivative positions and valuations of acquired businesses.

The functional currency of the Company's U.S. and Mexico operations and certain holding-company subsidiaries in Luxembourg, the U.K. and Ireland is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of its U.K. operations is the British pound. The functional currency of the Company's operations in France and the Netherlands is the euro. For foreign currency-denominated entities other than the Company's Mexico operations, translation from local currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for most assets and liabilities using the exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from translation of these financial records are reflected as a separate component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the Company's Mexico operations, remeasurement from the Mexican peso to U.S. dollars is performed for monetary assets and liabilities using the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet date. Remeasurement is performed for non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Net adjustments resulting from remeasurement of these financial records are reflected in Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

During 2017, the Company reported an adjustment resulting from the translation of a British pound-denominated note payable owed to JBS as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company designated this note payable as a hedge of its net investment in Moy Park. This adjustment remains in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018 and will be reclassified if the Company disposes of its investment in Moy Park.

The Company or its subsidiaries may use derivatives for the purpose of mitigating exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are reported in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

We made the following reclassification to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 in order to conform to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of September 30, 2018:

	December 31, 2017
	As Presented in 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K		Adjustment Resulting from Adoption of FASB Guidance			As Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable	$	762,444	$	(29,417	)	$	733,027
Accrued expense and other current liabilities	417,342		(7,190		)	410,152
Revenue contract liability	—		36,607			36,607

Book Overdraft

The majority of the Company’s disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

Restricted Cash

The Company is required to maintain cash balances with a broker as collateral for exchange traded futures contracts. These balances are classified as restricted cash as they are not available for use by the Company to fund daily operations. The balance of restricted cash may also include investments in U.S. Treasury Bills that qualify as cash equivalents, as required by the broker, to offset the obligation to return cash collateral.

The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	401,306	$	581,510
Restricted cash	14,534		8,021
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows	$	415,840	$	589,531

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, using the cumulative effect adjustment, often referred to as modified retrospective approach. Under this method, we did not restate the prior financial statements presented, and would record any adjustments in the opening balance sheet for January 2018. There was no cumulative effect to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information was not restated and continues to be presented under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures will include the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period during 2018, as compared to the prior guidance. We expect minimal impact from the adoption of the new standard to the financial statements on a go forward basis, except for expanded disclosures. Revenue is currently recognized at destination and will continue to be recognized at point in time under the new guidance. Additional information regarding revenue recognition is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which, in an effort to improve consistency and transparency, requires the service cost component of defined benefit pension cost and postretirement benefit cost (“net benefit cost”) to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted as of September 30, 2018

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), along with several updates, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity may elect to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach or the beginning of the period of adoption using a cumulative-effect adjustment approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We will adopt the new standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year, and recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the period of adoption. We are progressing in our assessment of leasing and other arrangements, and the evaluation of the impact of the new guidance on these arrangements and our financial statements. While we continue to assess the potential impacts of the standard, we anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of the increase in assets and liabilities from recognition of operating leases. However, we do not believe the standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statement of Income. Implementation of a system solution for administering our leases and facilitating compliance with the new guidance is in process with completion expected prior to the required adoption date.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Among the simplification updates, the standard eliminates the requirement in current GAAP to separately recognize periodic hedge ineffectiveness. Mismatches between the changes in value of the hedged item and hedging instrument may still occur but they will no longer be separately reported. The standard requires the presentation of the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company will need to decide whether to reclassify the stranded tax effects associated with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. If the Company chooses to reclassify we will need to calculate the amount of the reclassification and prepare the related disclosures The accounting standards is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, an accounting standard update to improve non-employee share-based payment accounting. The accounting standard update more closely aligns the accounting for employee and non-employee share based payments. The accounting standards update is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to fair value measurements. The new guidance removes certain disclosure requirements related to transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy along with the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additions to the disclosure requirements include more quantitative information related to significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and gains and losses included in other comprehensive income. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to defined benefit plans by eliminating certain required disclosures, clarifying existing disclosures, and adding new disclosures. Changes include removing disclosures related to the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year, adding narrative disclosure of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the defined benefit obligation, and clarifying the disclosures required for plans with projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

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BUSINESS ACQUISITION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Business Combinations [Abstract]

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

BUSINESS ACQUISITION

On September 8, 2017, the Company purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Moy Park from JBS for cash of $301.3 million and a note payable to the seller in the amount of £562.5 million (the "JBS S.A. Promissory Note"). Moy Park is one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers. With 4 fresh processing plants, 10 prepared foods cook plants, 3 feed mills, 6 hatcheries and 1 rendering facility currently operating in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands, Moy Park possesses the capacity to process approximately 6.1 million birds per seven-day work week, in addition to the capacity to produce approximately 460.0 million pounds of prepared foods per year. Its product portfolio comprises fresh and further processed poultry, ready-to-eat meals, breaded and multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts, supplied to major food retailers and restaurant chains in Europe (including the U.K.). Moy Park has approximately 10,400 employees as of September 30, 2018. The Moy Park operations comprise our U.K. and Europe segment.

The acquisition was treated as a common-control transaction under U.S. GAAP. A common-control transaction is a transfer of net assets or an exchange of equity interests between entities under the control of the same parent. The accounting and reporting for a transaction between entities under common control is not to be considered a business combination under U.S. GAAP. Since there is no change in control over the net assets from the parent’s perspective, there is no change in basis in the assets or liabilities. Therefore, Pilgrim's, as the receiving entity, recognized the assets and liabilities received at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the parent’s financial statements. The difference between the proceeds transferred and the carrying amounts of the net assets on the date of the acquisition is recognized in equity.

Transaction costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition were approximately $19.9 million. These costs were expensed as incurred. Beginning September 8, 2017, the results of operations and financial position of Moy Park have been included in the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company. The results of operations and financial position of Moy Park have been combined with the results of operations and financial position of Pilgrim's from September 30, 2015, the common control date, through September 7, 2017.

Net sales generated by Moy Park during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were $526.7 million and $514.3 million, respectively. Net sales generated by Moy Park during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 were $1.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. Moy Park generated net income during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 totaling $17.7 million and $8.2 million, respectively. Moy Park generated net income during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 totaling $39.5 million and $25.6 million, respectively.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined financial results for the Company and Moy Park as if the acquisition had been completed at the beginning of the Company’s prior year, December 25, 2016.

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except per share amount)
Net sales	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	255,504		558,036
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted	1.03		2.24

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company’s results of operations would have been had it completed the acquisition on the date assumed, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from any synergies resulting from the acquisition.

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value must be categorized into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation:

Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2	Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or
Level 3	Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company held derivative assets and liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity futures instruments, commodity options instruments and foreign currency instruments to manage translation and remeasurement risk.

The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	September 30, 2018
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	4,822		$	4,822
Foreign currency instruments	430			430
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(517		)	(517		)
Commodity options instruments	(11,279		)	(11,279		)
Foreign currency instruments	(1,943		)	(1,943		)

	December 31, 2017
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	301		$	301
Commodity options instruments	421			421
Foreign currency instruments	45			45
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(296		)	(296		)
Commodity option instruments	(3,551		)	(3,551		)
Foreign currency instruments	(211		)	(211		)

See “Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.

The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations. For each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet but for which fair value is disclosed, the Company is not required to provide the quantitative disclosure about significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our fixed-rate debt obligation recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%, at Level 1 inputs	$	(1,002,598	)	$	(966,340	)	$	(750,000	)	$	(774,375	)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%, at Level 1 inputs	(843,538		)	(805,622		)	(604,820		)	(619,080		)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%, at Level 1 inputs	—			—			(403,444		)	(418,787		)
Secured loans, at Level 3 inputs	(450		)	(449		)	(873		)	(855		)

See “Note 11. Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements” for additional information.

The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, derivative trading accounts' margin cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other liabilities approximate their fair values due to their relatively short maturities. Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the Company’s Level 1 fixed-rate debt obligations was based on the quoted market price at September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable. The fair value of the Company’s Level 3 fixed-rate debt obligation was based on discounted cash flows at September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable.

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.

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TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]

TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable	$	526,063		$	548,472
Notes receivable - current	4,630			5,130
Other receivables	36,888			20,021
Receivables, gross	567,581			573,623
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(8,022		)	(8,145		)
Receivables, net	$	559,559		$	565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties(a)	$	652		$	2,951

(a)Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	(8,145	)
Provision charged to operating results	(1,398		)
Account write-offs and recoveries	1,629
Effect of exchange rate	(108		)
Balance, end of period	$	(8,022	)

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INVENTORIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Raw materials and work-in-process	$	734,289	$	722,083
Finished products (a)	355,736		444,796
Operating supplies	42,350		35,442
Maintenance materials and parts	50,587		52,749
Total inventories	$	1,182,962	$	1,255,070

(a) Finished products contains a $54.4 million reclassification related to both in-transit and non-chicken finished products that were previously presented in Feed, eggs and other on our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 to conform to the inventories presented as of September 30, 2018.

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INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

We recognize investments in available-for-sale securities as cash equivalents, current investments or long-term investments depending upon each security's length to maturity. Additionally, those securities identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current.

The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Cash equivalents:
Fixed income securities	$	253,500	$	253,500	$	330,456	$	330,456
Other	32,273		32,273		942		942

Securities classified as cash and cash equivalents mature within 90 days. Securities classified as short-term investments mature between 91 and 365 days. Securities classified as long-term investments mature after 365 days. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. Gross realized gains during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $2.5 million and $5.4 million, respectively, while gross realized losses were immaterial. Gross realized gains during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $2.0 million and $3.1 million, respectively, while gross realized losses were immaterial. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities recognized as either short or long-term investments are historically disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 that have been included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the net amount of gains and losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017 are disclosed in “Note 15. Stockholders’ Equity”.

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. The Company considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for approximately the next 12 months. The Company may purchase longer-term derivative financial instruments on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.

The Company has operations in Mexico and Europe (including the U.K.) and, therefore, has exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when the financial results of those operations are remeasured in U.S. dollars. The Company has purchased foreign currency forward contracts to manage this translational foreign exchange risk.

The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.

We have not designated certain derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase or foreign currency transaction exposures on our Mexico operations as cash flow hedges. Items designated as cash flow hedges are disclosed and described further below. Therefore, we recognized changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

We have designated certain derivative financial instruments related to our U.K. and Europe segment that we have purchased to mitigate foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Before the settlement date of the financial derivative instruments, we recognize changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the cash flow hedge into accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) while we recognize changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion immediately in earnings. When the derivative financial instruments associated with the effective portion are settled, the amount in AOCI is then reclassified to earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

The Company recognized net losses of $7.4 million and net gains of $6.9 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. The Company recognized net losses of $25.0 million and net gains of $7.3 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(Fair values in thousands)
Fair values:
Commodity derivative assets	$	4,822		$	722
Commodity derivative liabilities	(11,796		)	(3,847		)
Foreign currency derivative assets	430			45
Foreign currency derivative liabilities	(1,943		)	(211		)
Collateral posted with brokers(a)	14,534			8,021
Derivatives coverage(b):
Corn	14.6		%	3.1		%
Soybean meal	11.0		%	1.7		%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
Corn	September 2019			March 2019
Soybean meal	December 2019			December 2018

(a) Collateral posted with brokers consists primarily of cash, short term treasury bills, or other cash equivalents.

(b) Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

The following tables present the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges:

	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
Total	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
	Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)
Total	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)

At September 30, 2018, the pre-tax deferred net gains on derivatives recorded in AOCI that are expected to be reclassified to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income during the next twelve months are less than $0.1 million. This expectation is based on the anticipated settlements on the hedged investments in foreign currencies that will occur over the next twelve months, at which time the Company will recognize the deferred gains (losses) to earnings.

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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The activity in goodwill by segment for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows:

	December 31, 2017		Currency Translation			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	—		$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	834,346		(30,278		)	804,068
Mexico	125,607		—			125,607
Total	$	1,001,889	$	(30,278	)	$	971,611

Identified intangible assets consisted of the following:

	December 31, 2017			Amortization			Currency Translation			Reclassification			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount:
Trade names	$	79,686		$	—		$	—		$	(1,343	)	$	78,343
Customer relationships	251,952			—			(3,287		)	1,343			250,008
Non-compete agreements	320			—			—			—			320
Trade names not subject to amortization	403,594			—			(13,740		)	—			389,854
Accumulated amortization:
Trade names	(40,888		)	(2,796		)	—			623			(43,061		)
Customer relationships	(77,194		)	(17,248		)	1,033			(623		)	(94,032		)
Non-compete agreements	(307		)	(6		)	—			—			(313		)
Total identified intangible assets	$	617,163		$	(20,050	)	$	(15,994	)	$	—		$	581,119

Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

.

Customer relationships	5-16 years
Trade names	3-20 years
Non-compete agreements	3 years

At September 30, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization at that date.

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Land	$	197,182		$	205,087
Buildings	1,682,584			1,681,610
Machinery and equipment	2,582,087			2,533,522
Autos and trucks	57,846			58,159
Construction-in-progress	238,806			187,094
PP&E, gross	4,758,505			4,665,472
Accumulated depreciation	(2,637,859		)	(2,570,325		)
PP&E, net	$	2,120,646		$	2,095,147

The Company recognized depreciation expense of $64.4 million and $63.8 million during the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively. The Company recognized depreciation expense of $187.0 million and $181.1 million during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively.

During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, Pilgrim's spent $231.9 million on capital projects and transferred $149.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. During the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017, the Company spent $258.4 million on capital projects and transferred $272.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018, the Company sold certain PP&E for $1.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in cash and recognized net gain on these sales of $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. PP&E sold in thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 included a processing plant in Alabama, a residential building in Georgia, vacant land in Georgia and North Carolina, and miscellaneous equipment. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $1.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively, and recognized a net loss of $0.2 million and a net gain of $0.5 million, respectively. PP&E sold in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 24, 2017 included a processing plant in Texas, a feed mill in Arkansas, poultry farms in Alabama and Texas, vacant land in Texas, and miscellaneous equipment.

Management has committed to the sale of a processing complex in Minnesota and miscellaneous equipment that no longer fit into the operating plans of the Company. The Company is actively marketing these assets for immediate sale and believes a sale of each asset can be consummated within the next 12 months. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company reported properties and related assets totaling $2.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, in the line item Assets held for sale on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair values of the Minnesota processing complex and the miscellaneous equipment that were classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2018 were both based on quoted market prices.

The Company tested the recoverability of its Minnesota processing complex held for sale as of April 1, 2018, July 1, 2018, and September 30, 2018. The Company determined that the aggregate carrying amount at September 30, 2018 of this asset group was not recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group and recognized impairment cost of $0.8 million within the U.S. segment, which it reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

The Company has closed or idled various facilities in the U.S. and in the U.K. Neither the Board of Directors nor JBS has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these idled assets. Management is therefore not certain that it can or will divest any of these assets within one year, is not actively marketing these assets and, accordingly, has not classified them as assets held for sale. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. At September 30, 2018, the carrying amounts of these idled assets totaled $47.4 million based on depreciable value of $155.6 million and accumulated depreciation of $108.2 million. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $0.1 million related to leasehold improvements at an idled administrative office.

