ConAgra Foods: says higher costs hurt Q1/2009 profit

Omaha / NE. (caf) ConAgra Foods Inc. is announcing that underperformance in the Consumer Foods segment will negatively impact its fiscal 2009 first quarter diluted EPS from continuing operations. Excluding gains and losses impacting comparability, earnings are expected to be slightly below the previously announced estimate of 0,26 USD to 0,28 USD per diluted share. While the company does not expect any material change in its full year fiscal 2009 outlook, it is in the process of determining whether the first quarter results would cause any downward revision to the low end of the expected EPS range for the full fiscal year. The company is still closing its books for the fiscal first quarter and finalizing GAAP results and will provide more EPS and operating segment details in its regularly scheduled earnings release on September 18, 2008 (press release).