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Feb 27, 2022
Lamb Weston Q3 2022 Earnings Report
Lamb Weston's financial performance improved through pricing actions and cost management, despite challenges from the Omicron variant and supply chain constraints.
Key Takeaways
Lamb Weston reported a 7% increase in net sales to $955 million and a 61% increase in net income to $107 million compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2021. The company's performance was driven by strong execution of pricing actions to manage inflation, manufacturing productivity, and cost mitigation efforts, despite the impact of the Omicron variant and ongoing supply chain constraints.
Net sales increased 7% to $955 million due to price/mix improvements, offsetting volume declines.
Income from operations increased 33% to $134 million, driven by higher gross profit and lower SG&A expenses.
Net income increased 61% to $107 million, and diluted EPS increased 62% to $0.73.
Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures increased 31% to $220 million.
Lamb Weston
Lamb Weston
Forward Guidance
The Company continues to expect fiscal 2022 net sales growth will be above its long-term target of low-to-mid single digits. The Company anticipates net sales growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 will be driven largely by price/mix, reflecting the Company’s pricing actions to offset input and transportation cost inflation.
Positive Outlook
- Net sales growth above long-term target range.
- Net sales growth in Q4 driven by price/mix reflecting pricing actions.
- Targeting a gross margin of 19% to 21% for Q4 2022.
- Investments in information technology expected to improve growth and margin over the long-term.
- Expects effective tax rate of approximately 22%.
Challenges Ahead
- Net income and Adjusted EBITDA expected to be pressured through the remainder of fiscal 2022.
- Higher potato, input and transportation costs expected.
- Sales volumes in Q4 tempered by disruptions to production and logistics networks.
- Effects of inflation and COVID-19 variants on restaurant traffic and consumer demand.
- Higher raw potato costs due to the impact of extreme summer heat.