At September 30, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use at that date.

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CURRENT LIABILITIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

CURRENT LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Current liabilities, other than current notes payable to banks, income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable:
Trade accounts	$	740,735	$	661,759
Book overdrafts	62,799		56,022
Other payables	14,393		15,246
Total accounts payable	817,927		733,027
Accounts payable to related parties(a)	6,795		2,889
Revenue contract liability(b)	28,873		36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Compensation and benefits	152,707		181,678
Interest and debt-related fees	31,771		29,750
Insurance and self-insured claims	81,475		79,911
Derivative liabilities:
Commodity futures	517		296
Commodity options	11,279		3,551
Foreign currency derivatives	1,943		211
Other accrued expenses	123,454		114,755
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146		410,152
	$	1,256,741	$	1,182,675

(a)Additional information regarding accounts payable to related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

(b)Additional information regarding revenue contract liabilities is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

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LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS

Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements, including current notes payable to banks, consisted of the following components:

	Maturity	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
		(In thousands)
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements:
Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%	2025	$	1,002,598		$	754,820
Senior notes payable, net of discount at 5.875%	2027	843,538			600,000
Senior notes payable at 6.25%	2021	—			403,444
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
Term note payable at 3.60%	2023	500,000			780,000
Revolving note payable at 5.25%	2023	—			73,262
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95%	2019	—			76,307
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5%	2018	—			9,590
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%	2018	1,479			1,815
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%	2023	—			—
Secured loans with payables at weighted average of 3.73%	Various	450			873
Capital lease obligations	Various	4,917			9,239
Long-term debt		2,352,982			2,709,350
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(24,026		)	(47,775		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities		2,328,956			2,661,575
Less: Capitalized financing costs		(26,762		)	(25,958		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:		$	2,302,194		$	2,635,617

U.S. Senior Notes

On March 11, 2015, the Company completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% senior notes due 2025. On September 29, 2017, the Company completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes. The issuance price of this add-on offering was 102.0%, which created gross proceeds of $255.0 million. The additional $5.0 million will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed another add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in March 2015 and September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2025”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 99.25%, which created gross proceeds of $248.1 million. The $1.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2025 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2015 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

The Senior Notes due 2025 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2015 Indenture”). The 2015 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in March 2015 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in September 2017 and March 2018.

On September 29, 2017, the Company completed a sale of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% senior notes due 2027. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2027”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 97.25%, which created gross proceeds of $243.1 million. The $6.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Senior Notes due 2027. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2027 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2017 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.

The Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2017 Indenture”). The 2017 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2027 bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 30, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018.

The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 are each guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company’s guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2025, the 2015 Indenture, the Senior Notes due 2027 and the 2017 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 when due, among others.

The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 to repay in full the JBS S.A. Promissory Note issued as part of the Moy Park acquisition and for general corporate purposes. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018 to pay the second tender price of Moy Park Notes (as described below), repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Moy Park Senior Notes

Between May 29, 2014 and April 17, 2015, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the sale of £300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2021 (the “Moy Park Senior Notes”). Between November 3, 2017 and March 8, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc completed the purchase for cash of the Moy Park Senior Notes through a tender offer. As of March 8, 2018, £234.3 million principal amount of Moy Park Senior Notes had been validly tendered and purchased by Moy Park (Bondco) plc.

On May 29, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc redeemed all remaining Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding at the redemption price equal to 101.56% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The principal value of the Moy Park Senior Notes redeemed on May 29, 2018 was £65.7 million. As of September 30, 2018, there are no Moy Park Senior Notes outstanding.

U.S. Credit Facility

On July 20, 2018, the Company, and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a $750.0 million revolving credit commitment and a term loan commitment of up to $500.0 million (the “Term Loans”). The Company used the proceeds from the term loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility, together with cash on hand, to repay the outstanding loans under the Company’s previous credit agreement with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto.

The U.S. Credit Facility includes an accordion feature that allows the Company, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.25 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.

The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2023. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on July 20, 2023. Installments of principal are required to be made, in an amount equal to 1.25%of the original principal amount of the Term Loans, on a quarterly basis prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $705.1 million. The Company had letters of credit of $44.9 million and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan commitment as of September 30, 2018.

The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% through August 2, 2018 and, thereafter, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.25% through August 2, 2018 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.

The U.S. Credit Facility contains customary financial and other various covenants for transactions of this type, including restrictions on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends, make certain restricted payments, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with the Company’s affiliates, or merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, among other things. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that the Company may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year.

All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of the Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company's domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., and 65% of the equity interests in its direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company is currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.

Mexico Credit Facility

On September 27, 2016, certain of the Company's Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $750.0 million Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2019. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility bear interest at a per annum rate of 9.07%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability under the Mexico Credit Facility were both $40.1 million. As of September 30, 2018, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility.

Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility Agreement

On June 2, 2018, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries entered into an unsecured multicurrency revolving facility agreement (the “Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement”) with the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, as agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement provides for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £100.0 million. The multicurrency revolving loan commitments under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement matures on June 2, 2023. Outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) LIBOR or, in relation to any loan in euros, EURIBOR, plus (ii) a margin, ranging from 1.25% to 2.00% based on Leverage (as defined in the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement). All obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement are guaranteed by certain of Moy Park's subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment and borrowing availability were both $130.3 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement as of September 30, 2018.

The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains representations and warranties, covenants, indemnities and conditions that the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type. Pursuant to the terms of the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement, Moy Park is required to meet certain financial and other restrictive covenants. Additionally, Moy Park is prohibited from taking certain actions without consent of the lenders, including, without limitation, incurring additional indebtedness, entering into certain mergers or other business combination transactions, permitting liens or other encumbrances on its assets and making restricted payments, including dividends, in each case except as expressly permitted under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement. The Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement contains events of default that the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type. If a default occurs, any outstanding obligations under the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement may be accelerated.

Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement

On March 19, 2015, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. and its subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with Barclays Bank plc, which expired on March 19, 2018. The agreement provided for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £20.0 million.

Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement

Moy Park Ltd., entered into a £45.0 million receivables finance agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Receivables Finance Agreement”), with Barclays Bank plc. Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd. repaid the Receivables Finance Agreement in full using available cash and proceeds from the Bank of Ireland Facility Agreement and terminated the Receivables Finance Agreement with Barclays Bank plc on June 4, 2018.

Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Facility

In June 2009, Moy Park France Sàrl entered into a €20.0 million invoice discounting facility with GE De Facto (the “Invoice Discounting Facility”). The facility limit was decreased by 50 percent in June 2018. The Invoice Discounting Facility is payable on demand and the term is extended on an annual basis. The agreement can be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. Outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. As of September 30, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment, borrowing availability and outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility were $11.6 million, $10.1 million, and $1.5 million, respectively.

The Invoice Discounting Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.

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INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded income tax expense of $106.4 million, a 29.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $278.0 million, a 32.2% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction in pre-tax income as well as a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate as a result of the recently enacted comprehensive tax legislation, partially offset by the recognition of the one-time transition tax discussed below.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revises the ongoing U.S. corporate income tax law by lowering the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, implementing a territorial tax system, imposing a one-time tax on foreign unremitted earnings and setting limitations on deductibility of certain costs (e.g., interest expense), among other things.

The Company is applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act. In certain cases, as described below, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of certain effects of the Tax Act. In other cases, the Company has not been able to make a reasonable estimate and continues to account for those items based on existing accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, and the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to enactment. For example, the Company has yet to make a reasonable estimate for the effect of the various federal income tax elements of the Tax Act on its state tax rate. In all cases, the Company will continue to make and refine its calculations as additional analysis is completed. Estimates may also be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the Tax Act. These changes could be material to income tax expense.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company estimated no tax liability on foreign unremitted earnings due to a net earnings and profits (“E&P”) deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, the Company did not accrue any amount of tax expense for the Tax Act’s one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated, unremitted earnings going back to 1986 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Upon further analysis of certain aspects of the Tax Act and a refinement of the historical calculation of E&P on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income, the Company made sufficient progress during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 in the E&P analysis of its foreign subsidiaries and recalculated significant overall positive E&P. Therefore, due to this recalculation, the Company estimates a $26.4 million tax liability for the one-time transition tax as of September 30, 2018. This one-time transition adjustment increased the effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 by approximately 7.0%. Additionally, this amount will be reported on the Company's federal income tax return for the tax period ended December 31, 2017. As the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the tax law and further Tax Act guidance is released, the Company will continue to refine its E&P analysis and adjust its calculations of the one-time transition tax accordingly. Any adjustment may materially and adversely affect the measurement of this liability. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the one-time transition tax or any additional outside basis difference inherent in these foreign subsidiaries, as these amounts continue to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.

The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for GILTI, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, the Company is still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and has not yet determined the accounting policy it will elect. As of September 30, 2018, the Company is estimating a $5.9 million federal GILTI tax liability, which is reflected in the Company's estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Tax Act provides for a foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) deduction, which is available to domestic C corporations that derive income from the export of property and services. As of September 30, 2018, the Company estimated a federal FDII benefit of $0.2 million, which is reflected in the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company will continue to refine its FDII calculations, which may result in changes to this estimated benefit.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carry back and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. As of September 30, 2018, the Company did not believe it had sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of a portion of its foreign net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, there is a tax effect of ($0.3) million and $4.5 million, respectively, reflected in other comprehensive income.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, there are immaterial tax effects reflected in income tax expense due to excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a variety of consolidated and standalone income tax returns in various jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, our income tax filings are subject to review by various taxing authorities. In general, tax returns filed by our Company and our subsidiaries for years prior to 2011 are no longer subject to examination by tax authorities.

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REVENUE RECOGNITION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION

The vast majority of the Company's revenue is derived from contracts which are based upon a customer ordering our products. While there may be master agreements, the contract is only established when the customer’s order is accepted by the Company. The Company accounts for a contract, which may be verbal or written, when it is approved and committed by both parties, the rights of the parties are identified along with payment terms, the contract has commercial substance and collectability is probable.

The Company evaluates the transaction for distinct performance obligations, which are the sale of its products to customers. Since its products are commodity market-priced, the sales price is representative of the observable, standalone selling price. Each performance obligation is recognized based upon a pattern of recognition that reflects the transfer of control to the customer at a point in time, which is upon destination (customer location or port of destination), which faithfully depicts the transfer of control and recognition of revenue. There are instances of customer pick-up at the Company's facility, in which case control transfers to the customer at that point and the Company recognizes revenue. The Company's performance obligations are typically fulfilled within days to weeks of the acceptance of the order.

The Company makes judgments regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from revenue and cash flows with customers. Determination of a contract requires evaluation and judgment along with the estimation of the total contract value and if any of the contract value is constrained. Due to the nature of our business, there is minimal variable consideration, as the contract is established at the acceptance of the order from the customer. When applicable, variable consideration is estimated at contract inception and updated on a regular basis until the contract is completed. Allocating the transaction price to a specific performance obligation based upon the relative standalone selling prices includes estimating the standalone selling prices including discounts and variable consideration.

Disaggregated Revenue

Revenue has been disaggregated into the categories below to show how economic factors affect the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Domestic		Export		Net Sales		Domestic		Export		Net Sales
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,800,789	$	63,380	$	1,864,169	$	5,411,391	$	193,318	$	5,604,709
U.K. and Europe	456,187		70,535		526,722		1,398,494		235,631		1,634,125
Mexico	306,713		—		306,713		1,042,161		—		1,042,161
Net Sales	$	2,563,689	$	133,915	$	2,697,604	$	7,852,046	$	428,949	$	8,280,995

Shipping and Handling Costs

In the rare case when shipping and handling activities are performed after a customer obtains control of the good, the Company has elected to account for shipping and handling as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer the good. When revenue is recognized for the related good before the shipping and handling activities occur, the related costs of those shipping and handling activities are accrued. Shipping and handling costs are recorded within cost of sales.

Contract Costs

The Company can incur incremental costs to obtain or fulfill a contract such as broker expenses that are not expected to be recovered. The amortization period for such expenses is less than one year; therefore, the costs are expensed as incurred.

Taxes

There is no change in accounting for taxes due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, as there is no material change to the timing of revenue recognition. We exclude all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the entity from a customer (for example, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes) from the transaction price.

Contract Balances

The Company receives payment from customers based on terms established with the customer. Payments are typically due within two weeks of delivery. There are rarely contract assets related to costs incurred to perform in advance of scheduled billings. Revenue contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of satisfying the performance under the customer contract. The revenue contract liability relates to customer prepayments and the advanced consideration received from governmental agency contracts for which performance obligations to the end customer have not been satisfied.

Changes in the revenue contract liability balances during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	36,607
Revenue recognized	(42,358		)
Cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period	34,624
Balance, end of period	$	28,873

Accounts Receivable

The Company records accounts receivable when revenue is recognized. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the receivables balance to an amount it estimates is collectible from customers. Estimates used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on historical collection experience, current trends, aging of accounts receivable and periodic credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition. The Company writes off accounts receivable when it becomes apparent, based upon age or customer circumstances, that such amounts will not be collected. Generally, the Company does not require collateral for its accounts receivable

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company sponsors programs that provide retirement benefits to most of its employees. These programs include qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan and defined contribution retirement savings plan. Expenses recognized under all these retirement plans were as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Total retirement plans expense	$	2,968	$	2,735	$	9,133	$	7,963

Defined Benefit Plans Obligations and Assets

The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the defined benefit plans were as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:	(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	178,247		$	1,603		$	167,159		$	1,648
Interest cost	4,097			35			4,178			38
Actuarial losses (gains)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	165,700		$	1,460		$	173,199		$	1,600

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in plan assets:	(In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	$	112,570		$	—		$	97,526		$	—
Actual return on plan assets	1,853			—			9,321			—
Contributions by employer	9,474			111			10,538			111
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	$	117,040		$	—		$	109,814		$	—

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Funded status:	(In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:	(In thousands)
Current liability	$	(12,155	)	$	(148	)	$	(12,168	)	$	(149	)
Long-term liability	(36,505		)	(1,312		)	(53,509		)	(1,454		)
Recognized liability	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits			Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other    comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	46,241	$	(32	)	$	54,235	$	35

The accumulated benefit obligation for the Company's defined benefit pension plans was $165.7 million and $178.2 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Each of the Company's defined benefit pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. As of September 30, 2018, the weighted average duration of the Company's defined benefit pension obligation is 30.98 years.

Net Periodic Benefit Costs

Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	1,366		$	12	$	1,392		$	13	$	4,097		$	35	$	4,178		$	38
Estimated return on plan assets	(1,516		)	—		(1,314		)	—		(4,549		)	—		(3,940		)	—
Amortization of net loss	300			—		233			—		902			—		699			—
Net costs	$	150		$	12	$	311		$	13	$	450		$	35	$	937		$	38

Economic Assumptions

The weighted average assumptions used in determining pension and other postretirement plan information were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end    of period:
Discount rate	4.28	%	4.08	%	3.69	%	3.39	%

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other    postretirement cost:
Discount rate	3.69	%	3.39	%	4.32	%	3.81	%
Expected return on plan assets	5.50	%	N/A		5.50	%	NA

The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company's pension and other benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate for each plan was established by comparing the projection of expected benefit payments to the AA Above Median yield curve. The expected benefit payments were discounted by each corresponding discount rate on the yield curve. For payments beyond 30 years, the Company extended the curve assuming the discount rate derived in year 30 is extended to the end of the plan's payment expectations. Once the present value of the string of benefit payments was established, the Company determined the single rate on the yield curve, that when applied to all obligations of the plan, would exactly match the previously determined present value. As part of the evaluation of pension and other postretirement assumptions, the Company applied assumptions for mortality that incorporate generational white and blue collar mortality trends. In determining its benefit obligations, the Company used generational tables that take into consideration increases in plan participant longevity. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all pension and other postretirement benefit plans used variations of the RP2014 mortality table and the MP2015 mortality improvement scale.

