Tyson Foods beat Wall Street expectations for fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday and said its rebounding chicken business would limit fallout from ongoing struggles in its beef division over the coming year,

Shares of Tyson Foods Inc. were heading toward their biggest gain in nearly three years on Tuesday, after the consumer meats company reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that rose well above expectations, as strength in beef and chicken offset weakness in prepared foods and pork.

Tyson Foods shares surged Tuesday after the meat processor beat earnings estimates as higher prices helped boost beef and chicken sales.

Tyson Foods beat Wall Street expectations for fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, as lower costs and strong demand for its pork and beef products helped offset slowdown in the chicken segment, sending its shares up 6% before the bell.

Tyson Foods beat analyst estimates in its fiscal fourth-quarter with net income of $357 million, reversing a loss of $450 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share was

Earnings per share came to $1, up from a loss of $1.31 a year ago. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 92 cents per share.

Led by increased volumes and higher prices in its beef division, Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) earned a profit of $0.92 per share in the fiscal fourth quarter, nearly 2.5x more than the same quarter last year,