Lamb Weston Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results; Provides Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. has announced its fiscal fourth quarter and full year 2025 results and provided its outlook for fiscal 2026. The Company also announced "Focus to Win," a comprehensive plan designed to improve execution and drive profitable growth. 

Mike Smith, Lamb Weston president and CEO:

"Lamb Weston returned to growth in the second half of the year with momentum in customer wins and retention, delivering financial results above our updated expectations."

"Today, as part of our Focus to Win strategic plan, we are also announcing further steps to deliver at least USD 250 million of savings, including USD 200 million in annualized run rate savings and USD 120 million of favorable working capital improvements by year-end fiscal 2027."

"We expect that these cost savings and working capital improvements together with lower levels of capital expenditures will help drive improved profitability and cash flow. We enter fiscal 2026 with increased discipline around our customer relationships and our cost structure, along with a clear and executable plan of how to win with customers and succeed in a dynamic marketplace."

"Our Focus to Win plan prioritizes markets and channels where we are well positioned to win for the long-term and doing what our team does better than anyone else – delivering the performance that has made Lamb Weston an industry leader through category leading innovation, exceptional products and customer-centric service."

Brad Alford, Lamb Weston’s Board Chair:

"Lamb Weston is taking aggressive and decisive actions to improve its focus and improve shareholder returns. The Lamb Weston Board is operating with a heightened sense of urgency to return Lamb Weston to profitable growth, and we believe that the actions announced today in our Focus to Win plan are a strong first step."

"We look forward to updating our customers and the investor community as we build on this to maintain Lamb Weston’s place as a customer-centric innovation leader and unlock value for shareholders."

Q4 2025 Commentary

Net sales increased USD 63.9 million, to USD 1,675.8 million, up 4 percent versus the prior year quarter. Volume increased 8 percent compared to the prior year quarter due to contract wins across each of the Company’s channels and geographic regions and, to a lesser extent, lapping an approximately USD 22 million negative impact to sales related to a previously announced voluntary product withdrawal in the prior year quarter. 

The increase was partially offset by soft global restaurant traffic trends, which declined low single-digits in the U.S. and UK, the Company’s largest global markets, compared with the prior year quarter. Price/mix declined 4 percent, reflecting efforts to partner with customers on price and trade to compete in the increasingly competitive environment in both the North America and International segments. 

Gross profit declined USD 45.6 million versus the prior year quarter to USD 342.3 million. Adjusted Gross Profit(1) declined USD 19.5 million versus the prior year quarter to USD 343.5 million, due to unfavorable price/mix, which was partially offset by lower manufacturing costs per pound. 

Favorable manufacturing costs per pound related to lapping an approximately USD 40 million negative impact of the voluntary product withdrawal in the prior year and lower current year raw potato costs. These benefits were partially offset by higher fixed factory absorption costs from temporarily curtailed production, low-single-digit input cost inflation for other key inputs including: labor, ingredients, such as grains and starches used in product coatings, oil, packaging, and higher depreciation expense largely associated with the Company’s recent capacity expansions in China, the U.S. and the Netherlands. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") declined USD 34.7 million versus the prior year quarter to USD 140.7 million. Adjusted SG&A(1) declined USD 16.4 million versus the prior year quarter to USD 155.6 million, primarily related to USD 10.5 million of lower advertising and promotion expenses and lapping higher expenses associated with the Company’s transition to a new enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system in the prior year. 

The decline in Adjusted SG&A(1) also reflects cost savings associated with the Company’s fiscal 2025 restructuring plan announced in October 2024 ("FY25 Restructuring Plan”), partially offset by the timing of changes to incentive compensation accruals in the prior year.

Net income declined USD 9.7 million from the prior year quarter to USD 119.9 million. Diluted EPS declined USD 0.04 from the prior year quarter to USD 0.85. Adjusted Net Income(1) increased USD 9.1 million versus the prior year quarter to USD 122.8 million, and Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) increased USD 0.09 from the prior year quarter to USD 0.87. 

The increase in Adjusted Net Income(1) and Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) largely reflects lower income tax expense related to lower Adjusted Gross Profit(1) described above, partially offset by lower Adjusted Equity Method Investment Earnings(1) described below. 

Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased USD 1.5 million from the prior year quarter to USD 284.9 million, primarily reflecting lower Adjusted SG&A(1), partially offset by lower Adjusted Gross Profit(1). 

The Company’s effective tax rate(2) in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 15.1 percent, versus 28.2 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, primarily due to discrete items and lower pre-tax income. 

Q4 2025 Segment Highlights

North America 

Net sales for the North America segment, which includes all sales to customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, declined USD 10.1 million to USD 1,103.1 million, down 1 percent versus the prior year quarter. Volume increased 4 percent, primarily related to regional, small and retail customer wins. These gains were partially offset by low single-digit declines in restaurant traffic in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. 

Price/mix declined 5 percent, due to planned investments in price and trade driven by an increasingly competitive market, partially offset by channel and product mix driven by growth with regional, small and retail customer channels. 

North America Segment Adjusted EBITDA declined USD 18.6 million to USD 257.9 million, down 7 percent. Investments in price and trade and higher transportation and warehousing costs were partially offset by lower manufacturing costs per pound and SG&A expenses, including USD 4.7 million of lower advertising and promotion expenses. 