The sensitivity of the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits to changes in the discount rate is set out below. The impact of a change in the discount rate of 0.25% on the projected benefit obligation for other benefits is less than $1,000. This sensitivity analysis is based on changing one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to variations in significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as for calculating the liability recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25%			Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25%
	(In thousands)
Impact on projected benefit obligation for pension benefits	$	(4,729	)	$	4,488

The expected rate of return on plan assets was primarily based on the determination of an expected return and behaviors for each plan's current asset portfolio that the Company believes are likely to prevail over long periods. This determination was made using assumptions for return and volatility of the portfolio. Asset class assumptions were set using a combination of empirical and forward-looking analysis. To the extent historical results were affected by unsustainable trends or events, the effects of those trends or events were quantified and removed. The Company also considered anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals when developing this rate.

Plan Assets

The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	1	%	5	%
Pooled separate accounts(a):
Equity securities	4	%	5	%
Fixed income securities	4	%	4	%
Common collective trust funds(a):
Equity securities	47	%	56	%
Fixed income securities	40	%	30	%
Real estate	4	%	—	%
Total assets	100	%	100	%

(a) Pooled separate accounts (“PSAs”) and common collective trust funds (“CCTs”) are two of the most common types of alternative vehicles in which benefit plans invest. These investments are pooled funds that look like mutual funds, but they are not registered with the SEC. Often times, they will be invested in mutual funds, real estate trusts or other marketable securities, but the unit price generally will be different from the value of the underlying securities because the fund may also hold cash for liquidity purposes, and the fees imposed by the fund are deducted from the fund value rather than charged separately to investors. Some PSAs and CCTs have no restrictions as to their investment strategy and can invest in riskier investments, such as derivatives, hedge funds, private equity funds, or similar investments.

Absent regulatory or statutory limitations, the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the pooled separate accounts is 50% in each of fixed income securities and equity securities and the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the common collective trust funds is 30% in fixed income securities and 70% in equity securities. The plans only invest in fixed income and equity instruments for which there is a readily available public market. The Company develops its expected long-term rate of return assumptions based on the historical rates of returns for equity and fixed income securities of the type in which its plans invest.

The fair value measurements of plan assets fell into the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	September 30, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total		Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	701	$	—	$	—	$	701	$	6,128	$	—	$	—	$	6,128
Pooled separate accounts:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		2,927		—		2,927		—		3,483		—		3,483
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e)	—		363		—		363		—		420		—		420
International equity funds(f)	—		1,758		—		1,758		—		1,665		—		1,665
Fixed income funds(g)	—		5,052		—		5,052		—		4,799		—		4,799
Common collective trusts funds:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		21,121		—		21,121		—		22,695		—		22,695
Small U.S. equity funds(e)	—		7,957		—		7,957		—		20,592		—		20,592
International equity funds(f)	—		25,452		—		25,452		—		19,923		—		19,923
Fixed income funds(g)	—		46,493		—		46,493		—		32,865		—		32,865
Real estate(h)	—		5,216		—		5,216		—		—		—		—
Total assets	$	701	$	116,339	$	—	$	117,040	$	6,128	$	106,442	$	—	$	112,570

(a) Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.

(b) Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.

(c) Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.

(d) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.

(e) This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.

(f) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.

(g) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). These investment options typically carry more risk than short-term fixed income investment options, but less overall risk than equities.

(h) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in real estate investment trusts or private equity pools that own real estate. These long-term investments are primarily in office buildings, industrial parks, apartments or retail complexes. These investment options typically carry more risk, including liquidity risk, than fixed income investment options.

The valuation of plan assets in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 2 securities primarily include equity and fixed income securities funds.

Benefit Payments

The following table reflects the benefits as of September 30, 2018 expected to be paid through 2027 from the Company's pension and other postretirement plans. Because its pension plans are primarily funded plans, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come primarily from the trusts established for these plans. Because the Company's other postretirement plans are unfunded, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come from its own assets.

	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
2018	$	4,592	$	37
2019	11,889		148
2020	11,687		146
2021	11,337		143
2022	11,160		139
2023-2027	50,628		611
Total	$	101,293	$	1,224

The Company anticipates contributing $2.7 million and less than $0.1 million, as required by funding regulations or laws, to its pension plans and other postretirement plans, respectively, during the remainder of 2018.

Unrecognized Benefit Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period	$	54,235		$	35		$	46,494		$	(31	)
Amortization	(902		)	—			(699		)	—
Actuarial loss (gain)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Asset loss (gain)	2,695			—			(5,381		)	—
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period	$	46,241		$	(32	)	$	49,847		$	(6	)

The Company expects to recognize in net pension cost throughout the remainder of 2018 an actuarial loss of $0.3 million that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2018.

Risk Management

Through its defined benefit plans, the Company is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed below:

Asset volatility. The plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if plan assets under perform this yield, this will create a deficit. The pension plans hold a significant proportion of equities, which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long-term while contributing volatility and risk in the short-term. The Company monitors the level of investment risk but has no current plan to significantly modify the mixture of investments. The investment position is discussed more below.

Changes in bond yields. A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase plan liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an increase in the value of the plans’ bond holdings.

The investment position is managed and monitored by a committee of individuals from various departments. This group actively monitors how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the pension obligations. The group has not changed the processes used to manage its risks from previous periods. The group does not use derivatives to manage its risk. Investments are well diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. The majority of equities are in U.S. large and small cap companies with some global diversification into international entities. The plans are not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.

Remeasurement

The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018(a)
	Gains Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities			Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	42,081		$	(1,848	)	$	(71,434	)	$	61		$	(31,140	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(58,892		)	33			5,415			985			(52,459		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			329			683			(956		)	56
Impact of currency translation	—			(5		)	—			—			(5		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(58,892		)	357			6,098			29			(52,408		)
Balance, end of period	$	(16,811	)	$	(1,491	)	$	(65,336	)	$	90		$	(83,548	)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017(a)
	Losses Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Gains on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(265,714	)	$	99		$	(64,243	)	$	—	$	(329,858	)
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction	204,577			(1,368		)	—			—		203,209
Comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	92,364			(137		)	(2,539		)	—		89,688
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			9			435			—		444
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	92,364			(128		)	(2,104		)	—		90,132
Balance, end of period	$	31,227		$	(1,397	)	$	(66,347	)	$	—	$	(36,517	)

(a) All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

	Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017			Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
	(In thousands)
Realized loss on settlement of derivative      financial instruments classified as cash flow      hedges	$	(329	)	$	(9	)	Cost of sales
Realized gain on sale of securities	1,263			—			Interest income
Amortization of defined benefit pension      and other postretirement plan actuarial      losses:
Union employees pension plan(b)(d)	(36		)	(18		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(270		)	(212		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(596		)	(469		)	Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax	32			(708		)
Tax benefit	(88		)	264
Total reclassification for the period	$	(56	)	$	(444	)

(a) Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.

(b) The Company sponsors the Union Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.

(c) The Company sponsors the GK Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the SERP Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Directors’ Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors and the Retiree Life Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees (collectively, the “Legacy Gold Kist Plans”).

(d) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

Restrictions on Dividends

The U.S. Credit Facility, the 2015 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2017 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2027 restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION [Abstract]

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company sponsors a short-term incentive plan that provides the grant of either cash or share-based bonus awards payable upon achievement of specified performance goals (the “STIP”). Full-time, salaried exempt employees of the Company and its affiliates who are selected by the administering committee are eligible to participate in the STIP. At September 30, 2018, the Company has accrued $7.1 million related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded under the STIP during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. The Company assumed responsibility for the JFC LLC Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2014, as amended (the “JFC LTIP”) through its acquisition of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “GNP”) on January 6, 2017. The Company has accrued $2.2 million in costs related to the JFC LTIP at September 30, 2018. The Company assumed responsibility for the Moy Park Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2013, as amended (the “MPIP”) through its acquisition of Moy Park on September 8, 2017. The Company has accrued $0.5 million in costs related to the MPIP at September 30, 2018.

The Company also sponsors a performance-based, omnibus long-term incentive plan that provides for the grant of a broad range of long-term equity-based and cash-based awards to the Company’s officers and other employees, members of the Board of Directors and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the IRC, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At September 30, 2018, we have reserved approximately 4.4 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.

The following awards were outstanding during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018:

Award Type	Benefit Plan	Awards Granted	Grant Date	Grant Date Fair Value per Award	Vesting Condition	Vesting Date	Awards Forfeited to Date		Settlement Method
RSU	LTIP	389,424	01/19/2017	18.38	Performance / Service	(a)	389,424	(a)	Stock
RSU	LTIP	410,000	02/14/2018	25.59	Service	01/01/2019	—		Stock
RSU	LTIP	161,215	03/01/2018	24.93	Service	(b)	7,646		Stock
RSU	LTIP	266,478	03/01/2018	24.93	Performance / Service	(c)	30,167		Stock
RSU	LTIP	11,144	05/10/2018	21.54	(d)	(d)	—		Stock

(a) Performance conditions associated with these awards were not satisfied. Therefore, 100% of the awards were forfeited during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018.

(b) These restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Expected compensation cost related to these units totals $4.0 million based on a closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss over the remaining vesting period.

(c) If performance conditions related to the Company's 2018 operating results are satisfied, these restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Expected compensation cost related to these units before considering the impact of individual participant forfeitures totals $6.6 million based on a closing stock price for the Company's common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss upon satisfaction of the performance conditions over the remaining vesting period.

(d) These restricted stock units were granted to the four non-employees who currently serve on the Company's Board of Directors. Each participating director's units will vest upon his departure from the Company's Board of Directors. Compensation cost was recognized in profit/loss upon the grant date.

Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost:
Cost of sales	$	124	$	32	$	293	$	219
Selling, general and administrative expense	3,502		475		8,966		2,235
Total	$	3,626	$	507	$	9,259	$	2,454
Income tax benefit	$	883	$	132	$	2,254	$	733

The Company’s RSU activity is included below:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
Outstanding at beginning of period	389		$	18.39	906		$	20.00
Granted	849		25.20		462		18.72
Vested	—		—		(486	)	17.73
Forfeited	(427	)	18.97		(251	)	25.36
Outstanding at end of period	811		$	25.22	631		$	18.68

No awards vested during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. The total fair value of awards vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 was $8.6 million.

At September 30, 2018, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $11.2 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.56 years.

Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

During 2017, the Company initiated a restructuring initiative to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities within its GNP operations located in Luverne, Minnesota and St. Cloud, Minnesota. Implementation of the initiative is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $7.0 million, and approximately $5.4 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. These activities were initiated in the first quarter of 2017 and are expected to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2020.

During 2018, the Company elected to close its 40 North Foods product incubator operation located in Boulder, Colorado. Implementation of this restructuring initiative is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $0.7 million, and approximately $0.6 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. These activities were initiated in the second quarter of 2018 and are expected to be substantially completed by the third quarter of 2019.

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with these restructuring initiatives by major type of cost:

	GNP		40 North Foods		Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred
	(In thousands)
Employee termination benefits	$	4,074	$	449	$	4,523
Inventory adjustments	472		—		472
Asset impairments	470		103		573
Other charges(a)	1,983		150		2,133
Total estimated cost	$	6,999	$	702	$	7,701

^(a)  Comprised of other costs directly related to the restructuring initiatives, including prepaid software impairment, St. Cloud, Minnesota office lease costs, Luverne, Minnesota plant closure costs, and Boulder, Colorado office lease costs.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized the following costs and incurred the following cash outlays related to these restructuring initiatives:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Expenses			Cash Outlay		Expenses			Cash Outlay
	(In thousands)
GNP initiative:
Employee termination benefits	$	(43	)	$	272	$	936		$	1,437
Inventory adjustments	—			—		(227		)	—
Asset impairments	311			—		781			—
Other charges	—			—		—			65
	268			272		1,490			1,502
40 North Foods initiative:
Employee termination benefits	—			38		449			443
Asset impairments	—			—		103			—
Other	(11		)	17		139			26
	(11		)	55		691			469
Total	$	257		$	327	$	2,181		$	1,971

These expenses are reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.

The following table reconciles liabilities and reserves associated with this restructuring initiative from the beginning to the end of the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. Ending liability balances for employee termination benefits and other charges are reported in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The ending reserve balance for inventory adjustments is reported in the line item Inventories in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	GNP Initiative												40 North Foods Initiative
	Employee Termination Benefits			Inventory Adjustments			Other Charges			Total			Employee Termination Benefits			Other Charges			Total
	(In thousands)
Beginning liability or reserve	$	800		$	699		$	752		$	2,251		$	—		$	—		$	—
Restructuring charges	936			(227		)	76			785			449			139			588
Payments and disposals	(1,437		)	(472		)	(735		)	(2,644		)	(443		)	(26		)	(469		)
Ending liability or reserve	$	299		$	—		$	93		$	392		$	6		$	113		$	119

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PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Unusual or Infrequent Items, or Both [Abstract]

PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT

PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT

Hurricane Maria became the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years when it came ashore on September 20, 2017. The Company suffered significant damage because of the storm. Pilgrim’s lost 2.1 million birds on the island, many of the Company’s contract growers lost their poultry houses, and the Company incurred damage at its processing plant, feed mill and hatchery. PPC does not expect that its operations on the island will be fully functional until the fourth quarter of 2018.

Estimated damages incurred by the Company through September 30, 2018 included property and casualty losses totaling $5.2 million and a business interruption claim totaling $14.8 million. Pilgrim’s expects to receive insurance proceeds related to these damages in the amount of $11.5 million and has recorded a receivable from its insurance provider for that amount. The amount of insurance recovery related to both the property and casualty losses and the business interruption claim are included in Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

General

The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Financial Instruments

The Company’s loan agreements generally obligate the Company to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental increased costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, some of the Company’s loan agreements contain a withholding tax provision that requires the Company to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law. These increased costs and withholding tax provisions continue for the entire term of the applicable transaction, and there is no limitation on the maximum additional amounts the Company could be obligated to pay under such provisions. Any failure to pay amounts due under such provisions generally would trigger an event of default, and, in a secured financing transaction, would entitle the lender to foreclose upon the collateral to realize the amount due.

Litigation

The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.

Tax Claims and Proceedings

A Mexico subsidiary of the Company is currently appealing an unfavorable tax adjustment proposed by Mexican Tax Authorities due to an examination of a specific transaction undertaken by the Mexico subsidiary during tax years 2009 and 2010. Amounts under appeal are $24.3 million and $16.1 million for tax years 2009 and 2010, respectively. No loss has been recorded for these amounts at this time.

