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Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2025
Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments  
Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Note 5 – Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following tables show assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy used to measure each category of assets and liabilities. Investments that are valued using NAV as a practical expedient are excluded from the fair value hierarchy. The trading securities classified as other current assets below are assets held for Seaboard’s deferred compensation plans.

September 27,

 

(Millions of dollars)

2025

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

 

Assets:

Trading securities – short-term investments:

Domestic equity securities

$

245

$

245

$

$

Foreign equity securities

121

121

Domestic debt securities

509

14

495

Foreign debt securities

90

7

83

Money market funds held in trading accounts

 

74

 

74

Trading securities – other current assets

15

15

Derivatives

18

16

2

Total assets

$

1,072

$

492

$

580

$

Liabilities:

Derivatives

$

17

$

16

$

1

$

Total liabilities

$

17

$

16

$

1

$

December 31,

 

(Millions of dollars)

2024

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

 

Assets:

Trading securities – short-term investments:

Domestic equity securities

$

205

$

205

$

$

Foreign equity securities

98

98

Domestic debt securities

635

158

477

Foreign debt securities

102

11

91

Money market funds held in trading accounts

28

28

Other trading securities

 

7

 

 

7

 

Trading securities – other current assets

17

17

Derivatives

30

17

13

Total assets

$

1,122

$

534

$

588

$

Liabilities:

Derivatives

$

5

$

5

$

$

Total liabilities

$

5

$

5

$

$

Financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, net receivables, accounts payable, and lines of credit are carried at cost, which approximates fair value as a result of the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair value of short-term investments is measured using multiple levels. Debt securities categorized as level 1 in the fair value hierarchy include debt securities held in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.

Seaboard has an investment in a company that owns corporate debt securities subject to certain redemption restrictions until December 2026. Due to the lack of readily available market prices, this investment is measured using NAV as a practical expedient, and accordingly, is not classified in the fair value hierarchy table above. The NAV of this investment, based on the market value of the debt securities in the portfolio, was $51 million as of September 27, 2025.

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by comparing interest rates for debt with similar terms and maturities. As Seaboard’s long-term debt is mostly variable-rate, the carrying amount approximates fair value. If Seaboard’s long-term debt was measured at fair value on its condensed consolidated balance sheets, it would have been classified as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Seaboard’s operations are exposed to market risks from changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices. Seaboard uses various commodity derivative futures and options contracts to manage some of its risk of price fluctuations for raw materials and other inventories, finished product sales and firm sales commitments. Seaboard also enters into foreign currency exchange agreements to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. From time to time, Seaboard enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage the interest rate risk with respect to certain variable-rate long-term debt and enters into equity futures contracts to manage the equity price risk with respect to certain short-term investments. Although management believes its derivatives are primarily economic hedges, Seaboard does not perform the extensive record-keeping required to account for these types of transactions as hedges for accounting purposes. These derivative contracts are recorded at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. As the derivative contracts are not accounted for as hedges, fluctuations in the related prices or rates could have a material impact on earnings in any given reporting period. The nature of Seaboard’s market risk exposure has not materially changed since December 31, 2024.

Seaboard had the following aggregated outstanding notional amounts related to derivative financial instruments:

September 27,

December 31,

(Millions)

Metric

2025

2024

Commodities:

Grain

Bushels

33

33

Hogs and pork products

Pounds

11

134

Soybean oil

Pounds

19

3

Soybean meal

Tons

1

1

Sugar

Pounds

22

Foreign currencies

U.S. dollar

82

334

Credit risks associated with these derivative contracts are not significant because Seaboard minimizes counterparty exposure by dealing with credit-worthy counterparties and using margin accounts for some commodity contracts. As of September 27, 2025, the maximum amount of credit risk related to foreign currency contracts, had the counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contract, was $1 million.

The following table provides the fair value of each type of derivative held and where each derivative is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

Asset 

Liability 

September 27,

December 31,

September 27,

December 31,

(Millions of dollars)

    

    

2025

    

2024

    

    

2025

    

2024

Commodities

 

Other current assets

$

17

$

17

 

Other current liabilities

$

16

$

5

Foreign currencies

 

Other current assets

 

1

 

13

 

Other current liabilities

 

1

 

Seaboard’s commodity derivative assets and liabilities are presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets on a net basis, including netting the derivatives with the related margin accounts. As of September 27, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the commodity derivatives had a margin account balance of $28 million and $23 million, respectively, resulting in a net other current asset in the condensed consolidated balance sheets of $29 million and $35 million, respectively.

The following table provides the amount of gain (loss) recognized in income for each type of derivative and where it was recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 27,

September 28,

September 27,

September 28,

(Millions of dollars)

    

    

2025

    

2024

    

2025

    

2024

 

Commodities

 

Cost of sales

$

3

$

3

$

(11)

$

(52)

Foreign currencies

 

Cost of sales

 

1

 

11

 

(7)

 

15

Foreign currencies

 

Other income, net

 

1

 

(9)

 

(12)

 

(4)