Lamb Weston's Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Rise 4% Y/Y

Core Insights - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) reported strong fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with both revenue and earnings exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates and showing year-over-year growth [1][3][11] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were 87 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents, marking a 12% increase primarily due to lower income tax expenses [3] - Net sales reached $1,675.8 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,593 million, reflecting a 4% year-over-year increase [3] - Adjusted gross profit decreased by $19.5 million to $343.5 million, mainly due to a negative price/mix, although this was partially offset by lower manufacturing costs [6] Volume and Sales Dynamics - Fiscal fourth-quarter volume rose 8% compared to the same quarter last year, driven by contract wins across all channels and regions, despite soft global restaurant traffic [4] - The price/mix declined by 4% as the company engaged in strategic pricing and trade promotions to remain competitive [5] Segment Performance - North America segment net sales decreased by 1% to $1,103.1 million, with a volume increase of 4% offset by declines in restaurant traffic [12] - International segment net sales grew by 15% to $572.7 million, with a volume increase of 16%, despite declines in restaurant traffic in key markets [14] Cost Management and Profitability - Adjusted selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses fell by $16.4 million year over year to $155.6 million, attributed to lower advertising costs and restructuring savings [8] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by $1.5 million year over year to $284.9 million, driven by reduced SG&A expenses [9] Future Outlook - The company forecasts fiscal year 2026 sales between $6.35 billion and $6.55 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $1 billion and $1.2 billion [11][19] - Capital expenditures are projected to total approximately $500 million [19] Shareholder Returns - In fiscal 2025, the company returned $488.9 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, including $206.9 million in cash dividends and $282 million in share repurchases [17]