Other Claims and Proceedings

Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, a series of purported federal class action lawsuits styled as In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:16-cv-08637 were brought against PPC and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. The class plaintiffs have filed three consolidated amended complaints: one on behalf of direct purchasers and two on behalf of distinct groups of indirect purchasers. The defendants, including PPC, filed motions to dismiss these actions. On November 20, 2017, the court denied all pending motions to dismiss with the exception of certain state-law claims by indirect purchasers that were dismissed or narrowed in scope. Discovery is proceeding and is currently scheduled to be complete by October 14, 2019. Between December 2017 and September 2018, eleven individual direct action complaints (Affiliated Foods, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:17-cv-08850; Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., No. 1:18-cv-00245; Sysco Corp. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00700; US Foods Inc. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; No. 1:18-cv-00702; Action Meat Distributors, Inc., et al., v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-03471; Jetro Holdings, LLC, v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04000; Associated Grocers of the South, Inc., et al., v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-4616; The Kroger Co., et al., v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-04534; Ahold Delhaize USA, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05351; Samuels as Trustee In Bankruptcy for Central Grocers, Inc. et al v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05341; W. Lee Flowers & Company, Inc. v. Norman W. Fries, Inc., d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-05345; and BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-05877) were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by individual direct purchaser entities, the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. The Court’s scheduling order currently requires completion of fact discovery on October 14, 2019, class certification briefing and expert reports proceeding from November 12, 2019 to July 14, 2020 and summary judgment to proceed 60 days after the Court rules on motions for class certification. The Court has ordered the parties to coordinate scheduling of the direct action complaints with the class complaints with any necessary modifications to reflect time of filing. Discovery will be consolidated. In May 2018, an individual direct action complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., et al., No. 2:18-cv-02258), the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. On September 13, 2018, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to transfer this action to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois where the parties anticipate it will be coordinated with the remaining complaints.

On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of PPC’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against PPC and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PPC’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by PPC’s failure to disclose that (i) the Company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) PPC’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that PPC lacked effective internal control over financial reporting. The complaint also states that PPC’s industry was anticompetitive. On April 4, 2017, the Court appointed another stockholder, George James Fuller, as lead plaintiff. On May 11, 2017, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which extended the end date of the putative class period to November 17, 2017. PPC and the other defendants moved to dismiss on June 12, 2017, and the plaintiff filed its opposition on July 12, 2017. PPC and the other defendants filed their reply on August 1, 2017. On March 14, 2018, the Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and issued final judgment in favor of PPC and the other defendants. On April 11, 2018, the plaintiff moved for reconsideration of the Court’s decision and for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint. PPC and the other defendants filed a response to the plaintiff’s motion on April 25, 2018. The plaintiff's motion for reconsideration is currently pending.

On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against PPC and four other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to reduce competition for grower services and depress the price paid to growers. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act and seek, among other relief, treble damages. The complaint was consolidated with a subsequently filed consolidated amended class action complaint styled as In re Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation, Case No. CIV-17-033-RJS (the “Grower Litigation”). The defendants (including PPC) jointly moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on September 9, 2017. The Court initially held oral argument on January 19, 2018, during which it considered and granted only motions from certain other defendants. challenging jurisdiction. Oral argument on the remaining pending motions in the Oklahoma court occurred on April 20, 2018. Rulings on the motion are pending. In addition, on March 12, 2018, the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”) enjoined plaintiffs from litigating the Grower Litigation complaint as pled against the Company because allegations in the consolidated complaint violate the confirmation order relating to the Company’s 2008-2009 bankruptcy proceedings. Specifically, the 2009 bankruptcy confirmation order bars any claims against the Company based on conduct occurring before December 28, 2009. On March 13, 2018, Pilgrim’s notified the trial court of the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction. To date, plaintiffs have not amended the consolidated complaint to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction order or the confirmation order.

On March 9, 2017, a stockholder derivative action styled as DiSalvio v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30207, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer, Fabio Sandri, in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent PPC and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On April 17, 2017, a related stockholder derivative action styled Brima v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30308, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The Brima complaint contains largely the same allegations as the DiSalvio complaint. On May 4, 2017, the plaintiffs in both the DiSalvio and Brima actions moved to (i) consolidate the two stockholder derivative cases, (ii) stay the consolidated action until the resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan putative securities class action, and (iii) appoint co-lead counsel. The Court granted the motion on May 8, 2017, staying the proceedings pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan action.

In January 2018, a stockholder derivative action entitled Raul v. Nogueira de Souza, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, as nominal defendant, as well as the Company’s directors, its Chief Financial Officer, and majority shareholder, JBS S.A. The complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) defendants permitted the Company to omit material information from its proxy statements filed in 2014 through 2017 related to the conduct of Wesley Mendonça Batista and Joesley Mendonça Batista, (ii) the individual defendants and JBS S.A. breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent the Company and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the Broiler Litigation and (iii) issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On May 17, 2018, the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to stay proceedings pending a final resolution of the Hogan class action litigation. The court-ordered deadline for the defendants to file an answer or otherwise respond to the complaint was originally set for July 30, 2018. This deadline was extended to August 31, 2018, at which time the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion to voluntarily dismiss the complaint without prejudice. The Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion on September 4, 2018.

On January 25, 2018, a stockholder derivative action styled as Sciabacucchi v. JBS S.A., et al., was brought against all of PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., JBS USA Holding Lux S.à r.l. (“JBS Holding Lux”) and several members of the Batista family, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties arising out of the Company’s acquisition of Moy Park. On March 15, 2018, the members of the Batista family were dismissed from the action without prejudice by stipulation. On March 20, 2018, nominal defendant PPC filed its answer. On March 20, 2018, the remaining defendants, including PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., and JBS Holding Lux moved to dismiss the complaint. On April 19, 2018, director defendants Bell, Macaluso, and Cooper filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On April 19, 2018, defendants JBS S.A., JBS Holding Lux, and director defendants Lovette, Nogueira de Souza, Tomazoni, Farahat, Molina, and de Vasconcellos, Jr. filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On May 24, 2018, Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis filed a derivative complaint, which was virtually identical to the Sciabacucchi complaint. On July 2, 2018, the Court granted a stipulation consolidating the cases and making the first complaint (Sciabacucchi) the operative complaint. On July 3, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed the Special Committee defendants—Bell, Macaluso and Cooper. On July 9, 2018, the plaintiffs dismissed de Vasconcellos, Jr. and filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss by the entity and non-Special Committee defendants, who filed their reply on August 9, 2018. The motion is set for oral argument on November 15,  2018.

The Company believes it has strong defenses in each of the above litigations and intends to contest them vigorously. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these litigations, the Company could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.

J&F Investigation

                On May 3, 2017, certain officers of J&F Investimentos S.A. (“J&F,” and the companies controlled by J&F, the “J&F Group”), a company organized in Brazil and an indirect controlling shareholder of the Company, including a former senior executive and former board members of the Company, entered into plea bargain agreements (collectively, the “Plea Bargain Agreements”) with the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal) (the “MPF”), in connection with certain misconduct by J&F and individuals acting in their individual capacity as J&F executives. The details of such misconduct are set forth in separate annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements, and include admissions of payments to politicians and political parties in Brazil during a ten-year period in exchange for receiving, or attempting to receive, favorable treatment for certain J&F Group companies in Brazil.

Pursuant to the terms of the Plea Bargain Agreements, the General Prosecutor of the Republic (Procuradoria-Geral da República or the “PGR”) agreed to grant immunity to the individuals in exchange for such individuals agreeing, among other considerations, to: (1) pay fines totaling 225.0 million Brazilian reais; and (2) cooperate with the MPF, including providing supporting evidence of misconduct identified in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements.

                On June 5, 2017, J&F, for itself and in its role as the controlling shareholder of the J&F Group Companies, entered into a leniency agreement (the “Leniency Agreement”) with the MPF, whereby J&F assumed responsibility for the conduct that was described in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements. In connection with the Leniency Agreement, J&F has agreed to pay a fine of 10.3 billion Brazilian reais, adjusted for inflation, over a 25-year period. In exchange, the MPF agreed not to initiate or propose any criminal, civil or administrative actions against J&F, the J&F Group and the officers of J&F that ratify or adhere to the Leniency Agreement with respect to such conduct. On November 14, 2017 and June 4, 2018, J&F made equal payments of 50.0 million Brazilian reais, which were accepted by the MPF.

In August and September 2017, the Fifth Chamber of Coordination and Reviews of the MPF and the 10th Federal Court of the Federal District in Brasília, respectively, ratified the Leniency Agreement. Revocation or non-compliance with certain provisions of the Leniency Agreement by J&F may result in its termination.

In September 2017 and February 2018, the PGR requested that the Supreme Court of Brazil (Supremo Tribunal Federal or “STF”) terminate (rescisão) the Plea Bargain Agreements of four individuals, two of them are controlling shareholders of J&F and a former directors of J&F on grounds that they failed to disclose certain conduct to the authorities, as required by their Plea Bargain Agreements, including certain alleged support from a prosecutor (the “Prosecutor”) with the preparation of the Plea Bargain Agreements and the Leniency Agreement before they were presented to the MPF. The PGR’s termination requests as to all four individuals are currently pending judgment by the STF. In case STF decides to terminate the Plea Bargain Agreements, the Leniency Agreement would remain valid and in full effect. Although the Leniency Agreement sets forth that it could be terminated if there were a request for the nullification of the Plea Bargain Agreements, which was not the case of the PGR’s request, we cannot assure you that the Leniency Agreement would not be impacted by any other form of termination of the Plea Bargain Agreements, besides the nullification.

On February 15, 2018, CVM started an administrative proceeding alleging that certain current and former members of the board of directors of JBS S.A. were not in compliance with their duty of care in respect to monitoring the implementation of JBS S.A.'s risk management (hedge) internal policy. None of JBS S.A. or its subsidiaries (including the Company) is a defendant in this matter.

On June 25, 2018, the MPF announced criminal corruption charges against a controlling shareholder and a former executive of J&F with respect to the alleged support provided by the Prosecutor described above.

J&F is conducting an internal investigation in accordance with the terms of the Leniency Agreement, and has engaged outside advisors to assist in conducting this investigation, which is ongoing, and with which we are fully cooperating. JBS S.A. and the Company have engaged outside U.S. legal counsel to: (i) conduct an independent investigation in connection with matters disclosed in the Leniency Agreement and the Plea Bargain Agreements; and (ii) communicate with relevant U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice regarding the factual findings of that investigation. Additionally, JBS S.A. and the Company have taken, and are continuing to take, measures to enhance their compliance programs, including to prevent and detect bribery and corruption. We cannot predict when the J&F and JBS S.A. investigations will be completed or the results of such investigations, including whether any litigation will be brought against us or the outcome or impact of any resulting litigation. We will monitor the results of the investigations.  Any proceedings that require us to make substantial payments, affect our reputation or otherwise interfere with our business operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Separately, the controlling shareholders of J&F are both under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários or “CVM”) for possible violations of insider trading law involving shares of JBS S.A. and foreign exchange futures contracts prior to the announcement of the Plea Bargain Agreements. They are also facing criminal prosecution by the MPF based on similar allegations.

               Any further developments in these or other matters involving controlling shareholders, directors, or officers of J&F, or other parties affiliated with us, could subject JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company) to potential fines or penalties, may materially adversely affect the public perception or reputation of JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company) and could have a material adverse effect on JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company).

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Pilgrim’s has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated companies.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Sales to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,035	$	4,221	$	10,043	$	13,618
JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC	—		7,271		7,096		23,787
JBS Chile Ltda	—		—		60		—
J&F Investimentos Ltd.	—		—		—		104
JBS Global (U.K.) Ltd.	—		—		—		19,217
Seara International Ltd.	—		2		—		2
Combo Mercado de Congelados	2		—		2		—
Total sales to related parties	$	4,037	$	11,494	$	17,201	$	56,728
Cost of goods purchased from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	29,094	$	31,161	$	90,921	$	83,444
Seara Meats B.V.	8,341		3,343		26,018		9,719
JBS Aves Ltda	40		—		1,123		—
JBS Toledo NV	—		149		290		190
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.	—		—		21		—
Total cost of goods purchased from related parties	$	37,475	$	34,653	$	118,373	$	93,353
Expenditures paid by related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	10,145	$	10,856	$	49,407	$	29,127
JBS S.A.	—		—		—		3,824
JBS Chile Ltda	2		—		5		—
Total expenditures paid by related parties	$	10,147	$	10,856	$	49,412	$	32,951
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	6,851	$	3,976
Seara Meats B.V.	—		—		—		4
JBS S.A.	—		—		164		5
Seara International Ltd.	—		—		31		80
Total expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	7,046	$	4,065

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts receivable from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	614	$	2,826
JBS Chile Ltda.	35		108
Seara International Ltd.	3		15
Seara Meats B.V.	—		2
Total accounts receivable from related parties	$	652	$	2,951
Accounts payable to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,039	$	440
Seara Meats B.V.	2,726		2,410
JBS Toledo NV	30		39
Total accounts payable to related parties	$	6,795	$	2,889

(a) The Company routinely executes transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA Food Company (“JBS USA”) and sell products to them. As of September 30, 2018, approximately $2.2 million of goods purchased from JBS USA were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(b) The Company has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate costs associated with JBS USA’s procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA will be reimbursed by JBS USA. This agreement expires on December 31, 2019.

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SEGMENT REPORTING

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

SEGMENT REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company operates in three reportable segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. The Company measures segment profit as operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S.

On September 8, 2017, the Company acquired Moy Park, one of the top food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers, from JBS S.A. in a common-control transaction. Moy Park's results from operations subsequent to the common-control date of September 30, 2015 comprise the U.K. and Europe segment.

On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired GNP, a vertically integrated poultry business with locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. GNP's results from operations subsequent to the acquisition date are included in the U.S. segment.

Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,864,169	$	1,938,542	$	5,604,709	$	5,557,089
U.K. and Europe	526,722		514,325		1,634,125		1,473,854
Mexico	306,713		341,018		1,042,161		994,568
Total net sales	$	2,697,604	$	2,793,885	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	74,206		$	307,962		$	300,960		$	719,121
U.K. and Europe	23,470			18,569			68,545			51,874
Mexico	(12,355		)	45,692			102,512			146,241
Elimination	25			23			34			69
Total operating income	85,346			372,246			472,051			917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334			24,636			125,901			66,315
Interest income	(4,241		)	(2,128		)	(10,665		)	(3,600		)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(6,711		)	(888		)	(2,802		)	(2,500		)
Miscellaneous, net	653			(1,083		)	(1,781		)	(5,198		)
Income before income taxes	$	60,311		$	351,709		$	361,398		$	862,288

In addition to the net sales reported above, the U.S. segment also generated intersegment net sales of $23.6 million and $21.0 million in the thirteen weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively, from transactions with the Mexico segment and intersegment net sales of $95.7 million and $66.7 million in the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 and September 24, 2017, respectively, from transactions with the Mexico segment. These intersegment net sales were transacted at market prices.

