Tyson Foods Inc.'s third-quarter profit more than tripled as chicken sales rose, sending its shares up 4 percent before the bell.

Net income from continuing operations at Tyson, the largest U.S. meat processor, rose to $249 million, or 69 cents per share, from $79 million, or 22 cents per share, a year earlier.

Sales rose 6 percent to $8.73 billion.