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Dean Foods Reduces Forecast as Raw Milk Prices Squeeze Margins

Dean Foods Co. (DF:US), the largest U.S. dairy processor, cut its full-year earnings forecast after higher raw-milk costs squeezed margins and winter weather disrupted deliveries to schools.

Adjusted earnings per share will be at least 60c, the Dallas-based company said today in a statement, down from a February forecast of 73 cents to 86 cents.

Dean also reported a first-quarter net loss of 9 cents a share, compared with net income of $5.30 a year earlier. The loss from continuing operations excluding one-time items was 5 cents. The average of 11 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg was for earnings of 1 cent.

“We entered 2014 facing substantial margin pressure in our milk business as Class I raw milk prices have continued to reach all-time new highs,” Chief Executive Officer Gregg Tanner said in the statement.

Source: Bloomberg

(T1, D1)

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