Information on segments for goodwill and total assets are as follows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	804,068		834,346
Mexico	125,607		125,607
Total goodwill	$	971,611	$	1,001,889

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	4,573,467		$	4,444,918
U.K. and Europe	2,023,760			2,226,895
Mexico	982,809			934,511
Eliminations(a)	(1,603,598		)	(1,357,672		)
Total assets	$	5,976,438		$	6,248,652

(a) Eliminations for the period ended September 30, 2018 include the U.S. segment's eliminations of $302.7 million in intersegment receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.3 billion in intersegment receivables and investment with the U.K. and Europe segment. Eliminations for the period ended December 31, 2017 include the U.S. segments elimination of $302.8 million in intersegment receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.1 billion investment in the U.K. and Europe segment.

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 31, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new $200.0 million share repurchase authorization for its common stock over the next twelve months. The Company plans to implement its stock repurchase program through various means, which may include but are not limit to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, the use of derivative instruments and/or accelerated share repurchase programs. The extent to which the Company repurchases its share and the timing of such repurchases will vary and depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by the Company's management team. The Company reserves the right to limit or terminate the repurchase program at any time without notice.

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated and Combined financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 30, 2018. For further information, refer to the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.

On September 8, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Granite Holdings Sàrl and its subsidiaries (together, “Moy Park”) from JBS in a common-control transaction. Moy Park was acquired by JBS from an unrelated third party on September 30, 2015. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 24, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries combined with the accounts of Moy Park. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018 and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Moy Park. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP using management’s best estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of the contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The estimates and judgments will also affect the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments. Significant estimates made by the Company include the allowance for doubtful accounts, allowances for product claims and sales deductions, reserves related to inventory obsolescence or valuation, useful lives of long-lived assets, goodwill, valuation of deferred tax assets, insurance accruals, valuation of pension and other postretirement benefits obligations, income tax accruals, certain derivative positions and valuations of acquired businesses.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations

The functional currency of the Company's U.S. and Mexico operations and certain holding-company subsidiaries in Luxembourg, the U.K. and Ireland is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of its U.K. operations is the British pound. The functional currency of the Company's operations in France and the Netherlands is the euro. For foreign currency-denominated entities other than the Company's Mexico operations, translation from local currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for most assets and liabilities using the exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from translation of these financial records are reflected as a separate component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the Company's Mexico operations, remeasurement from the Mexican peso to U.S. dollars is performed for monetary assets and liabilities using the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet date. Remeasurement is performed for non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Net adjustments resulting from remeasurement of these financial records are reflected in Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

During 2017, the Company reported an adjustment resulting from the translation of a British pound-denominated note payable owed to JBS as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company designated this note payable as a hedge of its net investment in Moy Park. This adjustment remains in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018 and will be reclassified if the Company disposes of its investment in Moy Park.

The Company or its subsidiaries may use derivatives for the purpose of mitigating exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are reported in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

Book Overdraft

Book Overdraft

The majority of the Company’s disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

The Company is required to maintain cash balances with a broker as collateral for exchange traded futures contracts. These balances are classified as restricted cash as they are not available for use by the Company to fund daily operations. The balance of restricted cash may also include investments in U.S. Treasury Bills that qualify as cash equivalents, as required by the broker, to offset the obligation to return cash collateral.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, using the cumulative effect adjustment, often referred to as modified retrospective approach. Under this method, we did not restate the prior financial statements presented, and would record any adjustments in the opening balance sheet for January 2018. There was no cumulative effect to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information was not restated and continues to be presented under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures will include the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period during 2018, as compared to the prior guidance. We expect minimal impact from the adoption of the new standard to the financial statements on a go forward basis, except for expanded disclosures. Revenue is currently recognized at destination and will continue to be recognized at point in time under the new guidance. Additional information regarding revenue recognition is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which, in an effort to improve consistency and transparency, requires the service cost component of defined benefit pension cost and postretirement benefit cost (“net benefit cost”) to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted as of September 30, 2018

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), along with several updates, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity may elect to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach or the beginning of the period of adoption using a cumulative-effect adjustment approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We will adopt the new standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year, and recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the period of adoption. We are progressing in our assessment of leasing and other arrangements, and the evaluation of the impact of the new guidance on these arrangements and our financial statements. While we continue to assess the potential impacts of the standard, we anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of the increase in assets and liabilities from recognition of operating leases. However, we do not believe the standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statement of Income. Implementation of a system solution for administering our leases and facilitating compliance with the new guidance is in process with completion expected prior to the required adoption date.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Among the simplification updates, the standard eliminates the requirement in current GAAP to separately recognize periodic hedge ineffectiveness. Mismatches between the changes in value of the hedged item and hedging instrument may still occur but they will no longer be separately reported. The standard requires the presentation of the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company will need to decide whether to reclassify the stranded tax effects associated with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. If the Company chooses to reclassify we will need to calculate the amount of the reclassification and prepare the related disclosures The accounting standards is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, an accounting standard update to improve non-employee share-based payment accounting. The accounting standard update more closely aligns the accounting for employee and non-employee share based payments. The accounting standards update is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We have elected to adopt this standard as of December 31, 2018, the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to fair value measurements. The new guidance removes certain disclosure requirements related to transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy along with the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additions to the disclosure requirements include more quantitative information related to significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and gains and losses included in other comprehensive income. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, new accounting guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures related to defined benefit plans by eliminating certain required disclosures, clarifying existing disclosures, and adding new disclosures. Changes include removing disclosures related to the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year, adding narrative disclosure of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the defined benefit obligation, and clarifying the disclosures required for plans with projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The new guidance will be effective as of our 2020 fiscal year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Reclassification to Balance Sheet

We made the following reclassification to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 in order to conform to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of September 30, 2018:

	December 31, 2017
	As Presented in 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K		Adjustment Resulting from Adoption of FASB Guidance			As Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable	$	762,444	$	(29,417	)	$	733,027
Accrued expense and other current liabilities	417,342		(7,190		)	410,152
Revenue contract liability	—		36,607			36,607

Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents

The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	401,306	$	581,510
Restricted cash	14,534		8,021
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows	$	415,840	$	589,531

Schedule of Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	401,306	$	581,510
Restricted cash	14,534		8,021
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows	$	415,840	$	589,531

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BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Pro Forma Information

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined financial results for the Company and Moy Park as if the acquisition had been completed at the beginning of the Company’s prior year, December 25, 2016.

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	(In thousands, except per share amount)
Net sales	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	255,504		558,036
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted	1.03		2.24

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	September 30, 2018
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	4,822		$	4,822
Foreign currency instruments	430			430
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(517		)	(517		)
Commodity options instruments	(11,279		)	(11,279		)
Foreign currency instruments	(1,943		)	(1,943		)

	December 31, 2017
	Level 1			Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Commodity futures instruments	$	301		$	301
Commodity options instruments	421			421
Foreign currency instruments	45			45
Fair value liabilities:
Commodity futures instruments	(296		)	(296		)
Commodity option instruments	(3,551		)	(3,551		)
Foreign currency instruments	(211		)	(211		)

Schedule of Fair Value and Carrying Value of Debt Obligations

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our fixed-rate debt obligation recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%, at Level 1 inputs	$	(1,002,598	)	$	(966,340	)	$	(750,000	)	$	(774,375	)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%, at Level 1 inputs	(843,538		)	(805,622		)	(604,820		)	(619,080		)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%, at Level 1 inputs	—			—			(403,444		)	(418,787		)
Secured loans, at Level 3 inputs	(450		)	(449		)	(873		)	(855		)

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TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]

Schedule of Trade Accounts and Other Receivables, and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable	$	526,063		$	548,472
Notes receivable - current	4,630			5,130
Other receivables	36,888			20,021
Receivables, gross	567,581			573,623
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(8,022		)	(8,145		)
Receivables, net	$	559,559		$	565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties(a)	$	652		$	2,951

(a)Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	(8,145	)
Provision charged to operating results	(1,398		)
Account write-offs and recoveries	1,629
Effect of exchange rate	(108		)
Balance, end of period	$	(8,022	)

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INVENTORIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Raw materials and work-in-process	$	734,289	$	722,083
Finished products (a)	355,736		444,796
Operating supplies	42,350		35,442
Maintenance materials and parts	50,587		52,749
Total inventories	$	1,182,962	$	1,255,070

(a) Finished products contains a $54.4 million reclassification related to both in-transit and non-chicken finished products that were previously presented in Feed, eggs and other on our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 to conform to the inventories presented as of September 30, 2018.

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INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Schedule of Available-For-Sale Securities

The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Cash equivalents:
Fixed income securities	$	253,500	$	253,500	$	330,456	$	330,456
Other	32,273		32,273		942		942

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Instruments and Cash Collateral

Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(Fair values in thousands)
Fair values:
Commodity derivative assets	$	4,822		$	722
Commodity derivative liabilities	(11,796		)	(3,847		)
Foreign currency derivative assets	430			45
Foreign currency derivative liabilities	(1,943		)	(211		)
Collateral posted with brokers(a)	14,534			8,021
Derivatives coverage(b):
Corn	14.6		%	3.1		%
Soybean meal	11.0		%	1.7		%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
Corn	September 2019			March 2019
Soybean meal	December 2019			December 2018

(a) Collateral posted with brokers consists primarily of cash, short term treasury bills, or other cash equivalents.

(b) Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables present the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges:

	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
Total	$	130	$	(779	)	$	33		$	(128	)
	Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)
Total	$	143	$	—		$	(329	)	$	(9	)

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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill

The activity in goodwill by segment for the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 was as follows:

	December 31, 2017		Currency Translation			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	—		$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	834,346		(30,278		)	804,068
Mexico	125,607		—			125,607
Total	$	1,001,889	$	(30,278	)	$	971,611

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Identified intangible assets consisted of the following:

	December 31, 2017			Amortization			Currency Translation			Reclassification			September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount:
Trade names	$	79,686		$	—		$	—		$	(1,343	)	$	78,343
Customer relationships	251,952			—			(3,287		)	1,343			250,008
Non-compete agreements	320			—			—			—			320
Trade names not subject to amortization	403,594			—			(13,740		)	—			389,854
Accumulated amortization:
Trade names	(40,888		)	(2,796		)	—			623			(43,061		)
Customer relationships	(77,194		)	(17,248		)	1,033			(623		)	(94,032		)
Non-compete agreements	(307		)	(6		)	—			—			(313		)
Total identified intangible assets	$	617,163		$	(20,050	)	$	(15,994	)	$	—		$	581,119

Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

.

Customer relationships	5-16 years
Trade names	3-20 years
Non-compete agreements	3 years

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Land	$	197,182		$	205,087
Buildings	1,682,584			1,681,610
Machinery and equipment	2,582,087			2,533,522
Autos and trucks	57,846			58,159
Construction-in-progress	238,806			187,094
PP&E, gross	4,758,505			4,665,472
Accumulated depreciation	(2,637,859		)	(2,570,325		)
PP&E, net	$	2,120,646		$	2,095,147

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CURRENT LIABILITIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Current Liabilities

Current liabilities, other than current notes payable to banks, income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts payable:
Trade accounts	$	740,735	$	661,759
Book overdrafts	62,799		56,022
Other payables	14,393		15,246
Total accounts payable	817,927		733,027
Accounts payable to related parties(a)	6,795		2,889
Revenue contract liability(b)	28,873		36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Compensation and benefits	152,707		181,678
Interest and debt-related fees	31,771		29,750
Insurance and self-insured claims	81,475		79,911
Derivative liabilities:
Commodity futures	517		296
Commodity options	11,279		3,551
Foreign currency derivatives	1,943		211
Other accrued expenses	123,454		114,755
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146		410,152
	$	1,256,741	$	1,182,675

(a)Additional information regarding accounts payable to related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”

(b)Additional information regarding revenue contract liabilities is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

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LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements

Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements, including current notes payable to banks, consisted of the following components:

	Maturity	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
		(In thousands)
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements:
Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%	2025	$	1,002,598		$	754,820
Senior notes payable, net of discount at 5.875%	2027	843,538			600,000
Senior notes payable at 6.25%	2021	—			403,444
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
Term note payable at 3.60%	2023	500,000			780,000
Revolving note payable at 5.25%	2023	—			73,262
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95%	2019	—			76,307
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5%	2018	—			9,590
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%	2018	1,479			1,815
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%	2023	—			—
Secured loans with payables at weighted average of 3.73%	Various	450			873
Capital lease obligations	Various	4,917			9,239
Long-term debt		2,352,982			2,709,350
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(24,026		)	(47,775		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities		2,328,956			2,661,575
Less: Capitalized financing costs		(26,762		)	(25,958		)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:		$	2,302,194		$	2,635,617

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REVENUE RECOGNITION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregated Revenue

Disaggregated Revenue

Revenue has been disaggregated into the categories below to show how economic factors affect the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Domestic		Export		Net Sales		Domestic		Export		Net Sales
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,800,789	$	63,380	$	1,864,169	$	5,411,391	$	193,318	$	5,604,709
U.K. and Europe	456,187		70,535		526,722		1,398,494		235,631		1,634,125
Mexico	306,713		—		306,713		1,042,161		—		1,042,161
Net Sales	$	2,563,689	$	133,915	$	2,697,604	$	7,852,046	$	428,949	$	8,280,995

Contract Balances

Changes in the revenue contract liability balances during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of period	$	36,607
Revenue recognized	(42,358		)
Cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period	34,624
Balance, end of period	$	28,873

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

Schedule of Retirement Plan Expenses

Expenses recognized under all these retirement plans were as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Total retirement plans expense	$	2,968	$	2,735	$	9,133	$	7,963

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Obligations and Assets

The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the defined benefit plans were as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:	(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	178,247		$	1,603		$	167,159		$	1,648
Interest cost	4,097			35			4,178			38
Actuarial losses (gains)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	165,700		$	1,460		$	173,199		$	1,600

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Change in plan assets:	(In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	$	112,570		$	—		$	97,526		$	—
Actual return on plan assets	1,853			—			9,321			—
Contributions by employer	9,474			111			10,538			111
Benefits paid	(6,857		)	(111		)	(7,571		)	(111		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	$	117,040		$	—		$	109,814		$	—

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Funded status:	(In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:	(In thousands)
Current liability	$	(12,155	)	$	(148	)	$	(12,168	)	$	(149	)
Long-term liability	(36,505		)	(1,312		)	(53,509		)	(1,454		)
Recognized liability	$	(48,660	)	$	(1,460	)	$	(65,677	)	$	(1,603	)

	September 30, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits			Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other    comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	46,241	$	(32	)	$	54,235	$	35

Schedule of Net Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Costs

Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirteen Weeks Ended September 24, 2017					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	1,366		$	12	$	1,392		$	13	$	4,097		$	35	$	4,178		$	38
Estimated return on plan assets	(1,516		)	—		(1,314		)	—		(4,549		)	—		(3,940		)	—
Amortization of net loss	300			—		233			—		902			—		699			—
Net costs	$	150		$	12	$	311		$	13	$	450		$	35	$	937		$	38

Schedule of Economic Assumptions, and Impact of Change in Discount Rate on Benefit Obligation

The weighted average assumptions used in determining pension and other postretirement plan information were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end    of period:
Discount rate	4.28	%	4.08	%	3.69	%	3.39	%

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other    postretirement cost:
Discount rate	3.69	%	3.39	%	4.32	%	3.81	%
Expected return on plan assets	5.50	%	N/A		5.50	%	NA

The sensitivity of the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits to changes in the discount rate is set out below. The impact of a change in the discount rate of 0.25% on the projected benefit obligation for other benefits is less than $1,000. This sensitivity analysis is based on changing one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to variations in significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as for calculating the liability recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25%			Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25%
	(In thousands)
Impact on projected benefit obligation for pension benefits	$	(4,729	)	$	4,488

Schedule of Plan Asset Allocations

The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	1	%	5	%
Pooled separate accounts(a):
Equity securities	4	%	5	%
Fixed income securities	4	%	4	%
Common collective trust funds(a):
Equity securities	47	%	56	%
Fixed income securities	40	%	30	%
Real estate	4	%	—	%
Total assets	100	%	100	%

(a) Pooled separate accounts (“PSAs”) and common collective trust funds (“CCTs”) are two of the most common types of alternative vehicles in which benefit plans invest. These investments are pooled funds that look like mutual funds, but they are not registered with the SEC. Often times, they will be invested in mutual funds, real estate trusts or other marketable securities, but the unit price generally will be different from the value of the underlying securities because the fund may also hold cash for liquidity purposes, and the fees imposed by the fund are deducted from the fund value rather than charged separately to investors. Some PSAs and CCTs have no restrictions as to their investment strategy and can invest in riskier investments, such as derivatives, hedge funds, private equity funds, or similar investments.

