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Markets

Hillshire Brands Co. beats estimates in first quarter

The packaged meat company reported first-quarter net profit that beat estimates. The maker of Hillshire Farm lunch meat and Jimmy Dean sausage also stood by its full-year outlook of up to $1.55 per share. Hillshire said sales trends were encouraging, key brands were gaining strength, and costs were coming down. Net income rose to $53 million in the quarter, compared to a year-earlier loss.