EAGLE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) announced today it will report fiscal 2026 second quarter financial results on December 19, 2025. The news release will be issued at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET. The webcast and accompanying materials will be available on Lamb Weston's Investor Relations page at https://investors.lambweston.com/events-and-presentations. Alternatively, participants in the U.S. and Canada may access. ...

Key Takeaways The sector is down 1.7% this year, yet five stocks are highlighted for potential 2026 performance.PEP, MNST, LW, UNFI and OLLI are supported by strategic initiatives, demand trends and operational gains.All five companies show improving earnings estimates, pointing to strengthening outlooks for next year.Wall Street has maintained its impressive run seen over the last two years in 2025 as well. However, the consumer staples sector has failed to participate in this year’s rally. Year to date, t ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Food-Miscellaneous industry is experiencing challenges due to inflation, cautious consumer spending, and soft foodservice demand, leading to volume pressures and increased competition from private labels [1][4] - Companies in this industry manufacture and sell a variety of food products, including cereals, sauces, bakery items, and organic foods, primarily through wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice channels [3] Market Trends - The food industry is under pressure from sticky inflation and cautious consumer spending, resulting in a shift towards value offerings and private-label products [4] - Companies are responding to these challenges by enhancing value-driven marketing, promotions, and offering affordable pack sizes to maintain market share [4] Cost and Margin Management - Cost inflation is impacting profitability, with persistent volatility in input costs, labor, and packaging compressing margins despite previous pricing actions [5] - Companies are focusing on productivity initiatives, including supply-chain optimization and manufacturing efficiency, to improve cost leverage and recover margins [5] Brand and Innovation - Strong brand equity is crucial in a competitive market, with leading companies investing in health-forward product development to meet evolving consumer preferences [6] - Demand for high-protein, low-sugar, and functional nutrition products is driving innovation and portfolio modernization, which helps strengthen customer loyalty and enhance pricing power [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Food-Miscellaneous industry ranks 185, placing it in the bottom 23% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating weak near-term prospects [7][8] - The industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining 17.5% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's growth of 16.7% [9] Valuation - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.65X, lower than the S&P 500's 23.74X and the sector's 16.49X [12] Company Highlights - **Lamb Weston**: This company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and is focusing on operational efficiency and customer engagement, with a 9.4% increase in EPS estimates to $3.14 [15][16] - **United Natural Foods**: Also a Zacks Rank 1 company, it is experiencing growth in its natural segment, with a 9% increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and a rise in EPS estimates from $1.53 to $1.90 [19][20] - **The J.M. Smucker**: This Zacks Rank 2 company is leveraging its diverse brand portfolio and strong coffee unit, with a slight increase in EPS estimates to $9.13 [21][22]

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Lamb Weston (LW) . Shares have added about 1.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Lamb Weston due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Lamb Weston before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.Lamb Weston’s Q1 Earnings Bea ...

Core Insights - The market began 2025 positively but faced volatility due to tariff and geopolitical risks, with the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points to 4.00–4.25% in September and signaling two more cuts for the year [1] - Despite inflation and rising unemployment, equities remain near record highs, driven by optimism over rate cuts, AI-driven earnings growth, and hopes for a soft landing [1] - Retail investors face challenges in stock selection amidst these conditions [1] Sales Growth as a Key Metric - Sales growth is preferred over earnings for evaluating stocks, as it reflects actual demand and provides visibility into a company's business model durability [3] - Companies that can grow revenues during economic downturns demonstrate pricing power and competitive advantages [3] - Constant sales growth leads to stronger cash flows, allowing for reinvestment, market expansion, or shareholder returns without excessive debt reliance [5] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks with 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than industry average and Cash Flow over $500 million are prioritized [6] - Additional metrics include P/S Ratio less than industry average, positive % Change in F1 Sales Estimate Revisions, Operating Margin greater than 5%, and Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [7][8][9] Recommended Stocks - **Lamb Weston (LW)**: Expected sales growth rate of 1.3% for fiscal 2026, Zacks Rank 1 [12] - **Universal Health Services (UHS)**: Expected sales growth rate of 8.5% for 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [14] - **FirstEnergy Corp (FE)**: Expected sales growth of 6.6% in 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [14] - **NetEase, Inc. (NTES)**: Expected sales growth of 10.3% for 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [15] - **JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)**: Expected sales growth of 2.1% in 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [16]

Core Insights - Three stocks with strong income characteristics and buy rank are highlighted for investors to consider on October 21 Group 1: Company Performance - Newmont Corporation (NEM) has seen a 6.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) has experienced a 4.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Royal Bank of Canada (RY) has recorded a 5.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] Group 2: Dividend Yield - Newmont Corporation (NEM) offers a dividend yield of 1.1%, which is above the industry average of 0.0% [1] - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) provides a dividend yield of 2.3%, also above the industry average of 0.0% [2] - Royal Bank of Canada (RY) has a dividend yield of 3.1%, matching the industry average of 3.1% [3]

