LW

Campbell's (CPB) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.39 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.4 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.62 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -2.50%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of canned soup, Pepperidge Farm cookies and V8 juice would post earnings of $0.48 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.5, delivering a surprise of +4.17%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Campbell, which belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry, posted revenues of $2.14 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.68%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.32 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Campbell shares have lost about 14.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12%. While Campbell has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Campbell was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.60 on $2.64 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.97 on $9.82 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Food - Miscellaneous is currently in the bottom 20% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the same industry, Lamb Weston (LW), has yet to report results for the quarter ended August 2026. This frozen foods supplier is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -21.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. Lamb Weston's revenues are expected to be $1.65 billion, down 0.4% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Campbell's Company (CPB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF). Shares have lost about 0.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Chefs' Warehouse due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. The Chefs’ Warehouse reported second-quarter 2026 results, wherein both earnings and sales surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share beat the consensus estimate of 64 cents by 21.9% and rose 50% year over year. Net sales increased 12.9% to $1,168.6 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1,133 million by 3.1%.Organic sales rose 12.2% from the prior-year quarter. Acquisitions contributed $7.6 million, representing growth of 0.7%. The strong organic performance reflected growth across the specialty and center-of-the-plate categories. Management attributed the results to greater product penetration, increased case volumes and expansion in the number of unique customers.Organic case count in the specialty category increased approximately 6% year over year. Unique customers rose 3.6%, while product placements advanced 7.2%, indicating higher sales across a broader customer base. Organic pounds sold in the center-of-the-plate category increased approximately 8.8% from the year-ago period. Management stated that its regional teams delivered solid execution across markets and product categories. The company’s Middle East operations improved gradually during the quarter. Operations in the region ran at approximately 94% of the prior-year level during May and June, with that trend remaining relatively steady in recent weeks. Gross profit advanced 15.2% year over year to $292.9 million, driven by higher sales volumes, price inflation and contributions from acquisitions. Gross margin expanded 49 basis points to 25.1%. The specialty-category gross margin improved 47 basis points, while the center-of-the-plate category recorded a 75-basis-point increase. The improvement in gross margin, along with double-digit sales growth, supported stronger operating profitability. Higher gross profit more than offset the increase in operating expenses during the quarter.The company’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased 9.6% year over year to $234.2 million. The increase primarily reflected higher compensation and benefit costs, as well as additional facilities and distribution expenses to support sales growth. However, SG&A expenses declined to 20% of net sales from 20.7% in the prior-year quarter, as sales grew faster than costs.Operating income jumped to $58.6 million from $40.2 million a year ago. Operating margin expanded to 5.1% from 3.9%, reflecting higher gross profit and improved expense leverage. Adjusted EBITDA increased 34.6% year over year to $88.1 million from $65.4 million. CHEF ended the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $135.5 million, long-term debt (excluding the current portion) of $693.7 million and stockholders’ equity of $648.2 million.For the first half of 2026, net cash provided by operating activities was $96.7 million, and capital expenditures totaled $16.9 million.For 2026, management expects net sales in the range of $4.5-$4.6 billion. Gross profit is projected between $1.102 billion and $1.125 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated in the range of $305-$315 million. Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision. The consensus estimate has shifted 11.66% due to these changes. At this time, Chefs' Warehouse has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Chefs' Warehouse has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months. Chefs' Warehouse belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry. Another stock from the same industry, Lamb Weston (LW), has gained 2.3% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended May 2026. Lamb Weston reported revenues of $1.77 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.6%. EPS of $0.87 for the same period compares with $0.87 a year ago. Lamb Weston is expected to post earnings of $0.58 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -21.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.4%. Lamb Weston has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Mondelez (MDLZ). Shares have lost about 3.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Mondelez due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Mondelez International, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Mondelez International posted second-quarter 2026 results. Adjusted earnings were 73 cents per share, which decreased 2.7% on a constant-currency (cc) basis. The decline was caused by weaker operating performance and higher interest and other expenses, partially offset by lower income taxes and favorable currency movements. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents per share. Net revenues rose 4.1% year over year to $9,355 million, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9,227 million. This growth was driven by 2.2% organic net revenue growth and favorable currency movements, partly offset by the impact of a prior-year divestiture. Organic net revenues rose 2.2% year over year in the second quarter, primarily driven by pricing and volume/mix, which contributed growth of 1.5% and 0.7%, respectively.Revenues from emerging markets increased 7.4% year over year to $3,909 million, with organic growth of 4.4%. Growth was broad-based across all snacking categories except chocolate, where gains were primarily pricing-led and partially affected by purchase price accounting. Key growth markets included India, continued strength in Brazil and robust performances in Mexico and Southeast Asia. Revenues from developed markets increased 1.9% year over year to $5,446 million, with organic growth of 0.7%. This increase reflected gradual improvement across key regions, with North America driving revenue, volume, profit and market share growth, while the European business continued to show signs of recovery.Region-wise, revenues jumped 15.1% in Latin America, 8.2% in Asia, the Middle East and Africa (“AMEA”), 3% in North America and fell 1% in Europe. On an organic basis, revenues rose 8.4% in Latin America, 7.1% in AMEA, 3.4% in North America and fell 3.5% in Europe.Adjusted gross profit increased $92 million at constant currency, while the adjusted gross profit margin improved 20 basis points to 34%, benefiting from higher net pricing and lower manufacturing costs driven by productivity, partially offset by elevated raw material costs.Adjusted operating income declined $78 million at constant currency, while the adjusted operating margin contracted 120 basis points to 13.1%, reflecting higher raw material, selling, general and administrative, and advertising and consumer promotion costs, partly offset by higher net pricing and reduced manufacturing costs driven by productivity. For 2026, the company now expects at least 2% organic net revenue growth, up from its previous guidance of flat to 2% growth. It continues to project adjusted EPS growth ranging from flat to 5% on a constant-currency basis and expects approximately $3 billion in free cash flow. In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review. The consensus estimate has shifted -8.47% due to these changes. Currently, Mondelez has a average Growth Score of C, a score with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Mondelez has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Mondelez is part of the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry. Over the past month, Lamb Weston (LW), a stock from the same industry, has gained 2.4%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended May 2026 more than a month ago. Lamb Weston reported revenues of $1.77 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.6%. EPS of $0.87 for the same period compares with $0.87 a year ago. Lamb Weston is expected to post earnings of $0.58 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -21.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.4%. Lamb Weston has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Eryk J. Spytek, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer of Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW), reported the disposal of 2,311 shares on July 14, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing. Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($46.50); post-transaction value based on July 14, 2026 market close ($46.50). What was the nature of this transaction?The sale was non-discretionary, executed to cover tax obligations following the vesting of performance-based equity awards, and does not reflect a change in the insider's outlook on the company. How is the remaining equity stake structured?Following the transaction, Eryk J. Spytek holds 27,205 shares directly and 25,322 shares indirectly through a revocable trust, reflecting a diversified holding structure for his equity compensation. Were there any other acquisitions reported in this filing?The same filing disclosed the vesting of 2,354 performance shares on July 14, 2026, which served as the underlying event for the subsequent tax withholding. Has the insider's position been affected by other factors?The current holdings include 361.7 shares that were acquired through a dividend reinvestment feature since the insider's last report, indicating a standard accumulation of equity over time. Lamb Weston Holdings manufactures, distributes, and sells enhanced frozen potato products, commercial ingredients, and appetizers under its proprietary "Lamb Weston" brand and through customized private label offerings, generating revenue across Global, Foodservice, Retail, and Other operating segments. The company operates a vertically integrated business model that leverages manufacturing capabilities and distribution networks to supply frozen potato products and specialty ingredients to foodservice operators, retail chains, and food manufacturers at scale. Lamb Weston serves a diversified customer base including quick-service restaurants, casual dining establishments, food manufacturers, and retail grocery chains, positioning itself as a critical supplier within the global foodservice and packaged foods ecosystem. Lamb Weston Holdings is a global leader in frozen potato products with a market capitalization of $6.3 billion and TTM revenues of $6.5 billion, serving as a critical supplier to the foodservice and retail sectors. The company maintains a competitive advantage through its established brand recognition, diversified product portfolio spanning frozen potatoes and specialty ingredients, and extensive distribution infrastructure across multiple customer channels. With approximately 10,100 employees, Lamb Weston is positioned to capitalize on sustained demand for convenient, value-added food products in both