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Lamb Weston (LW) Q4 2025 Earnings Call July 23, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsDebbie Hancock - VP - Investor RelationsMike Smith - President & CEOBernadette Madarieta - CFOPeter Galbo - Director - Head of US Consumer Staples Equity ResearchScott Marks - Equity Research (Consumer)Marc Torrente - Vice President - Equity ResearchRobert Moskow - Managing Director Carla Casella - Managing DirectorMax Gumport - Director - Equity ResearchConference Call ParticipantsAlexia Howard - Research Analyst - US Food ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the fourth quarter, net sales increased by 4% year-over-year, while volume increased by 8%, driven by contract wins across channels and geographies [26][27] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $285 million, essentially flat compared to the prior year, with lower adjusted SG&A offsetting lower adjusted gross profit [32][34] - The company ended the year with approximately $1.24 billion in liquidity and a net debt of $4.1 billion, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA to net debt leverage ratio of 3.3 times [33][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America net sales declined by 1% year-over-year, primarily due to lower net selling prices, with a price mix decline of 5% [27][28] - International segment sales grew by 15% year-over-year, with volume increasing by 16%, driven by recent customer contract wins [30][32] - Adjusted EBITDA in the North America segment declined by 7% to $258 million, while the International segment's adjusted EBITDA increased by $22 million to $63 million [32][33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global restaurant traffic trends were down low single digits in the US and UK, impacting overall sales [26][30] - In the US, French fry attachment rates remained approximately two points higher than pre-pandemic levels, with the French fry category growing by 1% in the quarter [27][30] - The international segment experienced a 3% decline in restaurant traffic in the UK, but still achieved significant volume growth [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a "Focus to Win" strategy, which includes zero-based budgeting and assessing non-core assets to drive targeted decision-making [11][22] - The strategic focus is on strengthening customer partnerships, achieving executional excellence, and setting the pace for innovation [15][16] - The company plans to invest in priority global markets and segments, targeting premium market segments where innovation is a differentiator [17][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures affecting consumer behavior and restaurant traffic, but expressed confidence in the company's ability to capitalize on future demand [23][40] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 anticipates revenue in the range of $6.35 billion to $6.55 billion, reflecting a potential decline or modest growth due to carryover pricing actions [40][41] - Management emphasized the importance of controlling operational costs and improving efficiency to enhance competitiveness [45] Other Important Information - The company announced a cost savings program targeting $250 million in annualized savings by the end of fiscal 2028 [22][43] - Capital expenditures for fiscal 2025 were $651 million, down from initial targets, with expectations for approximately $500 million in fiscal 2026 [35][66] - The company plans to continue returning cash to shareholders, having returned $489 million in fiscal 2025 [36] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the EBITDA margin target for the year? - Management indicated that the EBITDA margin would be below normalized levels in fiscal 2026 due to headwinds faced by key customers and ongoing pricing support [51][52] Question: Can you elaborate on working capital improvements? - Management highlighted improvements in inventory management and planning capabilities as key components of their strategy to enhance working capital [56][57] Question: What is the outlook for international capacity? - Management noted that while there have been announcements of new capacity, many projects are being delayed or canceled, indicating a rational approach within the industry [62][63] Question: How is the company assessing risks related to tariffs? - Management stated that the potential impact of tariffs on financial results is estimated at $25 million, with ongoing efforts to mitigate exposure [85] Question: What is the company's leverage target? - The company continues to target a leverage ratio of about 3.5 times and is open to M&A opportunities that align with its strategic focus [103][106]

Financial Performance - Lamb Weston's Q4 F25 net sales increased by 4% to $1,676 million compared to Q4 F24 [16, 43] - Full Year 2025 net sales reached $6,451 million [19] - Q4 F25 adjusted EBITDA increased by 1% to $285 million compared to Q4 F24 [16] - Full Year 2025 adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14% to $1,221 million compared to FY24 [19] - Lamb Weston forecasts capital expenditures of approximately $500 million for FY26 [53, 66] Volume and Pricing - Q4 F25 volume increased by 8%, while price/mix decreased by 4% [17] - Full Year 2025 volume increased by 2%, while price/mix decreased by 2% [19] - North America volume increased by 4% in Q4 F25, while price/mix decreased by 5% [44] - International volume increased by 16% in Q4 F25, while price/mix decreased by 1% [44] Cost Savings and Restructuring - Lamb Weston delivered approximately $60 million of pre-tax cost savings in FY25 and is on track for $85 million in FY26 [19, 36] - The company is targeting at least $250 million in annualized run rate savings by the end of fiscal year 2028 [35] Liquidity and Capital Allocation - Lamb Weston returned $489 million to shareholders in FY25, including $207 million in dividends and $282 million in share repurchases [53, 56] - The company had approximately $71 million in cash and equivalents and $12 billion availability under its revolving credit facility [53] Fiscal 2026 Outlook - Lamb Weston projects net sales between $635 billion and $655 billion for fiscal year 2026 [66] - The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $10 billion and $12 billion for fiscal year 2026 [66, 71]