Schedule of Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets

The fair value measurements of plan assets fell into the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	September 30, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total		Level 1(a)		Level 2(b)		Level 3(c)		Total
	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	701	$	—	$	—	$	701	$	6,128	$	—	$	—	$	6,128
Pooled separate accounts:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		2,927		—		2,927		—		3,483		—		3,483
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e)	—		363		—		363		—		420		—		420
International equity funds(f)	—		1,758		—		1,758		—		1,665		—		1,665
Fixed income funds(g)	—		5,052		—		5,052		—		4,799		—		4,799
Common collective trusts funds:
Large U.S. equity funds(d)	—		21,121		—		21,121		—		22,695		—		22,695
Small U.S. equity funds(e)	—		7,957		—		7,957		—		20,592		—		20,592
International equity funds(f)	—		25,452		—		25,452		—		19,923		—		19,923
Fixed income funds(g)	—		46,493		—		46,493		—		32,865		—		32,865
Real estate(h)	—		5,216		—		5,216		—		—		—		—
Total assets	$	701	$	116,339	$	—	$	117,040	$	6,128	$	106,442	$	—	$	112,570

(a) Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.

(b) Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.

(c) Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.

(d) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.

(e) This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.

(f) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.

(g) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). These investment options typically carry more risk than short-term fixed income investment options, but less overall risk than equities.

(h) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in real estate investment trusts or private equity pools that own real estate. These long-term investments are primarily in office buildings, industrial parks, apartments or retail complexes. These investment options typically carry more risk, including liquidity risk, than fixed income investment options.

Schedule of Benefit Payments

The following table reflects the benefits as of September 30, 2018 expected to be paid through 2027 from the Company's pension and other postretirement plans. Because its pension plans are primarily funded plans, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come primarily from the trusts established for these plans. Because the Company's other postretirement plans are unfunded, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come from its own assets.

	Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
2018	$	4,592	$	37
2019	11,889		148
2020	11,687		146
2021	11,337		143
2022	11,160		139
2023-2027	50,628		611
Total	$	101,293	$	1,224

Schedule of Unrecognized Benefit Amounts

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017
	Pension Benefits			Other Benefits			Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
	(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period	$	54,235		$	35		$	46,494		$	(31	)
Amortization	(902		)	—			(699		)	—
Actuarial loss (gain)	(9,787		)	(67		)	9,433			25
Asset loss (gain)	2,695			—			(5,381		)	—
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period	$	46,241		$	(32	)	$	49,847		$	(6	)

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018(a)
	Gains Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities			Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	42,081		$	(1,848	)	$	(71,434	)	$	61		$	(31,140	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(58,892		)	33			5,415			985			(52,459		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			329			683			(956		)	56
Impact of currency translation	—			(5		)	—			—			(5		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(58,892		)	357			6,098			29			(52,408		)
Balance, end of period	$	(16,811	)	$	(1,491	)	$	(65,336	)	$	90		$	(83,548	)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017(a)
	Losses Related to Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Gains on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(265,714	)	$	99		$	(64,243	)	$	—	$	(329,858	)
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction	204,577			(1,368		)	—			—		203,209
Comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	92,364			(137		)	(2,539		)	—		89,688
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income	—			9			435			—		444
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	92,364			(128		)	(2,104		)	—		90,132
Balance, end of period	$	31,227		$	(1,397	)	$	(66,347	)	$	—	$	(36,517	)

(a) All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Schedule of Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

	Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 30, 2018			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   September 24, 2017			Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
	(In thousands)
Realized loss on settlement of derivative      financial instruments classified as cash flow      hedges	$	(329	)	$	(9	)	Cost of sales
Realized gain on sale of securities	1,263			—			Interest income
Amortization of defined benefit pension      and other postretirement plan actuarial      losses:
Union employees pension plan(b)(d)	(36		)	(18		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(270		)	(212		)	Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)	(596		)	(469		)	Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax	32			(708		)
Tax benefit	(88		)	264
Total reclassification for the period	$	(56	)	$	(444	)

(a) Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.

(b) The Company sponsors the Union Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.

(c) The Company sponsors the GK Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the SERP Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Directors’ Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors and the Retiree Life Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees (collectively, the “Legacy Gold Kist Plans”).

(d) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION [Abstract]

Schedule of Awards

The following awards were outstanding during the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018:

Award Type	Benefit Plan	Awards Granted	Grant Date	Grant Date Fair Value per Award	Vesting Condition	Vesting Date	Awards Forfeited to Date		Settlement Method
RSU	LTIP	389,424	01/19/2017	18.38	Performance / Service	(a)	389,424	(a)	Stock
RSU	LTIP	410,000	02/14/2018	25.59	Service	01/01/2019	—		Stock
RSU	LTIP	161,215	03/01/2018	24.93	Service	(b)	7,646		Stock
RSU	LTIP	266,478	03/01/2018	24.93	Performance / Service	(c)	30,167		Stock
RSU	LTIP	11,144	05/10/2018	21.54	(d)	(d)	—		Stock

(a) Performance conditions associated with these awards were not satisfied. Therefore, 100% of the awards were forfeited during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018.

(b) These restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Expected compensation cost related to these units totals $4.0 million based on a closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss over the remaining vesting period.

(c) If performance conditions related to the Company's 2018 operating results are satisfied, these restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Expected compensation cost related to these units before considering the impact of individual participant forfeitures totals $6.6 million based on a closing stock price for the Company's common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss upon satisfaction of the performance conditions over the remaining vesting period.

(d) These restricted stock units were granted to the four non-employees who currently serve on the Company's Board of Directors. Each participating director's units will vest upon his departure from the Company's Board of Directors. Compensation cost was recognized in profit/loss upon the grant date.

Schedule of Compensation Cost and Income Tax Benefit

Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost:
Cost of sales	$	124	$	32	$	293	$	219
Selling, general and administrative expense	3,502		475		8,966		2,235
Total	$	3,626	$	507	$	9,259	$	2,454
Income tax benefit	$	883	$	132	$	2,254	$	733

Schedule of Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Activity

The Company’s RSU activity is included below:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 24, 2017
	Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
Outstanding at beginning of period	389		$	18.39	906		$	20.00
Granted	849		25.20		462		18.72
Vested	—		—		(486	)	17.73
Forfeited	(427	)	18.97		(251	)	25.36
Outstanding at end of period	811		$	25.22	631		$	18.68

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Related Costs

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with these restructuring initiatives by major type of cost:

	GNP		40 North Foods		Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred
	(In thousands)
Employee termination benefits	$	4,074	$	449	$	4,523
Inventory adjustments	472		—		472
Asset impairments	470		103		573
Other charges(a)	1,983		150		2,133
Total estimated cost	$	6,999	$	702	$	7,701

^(a)  Comprised of other costs directly related to the restructuring initiatives, including prepaid software impairment, St. Cloud, Minnesota office lease costs, Luverne, Minnesota plant closure costs, and Boulder, Colorado office lease costs.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized the following costs and incurred the following cash outlays related to these restructuring initiatives:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 30, 2018					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 30, 2018
	Expenses			Cash Outlay		Expenses			Cash Outlay
	(In thousands)
GNP initiative:
Employee termination benefits	$	(43	)	$	272	$	936		$	1,437
Inventory adjustments	—			—		(227		)	—
Asset impairments	311			—		781			—
Other charges	—			—		—			65
	268			272		1,490			1,502
40 North Foods initiative:
Employee termination benefits	—			38		449			443
Asset impairments	—			—		103			—
Other	(11		)	17		139			26
	(11		)	55		691			469
Total	$	257		$	327	$	2,181		$	1,971

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve

The following table reconciles liabilities and reserves associated with this restructuring initiative from the beginning to the end of the thirty-nine weeks endedSeptember 30, 2018. Ending liability balances for employee termination benefits and other charges are reported in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The ending reserve balance for inventory adjustments is reported in the line item Inventories in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	GNP Initiative												40 North Foods Initiative
	Employee Termination Benefits			Inventory Adjustments			Other Charges			Total			Employee Termination Benefits			Other Charges			Total
	(In thousands)
Beginning liability or reserve	$	800		$	699		$	752		$	2,251		$	—		$	—		$	—
Restructuring charges	936			(227		)	76			785			449			139			588
Payments and disposals	(1,437		)	(472		)	(735		)	(2,644		)	(443		)	(26		)	(469		)
Ending liability or reserve	$	299		$	—		$	93		$	392		$	6		$	113		$	119

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Schedule of Related Party Transactions

Pilgrim’s has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated companies.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
Sales to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,035	$	4,221	$	10,043	$	13,618
JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC	—		7,271		7,096		23,787
JBS Chile Ltda	—		—		60		—
J&F Investimentos Ltd.	—		—		—		104
JBS Global (U.K.) Ltd.	—		—		—		19,217
Seara International Ltd.	—		2		—		2
Combo Mercado de Congelados	2		—		2		—
Total sales to related parties	$	4,037	$	11,494	$	17,201	$	56,728
Cost of goods purchased from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	29,094	$	31,161	$	90,921	$	83,444
Seara Meats B.V.	8,341		3,343		26,018		9,719
JBS Aves Ltda	40		—		1,123		—
JBS Toledo NV	—		149		290		190
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.	—		—		21		—
Total cost of goods purchased from related parties	$	37,475	$	34,653	$	118,373	$	93,353
Expenditures paid by related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	10,145	$	10,856	$	49,407	$	29,127
JBS S.A.	—		—		—		3,824
JBS Chile Ltda	2		—		5		—
Total expenditures paid by related parties	$	10,147	$	10,856	$	49,412	$	32,951
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(b)	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	6,851	$	3,976
Seara Meats B.V.	—		—		—		4
JBS S.A.	—		—		164		5
Seara International Ltd.	—		—		31		80
Total expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	$	1,938	$	1,516	$	7,046	$	4,065

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Accounts receivable from related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	614	$	2,826
JBS Chile Ltda.	35		108
Seara International Ltd.	3		15
Seara Meats B.V.	—		2
Total accounts receivable from related parties	$	652	$	2,951
Accounts payable to related parties:
JBS USA Food Company(a)	$	4,039	$	440
Seara Meats B.V.	2,726		2,410
JBS Toledo NV	30		39
Total accounts payable to related parties	$	6,795	$	2,889

(a) The Company routinely executes transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA Food Company (“JBS USA”) and sell products to them. As of September 30, 2018, approximately $2.2 million of goods purchased from JBS USA were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(b) The Company has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate costs associated with JBS USA’s procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA will be reimbursed by JBS USA. This agreement expires on December 31, 2019.

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SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017		September 30, 2018		September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	1,864,169	$	1,938,542	$	5,604,709	$	5,557,089
U.K. and Europe	526,722		514,325		1,634,125		1,473,854
Mexico	306,713		341,018		1,042,161		994,568
Total net sales	$	2,697,604	$	2,793,885	$	8,280,995	$	8,025,511

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017			September 30, 2018			September 24, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	74,206		$	307,962		$	300,960		$	719,121
U.K. and Europe	23,470			18,569			68,545			51,874
Mexico	(12,355		)	45,692			102,512			146,241
Elimination	25			23			34			69
Total operating income	85,346			372,246			472,051			917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334			24,636			125,901			66,315
Interest income	(4,241		)	(2,128		)	(10,665		)	(3,600		)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(6,711		)	(888		)	(2,802		)	(2,500		)
Miscellaneous, net	653			(1,083		)	(1,781		)	(5,198		)
Income before income taxes	$	60,311		$	351,709		$	361,398		$	862,288

Information on segments for goodwill and total assets are as follows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	41,936	$	41,936
U.K. and Europe	804,068		834,346
Mexico	125,607		125,607
Total goodwill	$	971,611	$	1,001,889

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
U.S.	$	4,573,467		$	4,444,918
U.K. and Europe	2,023,760			2,226,895
Mexico	982,809			934,511
Eliminations(a)	(1,603,598		)	(1,357,672		)
Total assets	$	5,976,438		$	6,248,652

(a) Eliminations for the period ended September 30, 2018 include the U.S. segment's eliminations of $302.7 million in intersegment receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.3 billion in intersegment receivables and investment with the U.K. and Europe segment. Eliminations for the period ended December 31, 2017 include the U.S. segments elimination of $302.8 million in intersegment receivables, payables and investment with the Mexico segment and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.1 billion investment in the U.K. and Europe segment.