institutional and consumer markets. Spytek’s July share sale was triggered automatically to satisfy tax withholding obligations after a tranche of shares vested. It’s a welcome reminder that company insiders, like regular retail investors, sell shares of a stock for all kinds of reasons, and sometimes it doesn’t have anything to do with their conviction or knowledge about the company or its stock. At the time of Spytek’s transaction, Lamb Weston was down more than 6% year over year on a total return basis, with much of the loss coming at the end of 2025. Year to date as of Aug. 4, however, the stock has returned 28.7% with dividends reinvested. On July 24, the company reported its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year results for the period ended May 31. The company reported 2% year-over-year net sales growth and exceeded the high end of prior guidance with $6.612 billion in sales. Strong performance in North America offset international challenges, particularly in the Middle East, according to management. It also continues to make progress on its Focus to Win strategic turnaround plan, introduced in July 2025, to optimize operations and drive growth. It was a promising report, and the stock responded favorably. But Lamb Weston is still under heavy scrutiny, not least by activist investor Starboard Value LP, which in March recommended doubling Lamb Weston’s $250 cost-reduction plan and performing a strategic review of the company’s international portfolio. Late July brought some additional news for the potato producer, as investor rights law firm Halper Sadeh announced it is investigating whether certain officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. Interested investors may want to watch from the sidelines while some of the drama plays out before deciding to nibble on Lamb Weston’s stock. Before you buy stock in Lamb Weston, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Lamb Weston wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut are built for long-term growth and could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $396,758!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,300,820!* That performance is why people listen. With a track record of beating the S&P 500 by 4x, Stock Advisor offers a distinct advantage. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built for the long haul. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 5, 2026. Sarah Sidlow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Lamb Weston's General Counsel Dumped 2,311 Shares in July. With Earnings Now Out, Should Investors Consider a Position? was originally published by The Motley Fool

Lamb Weston trades at $51.95 per share and has stayed right on track with the overall market, gaining 12.2% over the last six months. At the same time, the S&P 500 has returned 8.3%. Is there a buying opportunity in Lamb Weston, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? See what our analysts have to say in our full research report, it’s free. We don’t have much confidence in Lamb Weston. Here are three reasons we avoid LW, plus one stock we’d rather own. When analyzing revenue growth, we care most about organic revenue growth. This metric captures a business’s performance excluding one-time events such as mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures as well as foreign currency fluctuations. The demand for Lamb Weston’s products has been stable over the last eight quarters but fell behind the broader sector. On average, the company has posted feeble year-on-year organic revenue growth of 1.3%. Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Lamb Weston’s revenue to drop by 1.4%. This projection is underwhelming and indicates its products will face some demand challenges. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) because it highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable. Sadly for Lamb Weston, its EPS declined by 33% annually over the last three years while its revenue grew by 7.3%. This tells us the company became less profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded. Lamb Weston isn’t a terrible business, but it doesn’t pass our quality test. That said, the stock currently trades at 17.3× forward P/E (or $51.95 per share). Investors with a higher risk tolerance might like the company, but we don’t really see a big opportunity at the moment. We’re fairly confident there are better stocks to buy right now. We’d recommend looking at the most dominant software business in the world. ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time. Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks — FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE. Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,552% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

Track your investments for FREE with Simply Wall St, the portfolio command center trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Lamb Weston Holdings (NYSE:LW) issued a stronger full year earnings outlook following its fiscal fourth quarter results. Management reported shipment disruptions and pricing pressures in its EMEA business linked to the Middle East conflict. The company highlighted solid performance in its North American segment alongside operational challenges overseas. Lamb Weston reiterated plans to focus on operating efficiency while dealing with geopolitical and macro headwinds. Lamb Weston Holdings, a major supplier of frozen potato products to retailers, restaurants, and foodservice customers, is drawing attention after its latest earnings update. The company is signaling confidence in its full year outlook even as geopolitical tensions affect parts of its international business. For you as an investor, the contrast between resilient North American results and disruptions in EMEA is a key part of the story. This update also underscores how a global food supplier such as Lamb Weston depends on both regional demand patterns and the stability of trade routes. The company is emphasizing efficiency improvements and cost control as it adjusts to shipment and pricing pressures tied to the Middle East conflict. How effectively it manages that mix of growth and disruption could influence how investors weigh its risk and reward profile over the coming year. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Lamb Weston Holdings by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Lamb Weston Holdings. See which insiders are buying and buying and selling Lamb Weston Holdings following this latest news. ⚖️ Price vs Analyst Target: Lamb Weston Holdings trades at US$53.11, which is close to the US$52.55 analyst target. ✅ Simply Wall St Valuation: The stock is flagged as trading about 67.9% below an estimated fair value. ✅ Recent Momentum: The share price is up 17.6% over the past 30 days following the upbeat outlook. There's only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Lamb Weston Holdings. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Lamb Weston Holdings's Fair Value. 📊 The stronger earnings outlook suggests Lamb Weston sees its core business absorbing EMEA shipment and pricing disruptions for now. 📊 Watch how North American volumes, pricing, and margins trend against the EMEA drag, as well as any updates to the full year guidance range. ⚠️ Key risks include high debt levels and one off items that can make reported results less representative of underlying performance. For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Lamb Weston Holdings analysis. Alternatively, you can check out the community page for Lamb Weston Holdings to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include LW. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. Stabilized the North American business through a 'customer-first' mindset, achieving six consecutive quarters of volume growth and Net Promoter Scores that increased over last year and are the highest among major competitors. Attributed North American outperformance to successful share gains and strategic customer contract extensions despite flat overall U.S. restaurant traffic. Acknowledged international headwinds in EMEA driven by excess industry capacity, lower export demand, and volatile input costs exacerbated by Middle East conflict disruptions. Implemented a 'Focus 2 Win' strategy that exceeded first-year cost-saving milestones, delivering over $100 million in structural savings across the supply chain and SG&A. Optimized the global manufacturing footprint by closing older, high-cost facilities in the Netherlands and Argentina to consolidate volume into newer, state-of-the-art plants. Transitioned leadership with a new Executive Chair and CFO to drive a deeper performance culture, focusing on ROIC, free cash flow, and individual accountability. Shifted from a period of uneven execution to a disciplined 'cost culture' where all spending is justified by current business value rather than historical precedent. Fiscal 2027 guidance assumes flat global restaurant traffic, with earnings expected to grow faster than sales due to lapping one-time startup and potato write-off costs. Anticipates North American volume growth to continue through market share gains, while International top-line remains pressured by competitive conditions in EMEA. Projected Q1 results will be impacted by carryover effects from high-cost prior-year potato crops and edible oil inflation before growth ramps in subsequent quarters. Strategic work is underway to categorize global markets into 'clusters' with specific roles, which will dictate future M&A, partnerships, or divestiture decisions. Plans to host an Investor Day in early calendar 2027 to unveil a renewed growth algorithm and the next phase of the structural transformation program. Closed the Broekhuizenvorst facility in the Netherlands, representing 10% of EMEA capacity, to improve regional utilization rates toward the high 80% range. Flagged significant input cost volatility in edible oils and transportation due to Middle East conflicts and biodiesel demand as a primary risk to the low end of EBITDA guidance. Completed the majority of multi-year wastewater-related capital spending, which is expected to conclude by the end of fiscal 2027. Reduced annual capital expenditure targets to an accrual basis of approximately $350 million, prioritizing debottlenecking and high-ROI efficiency projects over massive capacity expansion. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. Management confirmed that 'everything is on the table' regarding the international footprint as they evaluate country clusters based on net landed costs and profit potential. The company is moving away from a 'one-size-fits-all' global approach to a more disciplined resource allocation model based on the specific mission of each region. Management noted they are in the 'early innings' of the annual QSR contracting cycle, with about one-third of large contracts up for renewal. Pricing strategy will remain agile, focusing on passing through non-potato inflation (oil, freight, packaging) while leveraging innovation to drive margin accretion. The company is integrating technology with strategy under a new Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, focusing on data governance and a 'lean backbone' approach. Management indicated they are applying lessons from previous ERP challenges to prioritize AI and cybersecurity while avoiding past implementation pitfalls. The step-down in CapEx to $350 million is viewed as sustainable because 'stay-in-business' reliability spending is actually below that threshold. The remaining budget is being strictly prioritized for projects that offer high-teens ROI through debottlenecking existing lines rather than building new greenfield sites.