Core Viewpoint - Lamb Weston (LW) shows a favorable earnings outlook, with analysts raising their earnings estimates, which may positively impact the stock price [1][2]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - Analysts' optimism regarding Lamb Weston has led to higher earnings estimates, which historically correlate with stock price movements [2]. - For the current quarter, Lamb Weston is expected to earn $0.68 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +3.0%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has risen by 12.15% due to three upward revisions and one downward revision in the last 30 days [6]. - For the full year, the expected earnings are $3.14 per share, indicating a year-over-year decrease of -6.3%. However, there has been a positive trend with five upward revisions and no negative revisions in the past month [7]. Zacks Rank - Lamb Weston has achieved a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating strong agreement among analysts on the positive earnings revisions. This ranking is part of a system that has shown a strong track record of outperformance [3][8]. - Stocks with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500 [8]. Stock Performance - The stock has gained 16.8% over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions, suggesting potential for further growth in earnings [9].

Core Insights - Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is investigating potential claims against Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. following a class action complaint regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary duties by the company's board of directors during the class period from July 25, 2023, to April 3, 2024 [1][2] Company Overview - Lamb Weston is the largest producer of frozen potato products in North America and the second largest globally, supplying products to restaurants and retailers, including major customer McDonald's [2] ERP System Implementation - On July 25, 2023, Lamb Weston announced the completion of the design phase for a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system aimed at improving operational efficiency by managing supplier payments, inventories, warehousing, customer invoicing, and order shipments [2] - The company acknowledged a history of under-investment in information technology, which necessitated the new ERP system [2] Allegations and Financial Impact - The class action complaint alleges that Lamb Weston made material misrepresentations regarding the ERP system's design and implementation, claiming it strengthened operational infrastructure while downplaying issues as "usual bumps" [2] - On April 4, 2024, Lamb Weston reported significant problems with the ERP transition, resulting in over $130 million in lost sales during Q3 2024 and a substantial reduction in sales guidance for the fiscal year by $330 million at the midpoint [2] - The ERP rollout negatively impacted net sales by $135 million, net income by $72 million, and adjusted EBITDA by $95 million, leading to a stock price decline of $19.59 per share, or over 19% [2]

Core Insights - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. is advancing its international expansion strategy with a new manufacturing facility in Mar del Plata, Argentina, aimed at meeting the growing demand for frozen potato products in Latin America, especially Brazil and other export-driven markets [1][4] Group 1: Facility Details - The new facility spans 40,000 square meters and has the capacity to process up to 200 million pounds of potatoes annually, producing over 100 varieties of frozen potato products [2] - Approximately 80% of the facility's output is expected to serve export markets, utilizing Mar del Plata's port for efficient distribution [2][8] - The investment is anticipated to create new employment opportunities and contribute to regional development through Lamb Weston's supply network [2] Group 2: Sustainability and Local Partnerships - The facility will collaborate with local suppliers to secure high-quality raw materials and incorporates modern, energy-efficient technology to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact [3] - This project aligns with the company's broader sustainability objectives [3] Group 3: Strategic Implications - The Argentina project reinforces Lamb Weston's strategy to localize operations in high-growth markets while maintaining its leadership in the global frozen potato category [4] - The expansion is expected to enhance regional logistics, improve profitability through cost efficiencies, and strengthen the company's competitive position in Latin America's foodservice sector [4] Group 4: Growth Strategy - Lamb Weston is implementing its Focus to Win strategy to drive profitable growth and deliver long-term shareholder value, emphasizing customer partnerships, executional excellence, innovation, and prioritizing key global markets [5] - The company aims to achieve at least $250 million in annualized run rate savings by the end of fiscal 2028 through a Cost Savings Program [5] Group 5: Market Performance - In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Lamb Weston experienced a 6% increase in volume, driven by customer wins in North America and Asia, indicating continued market momentum [6] - The stock has risen 10.8% in the past month, contrasting with a 2% decline in the industry [9]

Core Insights - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. has officially opened a new production facility in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, covering an area of 40,000 square meters [1] - This facility is part of a multi-year project aimed at enhancing the company's capacity to meet the growing demand for premium potato products in the Latin American market [1] Company Developments - The new facility is designed to utilize advanced technology to produce frozen potato products, aligning with the company's strategy to serve customer needs effectively [1] - The opening of this facility signifies Lamb Weston's commitment to expanding its footprint in the Latin American region, which is experiencing growth in demand for frozen food products [1] Market Context - The establishment of the production facility is a strategic move to capitalize on the increasing market opportunities in Latin America for premium potato products [1] - This development reflects broader trends in the food industry, where companies are investing in local production capabilities to better serve regional markets [1]