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Core Viewpoint - Stride, Inc. is facing challenges due to the termination of a key partnership with Gallup-McKinley County Schools, which is expected to impact its market value and revenue visibility, despite experiencing significant enrollment growth in its K-12 and career learning segments [3][7][15]. Company Performance - Stride's share price has decreased by 9.4% over the past month, underperforming compared to the Zacks Schools industry and the broader market [1]. - The company has reported a 20% overall enrollment growth in fiscal 2025, with General Education and Career Learning segments growing by 12.8% and 32%, respectively [15]. Partnership and Regulatory Challenges - The termination of the partnership with GMCS, effective June 30, 2025, was due to Stride's failure to meet legal and academic requirements, which poses risks to its growth and profitability [6][7]. - Stride's business model heavily relies on contracts with educational institutions, making it vulnerable to compliance issues that could lead to contract terminations [6]. Market and Economic Conditions - Stride is experiencing macroeconomic pressures, including inflation and tariff concerns, which could indirectly affect its top-line growth through strained government budgets [9]. - The company is facing increased operational costs, with instructional costs and SG&A expenses rising by 12.5% and 0.6% year-over-year, respectively [9]. Financial Position - Stride maintains a strong liquidity position with cash and cash equivalents of $528.5 million, up from $500.6 million at the end of fiscal 2024, while long-term debt has slightly increased to $415.9 million [18]. - The stock is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 16.98, indicating a premium compared to industry peers, which reflects its growth potential [10]. Growth Prospects - The shift in demand towards tech-based and career-focused educational programs is expected to enhance Stride's revenue visibility and profitability in the long term [5][21]. - The company is strategically expanding its online education offerings, which aligns with the growing trend of digital learning [12][16].

Core Insights - The S&P 500 has historically been a reliable index for generating significant stock gains over decades, making it a low-risk option for long-term growth [1] - Investing a lump sum of $25,000 into an ETF that tracks the S&P 500, such as SPDR S&P 500 ETF, and holding it for 25 years could potentially lead to wealth accumulation and a comfortable retirement [2] Investment Strategy - A buy-and-hold strategy is recommended as it can help ensure portfolio value increases over time, avoiding the pitfalls of chasing trends [4] - A diverse portfolio or a set-it-and-forget-it approach can be beneficial, although there are no guarantees regarding stock performance when funds are needed [5] Expected Returns - Current S&P 500 levels suggest that future average returns may trend lower than the historical average of around 10%, with projections for a $25,000 investment showing potential growth to between $135,686 and $215,577 after 25 years, depending on annual returns of 7% to 9% [6][8] - While significant growth is possible, achieving a portfolio worth over $1 million may not be feasible with this strategy alone [8] Adjusting Investment Goals - To improve the likelihood of reaching investment goals, increasing monthly contributions can help compound returns over time [9] - Focusing on growth stocks rather than merely mirroring the market may provide better chances for outperforming the market and achieving above-average returns [10] Portfolio Management - Investing in individual stocks or ETFs that track growth stocks can introduce more risk but may yield higher rewards [11] - Regular portfolio reviews are essential to assess performance and make necessary adjustments [11]

3M (MMM -3.32%), a diversified manufacturing company known for products like Post-it Notes and industrial adhesives, reported earnings on July 18, 2025. The key news in the release was a beat on both non-GAAP earnings and non-GAAP revenue versus Wall Street estimates. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.16, higher than the $2.01 analyst expectation (non-GAAP). Adjusted revenue was $6.2 billion, topping the $6.12 billion non-GAAP consensus. The report showed continued progress in operational ...