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. LW reported solid fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. While net sales increased, earnings decreased from the year-ago period’s actuals.LW’s adjusted earnings were 87 cents per share, down 5% year over year. However, the bottom line beats the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents. Lamb Weston price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Lamb Weston Quote Net sales amounted to $1,770.1 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,701 million. The top line increased 6% year over year, driven by a 7% increase in sales volume, a 2% favorable currency impact and the benefit of an extra week, partially offset by a 3% decline in price/mix. Sales volume increased for the sixth consecutive quarter. Our model suggested a volume increase of 1.9% in the quarter. Adjusted gross profit decreased 0.2% year over year to $342.9 million. The adjusted gross margin decreased 110 basis points (bps) to 19.4%. Our model projected adjusted gross margin contraction of about 220 basis points to 18.4%. Adjusted SG&A expenses were up 11.1% to $163.5 million from $147.1 million reported in the year-ago quarter. As a percentage of sales, the same increased 40 bps to 9.2%. Adjusted EBITDA declined 2% to $287.6 million, while adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 130 bps to 16.2%. Net sales for the North America segment increased 9% to $1,206.2 million compared with the prior-year quarter, driven by 11% sales volume growth, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of volume growth. This increase was fueled by customer contract wins, market share gains, strong customer retention and the benefit of an additional week. The segment’s price/mix declined 2%, reflecting modest pricing and trade support for customers, as well as an ongoing mix shift toward faster-growing chain customers and private-label products.The North America segment adjusted EBITDA increased 17% to $304.7 million, driven by higher sales volumes and lower manufacturing costs per pound, reflecting operating leverage from cost savings initiatives and improved manufacturing efficiencies. These benefits more than offset inflationary pressures, unfavorable price/mix and higher operating expenses.Net sales for the International segment declined 2% to $563.9 million, reflecting a 2% decrease in sales volume and a 4% decline in price/mix, partially offset by a favorable foreign currency impact. Growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America, along with the benefit of an additional week, was more than offset by challenging market conditions in EMEA, including the impact of the Middle East conflict that began early in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.International segment adjusted EBITDA fell 81% to $11.8 million, primarily due to lower net sales, higher manufacturing costs per pound and increased operating expenses. The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $68.2 million, long-term debt and financing obligations (excluding the current portion) of $3,595.2 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,824.9 million.Lamb Weston generated $942.9 million as net cash from operating activities for fiscal 2026, wherein capital expenditures amounted to $410.1 million.In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Lamb Weston returned $116 million to its shareholders through cash dividends and stock repurchases.On July 23, management declared a quarterly dividend of 38 cents per share, payable on Sept. 4, to its shareholders of record as of Aug. 7, 2026. For fiscal 2027, Lamb Weston expects net sales to be flat to 1% growth over the adjusted fiscal 2026 52-week base of $6.5 billion. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion, while adjusted EPS is projected at $2.95 to $3.25, compared with $3.01 in fiscal 2026. Capital expenditures are expected to be $380 million to $410 million. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 13.5% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 5.8% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 254.9% from the year-ago figures. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.Mama's Creations, Inc. MAMA manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. Hormel Foods Corporation HRL develops, processes and distributes various meat, nuts and other food products to foodservice, convenience store and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. HRL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.2%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hormel Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 1.4% and 9.5%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Lamb Weston (LW) reported $1.77 billion in revenue for the quarter ended May 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.6%. EPS of $0.87 for the same period compares to $0.87 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.7 billion, representing a surprise of +4.05%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +40.32%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.62. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately. Here is how Lamb Weston performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Pricing/Mix- Consolidated: -3% versus -5.8% estimated by two analysts on average. Pricing/Mix- North America: -2% compared to the -5% average estimate based on two analysts. Volume- International: -2% compared to the -3% average estimate based on two analysts. Volume- North America: 11% compared to the 3% average estimate based on two analysts. Volume- Consolidated: 7% compared to the -4% average estimate based on two analysts. Pricing/Mix- International: -4% versus -7.5% estimated by two analysts on average. Geographic Sales- International: $563.9 million compared to the $551.27 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1.5% year over year. Geographic Sales- North America: $1.21 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.15 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.4%. View all Key Company Metrics for Lamb Weston here>>> Shares of Lamb Weston have returned +10.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Lamb Weston (LW) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.87 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.62 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +40.32%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this frozen foods supplier would post earnings of $0.61 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.72, delivering a surprise of +18.03%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Lamb Weston, which belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry, posted revenues of $1.77 billion for the quarter ended May 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.05%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.68 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Lamb Weston shares have added about 17.