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Additional Information) (Details) bird / WK in Millions, lb in Billions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 employee bird / WK state grower country lb	Sep. 08, 2017 bird / WK
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of countries in which entity exports products | country	100
Number of states in which entity operates | state	14
Number of employees | employee	51,300
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK	45.3
Maximum annual processing capacity of employees (in pounds) (more than) | lb	13.1
Number of contract growers | grower	5,200
Percentage of beneficial ownership by holding company	78.50%
Moy Park
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of employees | employee	10,400
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK		6.1
Percentage of equity acquired		100.00%

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Reclassification to Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts payable	$ 817,927	$ 733,027
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146	410,152
Revenue contract liability	$ 28,873	36,607
As Presented in 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts payable		762,444
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		417,342
Revenue contract liability		0
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Adjustment Resulting from Adoption of FASB Guidance
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts payable		(29,417)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(7,190)
Revenue contract liability		$ 36,607

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 401,306	$ 581,510
Restricted cash	14,534	8,021
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows	$ 415,840	$ 589,531	$ 406,630	$ 297,523

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BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions, lb in Millions, bird / WK in Millions			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2017 USD ($) bird / WK lb hatchery mill plant	Sep. 08, 2017 GBP (£)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) employee bird / WK	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) employee bird / WK	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK			45.3		45.3
Number of employees of acquiree | employee			51,300		51,300
Net sales			$ 2,697,604	$ 2,793,885	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation			$ 29,310	232,680	$ 255,269	560,242
Moy Park
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired	100.00%
Cash consideration	$ 301,300
Note payable for consideration transferred | £		£ 562.5
Number of processing plants | plant	4
Prepared foods cook plants | plant	10
Feed mills | mill	3
Hatcheries | hatchery	6
Rendering facilities | plant	1
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK	6.1
Food prepared, annual amount | lb	460.0
Number of employees of acquiree | employee			10,400		10,400
Transaction costs	$ 19,900
Net sales			$ 526,700	514,300	$ 1,600,000	1,500,000
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation			$ 17,700	$ 8,200	$ 39,500	$ 25,600

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BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Pro Forma Information) (Details) - Moy Park - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 255,504	$ 558,036
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 2.24

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Commodity futures instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets	$ 4,822	$ 301
Derivative liabilities	(517)	(296)
Commodity futures instruments | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets	4,822	301
Derivative liabilities	(517)	(296)
Commodity options instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets		421
Derivative liabilities	(11,279)	(3,551)
Commodity options instruments | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets		421
Derivative liabilities	(11,279)	(3,551)
Foreign currency instruments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets	430	45
Derivative liabilities	(1,943)	(211)
Foreign currency instruments | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets	430	45
Derivative liabilities	$ (1,943)	$ (211)

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Fair Value and Carrying Amount of Debt Obligations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 29, 2017	Apr. 17, 2015	Mar. 11, 2015
Senior notes | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.75%				5.75%
Senior notes | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.875%		5.875%
Senior notes | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.25%			6.25%
Senior notes | Level 1 | Carrying Amount | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	$ (1,002,598)	$ (750,000)
Senior notes | Level 1 | Carrying Amount | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	(843,538)	(604,820)
Senior notes | Level 1 | Carrying Amount | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	0	(403,444)
Senior notes | Level 1 | Fair Value | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	(966,340)	(774,375)
Senior notes | Level 1 | Fair Value | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	(805,622)	(619,080)
Senior notes | Level 1 | Fair Value | Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	0	(418,787)
Secured loans | Level 3 | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	(450)	(873)
Secured loans | Level 3 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-rate senior notes payable	$ (449)	$ (855)

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TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]
Trade accounts receivable		$ 526,063	$ 548,472
Notes receivable - current		4,630	5,130
Other receivables		36,888	20,021
Receivables, gross		567,581	573,623
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ (8,145)	(8,022)	(8,145)
Receivables, net		559,559	565,478
Account receivable from related parties		$ 652	$ 2,951
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	(8,145)
Provision charged to operating results	(1,398)
Account write-offs and recoveries	1,629
Effect of exchange rate	(108)
Balance, end of period	$ (8,022)

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INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory [Line Items]
Raw materials and work-in-process	$ 734,289	$ 722,083
Finished products	355,736	444,796
Operating supplies	42,350	35,442
Maintenance materials and parts	50,587	52,749
Total inventories	$ 1,182,962	1,255,070
Change In Inventory Measurement | Finished Chicken Products
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories		54,400
Change In Inventory Measurement | Feed, Eggs and Other
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories		$ (54,400)

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INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Gross realized gains	$ 2,500	$ 2,000	$ 5,400	$ 3,100
Fixed income securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	253,500		253,500		$ 330,456
Fair Value	253,500		253,500		330,456
Other
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	32,273		32,273		942
Fair Value	$ 32,273		$ 32,273		$ 942

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Net gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments	$ (7.4)	$ 6.9	$ (25.0)	$ 7.3
Cash flow hedge gain (loss) to be reclassified within twelve months (less than)			$ 0.1

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Instruments and Cash Collateral) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair values:
Collateral posted with brokers	$ 14,534	$ 8,021
Corn
Derivatives Coverage:
Derivatives coverage (as a percentage)	14.60%	3.10%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
Maturity date	Sep. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Soybean meal
Derivatives Coverage:
Derivatives coverage (as a percentage)	11.00%	1.70%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
Maturity date	Dec. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Commodity
Fair values:
Derivative assets, gross	$ 4,822	$ 722
Derivative liabilities, gross	(11,796)	(3,847)
Foreign currency
Fair values:
Derivative assets, gross	430	45
Derivative liabilities, gross	$ (1,943)	$ (211)

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in AOCI (Details) - Cash Flow Hedging - Designated as Hedging Instrument - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)	$ 130	$ (779)	$ 33	$ (128)
Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	143	0	(329)	(9)
Foreign currency derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)	130	(779)	33	(128)
Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	$ 143	$ 0	$ (329)	$ (9)

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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 1,001,889
Currency Translation	(30,278)
Balance, end of period	971,611
U.S.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	41,936
Currency Translation	0
Balance, end of period	41,936
U.K. and Europe
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	834,346
Currency Translation	(30,278)
Balance, end of period	804,068
Mexico
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	125,607
Currency Translation	0
Balance, end of period	$ 125,607

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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Intangible Assets) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Rollforward]
Reclassification	$ 0
Accumulated Amortization Rollforward [Roll Forward]
Amortization	(20,050)
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Rollforward [Rollforward]
December 31, 2017	617,163
Currency Translation	(15,994)
September 30, 2018	581,119
Trade names
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Rollforward]
December 31, 2017	403,594
Currency Translation	(13,740)
Reclassification	0
September 30, 2018	389,854
Trade names
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Rollforward]
December 31, 2017	79,686
Currency Translation	0
Reclassification	(1,343)
September 30, 2018	78,343
Accumulated Amortization Rollforward [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2017	(40,888)
Amortization	(2,796)
Currency Translation	0
Reclassification	623
September 30, 2018	(43,061)
Customer relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Rollforward]
December 31, 2017	251,952
Currency Translation	(3,287)
Reclassification	1,343
September 30, 2018	250,008
Accumulated Amortization Rollforward [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2017	(77,194)
Amortization	(17,248)
Currency Translation	1,033
Reclassification	(623)
September 30, 2018	(94,032)
Non-compete agreements
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Rollforward]
December 31, 2017	320
Currency Translation	0
Reclassification	0
September 30, 2018	320
Accumulated Amortization Rollforward [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2017	(307)
Amortization	(6)
Currency Translation	0
Reclassification	0
September 30, 2018	$ (313)

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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Estimated Useful Lives of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Customer relationships | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, estimated useful life	5 years
Customer relationships | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, estimated useful life	16 years
Trade names | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, estimated useful life	3 years
Trade names | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, estimated useful life	20 years
Non-compete agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, estimated useful life	3 years

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	$ 4,758,505	$ 4,665,472
Accumulated depreciation	(2,637,859)	(2,570,325)
PP&E, net	2,120,646	2,095,147
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	197,182	205,087
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	1,682,584	1,681,610
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	2,582,087	2,533,522
Autos and trucks
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	57,846	58,159
Construction-in-progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
PP&E, gross	$ 238,806	$ 187,094

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation		$ 64,400	$ 63,800	$ 187,000	$ 181,100
Payments for capital projects				231,875	258,364
Transfer of property, plant and equipment				149,500	272,500
Proceeds from property disposals		1,500	1,000	2,707	2,585
Gain (loss) on property disposals		700	$ (200)	452	$ 540
Assets held for sale	$ 2,616	2,616		2,616		$ 708
Idled assets, carrying amount	47,400	47,400		47,400
Idled assets, depreciable value	155,600	155,600		155,600
Idled assets, accumulated depreciation	108,200	$ 108,200		108,200
Idled assets, impairment				$ 100
U.S. | Reportable Geographical Components
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment	$ 800

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CURRENT LIABILITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounts payable:
Trade accounts	$ 740,735	$ 661,759
Book overdrafts	62,799	56,022
Other payables	14,393	15,246
Total accounts payable	817,927	733,027
Accounts payable to related parties	6,795	2,889
Revenue contract liability	28,873	36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Compensation and benefits	152,707	181,678
Interest and debt-related fees	31,771	29,750
Insurance and self-insured claims	81,475	79,911
Derivative liabilities:
Other accrued expenses	123,454	114,755
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	403,146	410,152
Total accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	1,256,741	1,182,675
Commodity futures
Derivative liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	517	296
Commodity options
Derivative liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	11,279	3,551
Foreign currency derivatives
Derivative liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$ 1,943	$ 211

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LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements) (Details) £ in Millions			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2018	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	May 29, 2018 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2017	Apr. 17, 2015	Mar. 11, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 2,352,982,000		$ 2,709,350,000
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt			(24,026,000)		(47,775,000)
Long-term debt, less current maturities			2,328,956,000		2,661,575,000
Less: Capitalized financing costs			(26,762,000)		(25,958,000)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:			$ 2,302,194,000		2,635,617,000
Line of credit | Term note payable at 3.60%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.60%
Long-term debt			$ 500,000,000		780,000,000
Line of credit | Revolving note payable at 5.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			5.25%
Long-term debt			$ 0		73,262,000
Line of credit | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 0		76,307,000
Line of credit | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95% | TIIE Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.95%	0.95%
Line of credit | Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 0		9,590,000
Line of credit | Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5% | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.50%
Line of credit | Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 1,479,000		1,815,000
Line of credit | Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			0.80%
Line of credit | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 0		0
Line of credit | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.25%		1.25%
Line of credit | Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%		2.00%
Senior notes | Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			5.75%					5.75%
Long-term debt			$ 1,002,598,000		754,820,000
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 5.875%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			5.875%			5.875%
Long-term debt			$ 843,538,000		600,000,000
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 6.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			6.25%				6.25%
Long-term debt			$ 0	£ 65.7	403,444,000
Secured loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate			3.73%
Long-term debt			$ 450,000		873,000
Other long-term debt | Capital lease obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 4,917,000		$ 9,239,000

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LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Narrative) (Details)								1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 20, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2018 GBP (£)	May 29, 2018 GBP (£)	Mar. 07, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2016 MXN ($)	Jun. 30, 2009 EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2018	Mar. 07, 2018 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 29, 2016 GBP (£)	Apr. 17, 2015 GBP (£)	Mar. 19, 2015 GBP (£)	Mar. 11, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									$ 2,352,982,000			$ 2,709,350,000
Revolving note payable at 5.25% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate									5.25%
Long-term debt									$ 0			73,262,000
Revolving note payable at 5.25% | Line of credit | CoBank, ACB
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 750,000,000.0
Outstanding borrowings									$ 0
Term note payable at 3.60% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate									3.60%
Long-term debt									$ 500,000,000			780,000,000
Term note payable at 3.60% | Line of credit | CoBank, ACB
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									500,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 500,000,000.0
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.25%
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.25%
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.75%
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.25%
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | Base Rate | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.25%
2015 US Credit Facility | CoBank, ACB | Base Rate | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.75%
2015 US Credit Facility | Line of credit | CoBank, ACB
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available increase to aggregate revolving loan commitment	$ 1,250,000,000.00
Quarterly principal payment required, percent of original principal amount	1.25%
Current borrowing capacity									705,100,000
Letters of credit outstanding									44,900,000
Credit facility, capital expenditures limit	$ 500,000,000.0
2015 US Credit Facility | Line of credit | CoBank, ACB | U.S. and Puerto Rico Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest guaranteed for debt	100.00%
2015 US Credit Facility | Line of credit | CoBank, ACB | Foreign Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest guaranteed for debt	65.00%
2015 US Credit Facility | Swingline Loans | CoBank, ACB
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000.0
2015 US Credit Facility | Letter of Credit | CoBank, ACB
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 125,000,000.0
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									0			76,307,000
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 750,000,000			40,100,000
Current borrowing capacity									40,100,000
Outstanding borrowings									$ 0
Interest rate on short-term credit facility amounts outstanding										9.07%
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95% | Line of credit | TIIE Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate						0.95%			0.95%
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									$ 0			0
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | Line of credit | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.25%							1.25%
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | Line of credit | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.00%							2.00%
Moy Park Bank of Ireland Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% | Line of credit | Governor and the Company of the Bank of Ireland
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		£ 100,000,000							$ 130,300,000
Current borrowing capacity									130,300,000
Outstanding borrowings									0
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									$ 0			9,590,000
Maximum borrowing capacity | £															£ 20,000,000.0
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5% | Line of credit | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									2.50%
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt									$ 1,479,000			1,815,000
Maximum borrowing capacity									11,600,000
Current borrowing capacity									10,100,000
Outstanding borrowings									$ 1,500,000
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | Line of credit | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									0.80%
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | Receivables Finance Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity | €							€ 20,000,000.0
Line of credit percent decrease								50.00%
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8% | Receivables Finance Agreement | EURIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate							0.80%
Senior notes | Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount				$ 250,000,000.0	$ 250,000,000.0											$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate									5.75%							5.75%
Add on offering, percent of face value				99.25%	102.00%						99.25%
Proceeds from issuance of debt				$ 248,100,000	$ 255,000,000
Unamortized premium					5,000,000
Unamortized discount				1,900,000
Long-term debt									$ 1,002,598,000			754,820,000
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 5.875%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount				$ 250,000,000	$ 600,000,000.0
Stated interest rate					5.875%				5.875%
Add on offering, percent of face value				97.25%							97.25%
Proceeds from issuance of debt				$ 243,100,000
Unamortized discount				$ 6,900,000
Long-term debt									$ 843,538,000			600,000,000
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 6.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount | £														£ 300,000,000
Stated interest rate									6.25%					6.25%
Tendered amount | £											£ 234,300,000
Redemption price, percentage			101.56%
Long-term debt			£ 65,700,000						$ 0			$ 403,444,000
Line of credit | Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement | Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity | £													£ 45,000,000.0

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INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$ 30,848,000	$ 113,396,000	$ 106,367,000	$ 278,046,000
Effective income tax rate			29.40%	32.20%
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, foreign unremitted earnings liability					$ 0
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, transition tax for accumulated foreign earnings liability	26,400,000.0		$ 26,400,000.0
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, transition tax for accumulated foreign earnings liability, percent increase			7.00%
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, GILTI liability	$ 5,900,000		$ 5,900,000
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, income tax benefit			200,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax expense (benefit)			$ (300,000)	$ 4,500,000

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REVENUE RECOGNITION (Disaggregated Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 2,697,604	$ 2,793,885	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	1,864,169		5,604,709
U.K. and Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	526,722		1,634,125
Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	306,713		1,042,161
Domestic
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	2,563,689		7,852,046
Domestic | U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	1,800,789		5,411,391
Domestic | U.K. and Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	456,187		1,398,494
Domestic | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	306,713		1,042,161
Export
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	133,915		428,949
Export | U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	63,380		193,318
Export | U.K. and Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	70,535		235,631
Export | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 0		$ 0

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REVENUE RECOGNITION (Contract Balances) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 36,607
Revenue recognized	(42,358)
Cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period	34,624
Balance, end of period	$ 28,873

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Retirement Plan Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]
Retirement plan expenses	$ 2,968	$ 2,735	$ 9,133	$ 7,963

