Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (CALM) saw its stock soar 5.13% in the after-hours session on Tuesday, following the company's robust fiscal second-quarter earnings report. The impressive results were driven by a combination of strong holiday demand and higher egg prices due to the ongoing avian flu outbreak in the United States.

The egg producer reported net income of $219.1 million, or $4.47 per diluted share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, a remarkable increase from $17 million, or $0.35 per share, in the same period last year. Revenue surged to $954.7 million, up from $523.2 million in the year-ago quarter.

Cal-Maine's performance was bolstered by a seasonal boost in demand leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday and higher market prices for eggs. The company's Chief Executive Sherman Miller highlighted the impact of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, stating, "Our results also reflect higher market prices, which have continued to rise this fiscal year as supply levels of shell eggs have been restricted due to recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza." The nationwide bird flu outbreak has led to the thinning of poultry flocks, resulting in a supply shortage and consequently higher egg prices.