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.2%. While Lamb Weston has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Lamb Weston was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.62 on $1.61 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.10 on $6.35 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Food - Miscellaneous is currently in the bottom 16% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the same industry, Post Holdings (POST), has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 6. This cereal maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.63 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -19.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Post Holdings' revenues are expected to be $2.02 billion, up 1.8% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lamb Weston (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Post Holdings, Inc. (POST) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Net Sales: Increased 6% in Q4, led by a 7% increase in sales volume and a 2% favorable currency impact, partially offset by a 3% decline in price/mix. North America Segment EBITDA Margin: 26% for the full year. Adjusted EBITDA: Declined $6 million compared to last year, with North America adjusted EBITDA dollars growing 17% or $45 million in Q4. Cash from Operations: $943 million for fiscal 2026, up $75 million versus last year. Capital Expenditures: $410 million for the year, down more than $240 million year over year. Free Cash Flow: $537 million for fiscal 2026, a significant increase year over year. Shareholder Returns: $321 million returned, including $208 million in cash dividends and $113 million of stock repurchases. Net Debt: $3.8 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio of 3.4 times. Adjusted EPS Guidance for Fiscal '27: Expected to be in the range of $2.95 to $3.25. Adjusted Operating Income Target for Fiscal '27: $720 million to $800 million. Adjusted EBITDA Guidance for Fiscal '27: Expected to be in the range of $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion. Capital Expenditures Guidance for Fiscal '27: Expected to be approximately $380 million to $410 million. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with LW. Is LW fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: July 24, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (NYSE:LW) reported a 6% increase in fourth-quarter net sales, driven by a 7% increase in sales volume and a 2% favorable currency impact. The North America segment showed strong performance with a 9% increase in net sales and an 11% increase in sales volume. The company achieved six consecutive quarters of volume growth, indicating strong market demand and effective customer engagement. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (NYSE:LW) successfully reduced capital expenditures by over $240 million year-over-year, demonstrating improved capital discipline. The company exceeded its first-year cost savings milestone of $100 million, contributing to offsetting inflation and supporting customer investments. The International segment faced challenges with a 2% decline in net sales, primarily due to market conditions in EMEA and the impact of the Middle East conflict. Adjusted EBITDA declined by $6 million compared to the previous year, with international challenges only partly offset by North America's growth. The company experienced higher input cost inflation, particularly in edible oils and transportation, impacting overall profitability. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (NYSE:LW) had to close an older production facility in the Netherlands, reflecting ongoing challenges in optimizing its international footprint. The company anticipates flat to low-single-digit growth in net sales for fiscal '27, indicating potential challenges in maintaining growth momentum. Q: Are there any limits to the actions Lamb Weston can take to improve international profitability, or are all options on the table? A: Jan Craps, Executive Chairman of the Board, stated that all options are technically on the table as they are in the middle of a strategy review. This involves a disciplined process to determine where to play and how to win, which will guide decisions on M&A, partnerships, and divestitures. The team is also actively working on improving EMEA results in the short term. Q: How is Lamb Weston approaching contract renewals with key customers in North America, given the competitive environment? A: Michael Smith, President and CEO, mentioned that they are in the early stages of contract renewals, with about a third of large QSR contracts coming due each year. The company is focusing on maintaining a balanced supply and demand, and any pricing changes will be based on input cost inflation and margin requirements. Q: How is Lamb Weston factoring in the age and efficiency of international manufacturing capacity in its strategic decisions? A: Michael Smith explained that the company is closing older facilities nearing the end of their useful life and moving volume to more efficient plants. This strategy reduces costs and optimizes the network. The company is also evaluating its global manufacturing footprint to balance supply and demand. Q: What is the status of the ERP program that was paused, and are there plans to restart it? A: Jan Craps indicated that the new Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, Amit Phillip, is reviewing the ERP approach as part of broader technology priorities. The company is focusing on data governance, ERP as a lean backbone, AI, and cybersecurity, incorporating past learnings into future plans. Q: How does Lamb Weston view the current North America segment margin level, and is there potential for improvement? A: Michael Smith noted that while price/mix investments will carry over into fiscal '27, the company expects volume growth and ongoing cost savings initiatives to offset inflation. James Gray, CFO, added that favorable channel and product mix could provide upside potential for North America margins. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.