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Obligations and Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period			$ 112,570
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	$ 117,040		117,040
Pension Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period			178,247	$ 167,159
Interest cost	1,366	$ 1,392	4,097	4,178
Actuarial losses (gains)			(9,787)	9,433
Benefits paid			(6,857)	(7,571)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	165,700	173,199	165,700	173,199
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period			112,570	97,526
Actual return on plan assets			1,853	9,321
Contributions by employer			9,474	10,538
Benefits paid			(6,857)	(7,571)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	117,040	109,814	117,040	109,814
Funded status:
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period	(48,660)		(48,660)		$ (65,677)
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:
Current liability	(12,155)		(12,155)		(12,168)
Long-term liability	(36,505)		(36,505)		(53,509)
Recognized liability	(48,660)		(48,660)		(65,677)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	46,241	49,847	46,241	49,847	54,235	$ 46,494
Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period			1,603	1,648
Interest cost	12	13	35	38
Actuarial losses (gains)			(67)	25
Benefits paid			(111)	(111)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	1,460	1,600	1,460	1,600
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period			0	0
Actual return on plan assets			0	0
Contributions by employer			111	111
Benefits paid			(111)	(111)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	0	0	0	0
Funded status:
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period	(1,460)		(1,460)		(1,603)
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:
Current liability	(148)		(148)		(149)
Long-term liability	(1,312)		(1,312)		(1,454)
Recognized liability	(1,460)		(1,460)		(1,603)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$ (32)	$ (6)	$ (32)	$ (6)	$ 35	$ (31)

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Accumulated benefit obligation, defined benefit pension plans	$ 165,700,000	$ 178,200,000
Weighted average duration of defined benefit obligation	30 years 11 months 23 days
Actuarial loss expected to be recognized in net pension cost, remainder of 2018	$ 300,000
Fixed income securities | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	50.00%
Fixed income securities | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	30.00%
Equity securities | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	50.00%
Equity securities | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	70.00%
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Expected contributions, remainder of 2018 (less than for other postretirement plans)	$ 2,700,000
Maximum | Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Impact of 0.25% change in discount rate on projected benefit obligation	1,000
Expected contributions, remainder of 2018 (less than for other postretirement plans)	$ 100,000

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Net Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 1,366	$ 1,392	$ 4,097	$ 4,178
Estimated return on plan assets	(1,516)	(1,314)	(4,549)	(3,940)
Amortization of net loss	300	233	902	699
Net costs	150	311	450	937
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	12	13	35	38
Estimated return on plan assets	0	0	0	0
Amortization of net loss	0	0	0	0
Net costs	$ 12	$ 13	$ 35	$ 38

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Economic Assumptions and Impact of Change in Discount Rate on Benefit Obligation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other postretirement cost:
Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25% - Impact on defined benefit obligation for pension benefits	$ (4,729)
Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25% - Impact on defined benefit obligation for pension benefits	$ 4,488
Pension Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end of period:
Discount rate	4.28%		3.69%
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other postretirement cost:
Discount rate	3.69%	4.32%
Expected return on plan assets	5.50%	5.50%
Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end of period:
Discount rate	4.08%		3.39%
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other postretirement cost:
Discount rate	3.39%	3.81%

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Plan Asset Allocations) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	100.00%	100.00%
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	1.00%	5.00%
Equity securities | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	4.00%	5.00%
Equity securities | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	47.00%	56.00%
Fixed income securities | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	4.00%	4.00%
Fixed income securities | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	40.00%	30.00%
Real estate | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total assets	4.00%	0.00%

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Fair Value Assumptions of Plan Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 117,040	$ 112,570
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	701	6,128
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	116,339	106,442
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	701	6,128
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	701	6,128
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Large U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,927	3,483
Large U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Large U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,927	3,483
Large U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Large U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21,121	22,695
Large U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Large U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21,121	22,695
Large U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	363	420
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	363	420
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	7,957	20,592
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	7,957	20,592
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equity funds | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,758	1,665
International equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,758	1,665
International equity funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equity funds | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	25,452	19,923
International equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	25,452	19,923
International equity funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income funds | Pooled separate accounts
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5,052	4,799
Fixed income funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5,052	4,799
Fixed income funds | Pooled separate accounts | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income funds | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	46,493	32,865
Fixed income funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	46,493	32,865
Fixed income funds | Common collective trusts funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Real estate | Common collective trusts funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5,216	0
Real estate | Common collective trusts funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Real estate | Common collective trusts funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5,216	0
Real estate | Common collective trusts funds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 0	$ 0

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Benefit Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
2018	$ 4,592
2019	11,889
2020	11,687
2021	11,337
2022	11,160
2023-2027	50,628
Total	101,293
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]
2018	37
2019	148
2020	146
2021	143
2022	139
2023-2027	611
Total	$ 1,224

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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Unrecognized Benefit Amounts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Pension Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period	$ 54,235	$ 46,494
Amortization	(902)	(699)
Actuarial loss (gain)	(9,787)	9,433
Asset loss (gain)	2,695	(5,381)
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period	46,241	49,847
Other Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period	35	(31)
Amortization	0	0
Actuarial loss (gain)	(67)	25
Asset loss (gain)	0	0
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period	$ (32)	$ (6)

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			$ 1,855,661	$ 2,086,132
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction				203,209
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(52,459)	89,688
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income			56	444
Impact of currency translation			(5)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ (19,677)	$ 25,200	(52,408)	90,132
Balance, end of period	2,067,543	1,710,236	2,067,543	1,710,236
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			(31,140)	(329,858)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(52,408)	90,132
Balance, end of period	(83,548)	(36,517)	(83,548)	(36,517)
Gains (Losses) Related to Foreign Currency Translation
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			42,081	(265,714)
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction				204,577
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(58,892)	92,364
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income			0	0
Impact of currency translation			0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(58,892)	92,364
Balance, end of period	(16,811)	31,227	(16,811)	31,227
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			(1,848)	99
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction				(1,368)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			33	(137)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income			329	9
Impact of currency translation			(5)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			357	(128)
Balance, end of period	(1,491)	(1,397)	(1,491)	(1,397)
Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			(71,434)	(64,243)
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction				0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			5,415	(2,539)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income			683	435
Impact of currency translation			0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			6,098	(2,104)
Balance, end of period	(65,336)	(66,347)	(65,336)	(66,347)
Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			61	0
Granite Holdings Sarl common-control transaction				0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			985	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income			(956)	0
Impact of currency translation			0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			29	0
Balance, end of period	$ 90	$ 0	$ 90	$ 0

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Schedule of Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
Cost of sales	$ 2,527,863	$ 2,315,301	$ 7,549,367	$ 6,815,701
Interest income	(4,241)	(2,128)	(10,665)	(3,600)
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses	$ 84,138	$ 102,191	257,396	284,009
Total before tax			32	(708)
Tax benefit			(88)	264
Net income			(56)	(444)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
Cost of sales			(329)	(9)
Interest income			1,263	0
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Union Plan
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
Cost of sales			(36)	(18)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Legacy Gold Kist Plans
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
Cost of sales			(270)	(212)
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses			$ (596)	$ (469)

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Fair value of awards vested	$ 0	$ 8,600,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards	$ 11,200,000
Weighted average period unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized	1 year 6 months 22 days
STIP
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Accrued costs related to the STIP	$ 7,100,000
Reserved shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP (in shares)	4.4
JFC LTIP
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Accrued costs related to the STIP	$ 2,200,000
Moy Park Incentive Plan
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Accrued costs related to the STIP	$ 500,000

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Awards) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares
RSU 1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Granted (in shares)	389,424
Grant Date	Jan. 19, 2017
Grant Date Fair Value per Award (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 18.38
Awards Forfeited to Date (in shares)	389,424
Percentage of awards forfeited	100.00%
RSU 2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Granted (in shares)	410,000
Grant Date	Feb. 14, 2018
Grant Date Fair Value per Award (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 25.59
Vesting Date	Jan. 01, 2019
Awards Forfeited to Date (in shares)	0
RSU 3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Granted (in shares)	161,215
Grant Date	Mar. 01, 2018
Grant Date Fair Value per Award (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 24.93
Awards Forfeited to Date (in shares)	7,646
Expected compensation cost | $	$ 4.0
RSU 4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Granted (in shares)	266,478
Grant Date	Mar. 01, 2018
Grant Date Fair Value per Award (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 24.93
Awards Forfeited to Date (in shares)	30,167
Expected compensation cost | $	$ 6.6
RSU 5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Granted (in shares)	11,144
Grant Date	May 10, 2018
Grant Date Fair Value per Award (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 21.54
Awards Forfeited to Date (in shares)	0

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Compensation Cost and Income Tax Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	$ 3,626	$ 507	$ 9,259	$ 2,454
Income tax benefit	883	132	2,254	733
Cost of sales
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	124	32	293	219
Selling, general and administrative expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	$ 3,502	$ 475	$ 8,966	$ 2,235

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INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Activity) (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSU) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Number
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	389	906
Granted (in shares)	849	462
Vested (in shares)	0	(486)
Forfeited (in shares)	(427)	(251)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	811	631
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 18.39	$ 20.00
Granted (in dollars per share)	25.20	18.72
Vested (in dollars per share)	0.00	17.73
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	18.97	25.36
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 25.22	$ 18.68

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charges	$ 7,701
GNP
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charges	6,999	$ 7,000
Expected future payments for restructuring		$ 5,400
40 North Foods
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring charges	702
Expected future payments for restructuring	$ 600

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Estimated Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	$ 7,701
Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	4,523
Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	472
Asset impairments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	573
Other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	2,133
GNP
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	6,999	$ 7,000
GNP | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	4,074
GNP | Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	472
GNP | Asset impairments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	470
GNP | Other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	1,983
40 North Foods
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	702
40 North Foods | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	449
40 North Foods | Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	0
40 North Foods | Asset impairments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	103
40 North Foods | Other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred	$ 150

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Costs Incurred and Cash Outlays) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	$ 257	$ 4,147	$ 2,181	$ 8,496
Cash Outlay	327		1,971
GNP
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	268		1,490
Cash Outlay	272		1,502
GNP | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	(43)		936
Cash Outlay	272		1,437
GNP | Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	0		(227)
Cash Outlay	0		0
GNP | Asset impairments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	311		781
Cash Outlay	0		0
GNP | Other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	0		0
Cash Outlay	0		65
40 North Foods
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	(11)		691
Cash Outlay	55		469
40 North Foods | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	0		449
Cash Outlay	38		443
40 North Foods | Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	0		103
Cash Outlay	0		0
40 North Foods | Other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses	(11)		139
Cash Outlay	$ 17		$ 26

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RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES (Restructuring Reserve) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
GNP
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	$ 2,251
Restructuring charges	785
Payments and disposals	(2,644)
Ending liability or reserve	392
GNP | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	800
Restructuring charges	936
Payments and disposals	(1,437)
Ending liability or reserve	299
GNP | Inventory adjustments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	699
Restructuring charges	(227)
Payments and disposals	(472)
Ending liability or reserve	0
GNP | Other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	752
Restructuring charges	76
Payments and disposals	(735)
Ending liability or reserve	93
40 North Foods
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	588
Payments and disposals	(469)
Ending liability or reserve	119
40 North Foods | Employee termination benefits
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	449
Payments and disposals	(443)
Ending liability or reserve	6
40 North Foods | Other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning liability or reserve	0
Restructuring charges	139
Payments and disposals	(26)
Ending liability or reserve	$ 113

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PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT (Details) - Hurricane bird in Millions, $ in Millions		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 20, 2017 bird	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Number of birds lost | bird	2.1
Insurance proceeds		$ 11.5
Property and Casualty
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Estimated damages			$ 5.2
Business Interruption
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Estimated damages			$ 14.8

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) R$ in Millions, $ in Millions					1 Months Ended	10 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2017 BRL (R$)	Jun. 05, 2017 BRL (R$)	May 03, 2017 BRL (R$)	Jan. 27, 2017 producer	Oct. 13, 2016 producer	Sep. 30, 2018 claim	Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of other producers named in lawsuits | producer				4	13
Pending claims | claim						11
J&F Investigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Fines to be paid			R$ 225.0
Leniency Agreement
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Fines to be paid		R$ 10,300.0
Litigation settlement payment period		25 years
Payments for legal settlements	R$ 50.0
Mexican Tax Authority | Tax Year 2009 | Foreign Tax Authority
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss | $							$ 24.3
Mexican Tax Authority | Tax Year 2010 | Foreign Tax Authority
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss | $							$ 16.1

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	$ 4,037	$ 11,494	$ 17,201	$ 56,728
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	37,475	34,653	118,373	93,353
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,147	10,856	49,412	32,951
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	1,938	1,516	7,046	4,065
Accounts receivable from related parties	652		652		$ 2,951
Accounts payable to related parties	6,795		6,795		2,889
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	4,035	4,221	10,043	13,618
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	29,094	31,161	90,921	83,444
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,145	10,856	49,407	29,127
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	1,938	1,516	6,851	3,976
Accounts receivable from related parties	614		614		2,826
Accounts payable to related parties	4,039		4,039		440
Inventory in transit	2,200		2,200
JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	7,271	7,096	23,787
JBS Chile Ltda
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	60	0
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	2	0	5	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	35		35		108
J&F Investimentos
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	0	104
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	0	19,217
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	0	21	0
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	2	0	2
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	31	80
Accounts receivable from related parties	3		3		15
Combo, Mercado de Congelados
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	2	0	2	0
JBS Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	8,341	3,343	26,018	9,719
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	0	4
Accounts receivable from related parties	0		0		2
Accounts payable to related parties	2,726		2,726		2,410
JBS Aves Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	40	0	1,123	0
JBS Toledo NV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	149	290	190
Accounts payable to related parties	30		30		$ 39
JBS SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	0	0	3,824
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	$ 0	$ 0	$ 164	$ 5

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SEGMENT REPORTING (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Net sales	$ 2,697,604	$ 2,793,885	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
Intersegment Net Sales Transactions Between U.S. And Mexico | Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 23,600	$ 21,000	$ 95,700	$ 66,700

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SEGMENT REPORTING (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,697,604	$ 2,793,885	$ 8,280,995	$ 8,025,511
Operating income	85,346	372,246	472,051	917,305
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	35,334	24,636	125,901	66,315
Interest income	(4,241)	(2,128)	(10,665)	(3,600)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(6,711)	(888)	(2,802)	(2,500)
Miscellaneous, net	653	(1,083)	(1,781)	(5,198)
Income before income taxes	60,311	351,709	361,398	862,288
U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,864,169	1,938,542	5,604,709	5,557,089
U.K. and Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	526,722	514,325	1,634,125	1,473,854
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	306,713	341,018	1,042,161	994,568
Segments | U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	74,206	307,962	300,960	719,121
Segments | U.K. and Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	23,470	18,569	68,545	51,874
Segments | Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(12,355)	45,692	102,512	146,241
Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 25	$ 23	$ 34	$ 69

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SEGMENT REPORTING (Schedule of Segment Reporting, Goodwill and Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 971,611	$ 1,001,889
Assets	5,976,438	6,248,652
Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	(1,603,598)	(1,357,672)
Elimination | U.S. Segment's Investment In The Mexico Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	302,700	302,800
Elimination | U.S. Segment's Investment In The U.K. And Europe Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,300,000	1,100,000
U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	41,936	41,936
U.S. | Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	4,573,467	4,444,918
U.K. and Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	804,068	834,346
U.K. and Europe | Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	2,023,760	2,226,895
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	125,607	125,607
Mexico | Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 982,809	$ 934,511

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Share repurchase authorized amount	$ 200,000,000.0