North America Segment Adjusted EBITDA in the prior year quarter included an approximately USD 19 million charge for the voluntary product withdrawal related to products manufactured in North America. 

International

Net sales for the International segment, which includes all sales to customers outside of North America, increased USD 74.0 million to USD 572.7 million, up 15 percent versus the prior-year quarter. Volume increased 16 percent, which reflects growth in all regions and lapping the voluntary product withdrawal in the prior year quarter. 

These gains were partially offset by declining restaurant traffic in the UK and relatively flat traffic for other major international markets in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. 

Price/mix declined 1 percent versus the prior-year quarter in response to a continued competitive environment. International Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased USD 22.2 million to USD 62.6 million. The increase related to higher net sales, lower manufacturing costs per pound and SG&A expenses, including USD 5.8 million of lower advertising and promotion expenses. 

International Segment Adjusted EBITDA in the prior year quarter included an approximately USD 21 million charge associated with the voluntary product withdrawal. 

Equity Method Investment Earnings (Loss) 

Equity method investment earnings (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures were a loss of USD 0.3 million and earnings of USD 8.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. Adjusted Equity Method Investment Earnings(1) declined USD 7.0 million to USD 1.2 million compared to the prior year quarter, reflecting lower net sales and higher manufacturing costs per pound, primarily related to softer restaurant traffic contributing to lower production and increased factory burden absorption. 

The results for the current and prior year quarters reflect earnings associated with the Company’s 50 percent interest in Lamb Weston/RDO Frozen, an unconsolidated potato processing joint venture in Minnesota. 

Fiscal Year 2025 Commentary

Net sales declined USD 16.3 million to USD 6,451.3 million versus fiscal 2024. The decline related to a 2 percent decrease in price/mix that reflected the impact of supporting customers with price and trade in a competitive environment globally. 

The decrease in price/mix was mostly offset by a 2 percent increase in volume, primarily in the International segment and included fully replacing the combined regional, small, and retail customer volume lost, primarily in North America, in the prior year during the Company’s transition to a new ERP system in the second half of fiscal 2024. 

Volume increased despite a decrease in global restaurant traffic in fiscal 2025, compared to fiscal 2024. Gross profit declined USD 368.1 million versus the prior fiscal year to USD 1,398.6 million. Adjusted Gross Profit(1) declined USD 298.2 million versus the prior fiscal year to USD 1,460.5 million, driven by increased manufacturing costs per pound, including higher factory burden absorption. 

In response to softer restaurant traffic and to reduce inventory levels, the Company temporarily curtailed production in fiscal 2025. In addition, key input costs increased low-single-digits, including: potato, labor and packaging and the Company recognized USD 57.6 million of incremental depreciation expense largely associated with the Company’s recent capacity expansions in China, the U.S. and the Netherlands. 

Transportation and warehousing costs per pound increased in the low double digits, primarily related to higher warehouse inventories during the year. The increased costs were partially offset by lapping the losses related to the ERP transition, write-off of excess raw potatoes, and the incremental costs related to the voluntary product withdrawal in the prior year. 

SG&A declined USD 67.9 million versus the prior fiscal year to USD 633.5 million. Adjusted SG&A(1) declined USD 30.3 million to USD 643.9 million, primarily related to lapping higher expenses associated with the ERP transition in the prior year and a USD 13.9 million decrease in advertising and promotion expenses and cost savings associated with the FY25 Restructuring Plan announced in October 2024, partially offset by USD 14.6 million of incremental depreciation and amortization expense primarily related to the ERP transition in the prior year and higher compensation and benefit expenses. 

Net income was USD 357.2 million, down USD 368.3 million versus the prior fiscal year, and Diluted EPS was USD 2.50, down USD 2.48 from the prior fiscal year. Adjusted Net Income(1) was USD 478.6 million, down USD 261.3 million versus the prior fiscal year, and Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) was USD 3.35, down USD 1.73 versus the prior fiscal year. 

The decreases in Adjusted Net Income(1) and Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) largely reflect lower Adjusted Gross Profit(1) due to the factors discussed above, and higher interest expense attributable to a USD 23.6 million reduction in capitalized interest in fiscal 2025, compared to the prior fiscal year, and higher borrowings during the year, which was partially offset by lower Adjusted SG&A(1) and Adjusted Income Tax Expense(1). 

Adjusted EBITDA(1) declined USD 196.2 million from the prior fiscal year to USD 1,220.5 million, reflecting lower Adjusted Gross Profit(1), partially offset by lower Adjusted SG&A(1). The Company’s effective tax rate(2) for fiscal 2025 was 28.6 percent, versus 24.1 percent in fiscal 2024, with the increase largely attributable to foreign losses without tax benefits and a higher proportion of overall earnings in the Company’s International segment. 

Fiscal Year 2025 Segment Highlights 

North America 

Net sales for the North America segment declined USD 98.0 million to USD 4,265.2 million, down 2 percent versus the prior fiscal year. The decrease related to a 3 percent decrease in price/mix, reflecting the Company’s support of customers in price and trade driven by an increasingly competitive market, partially offset by channel and product mix. Volume increased 1 percent, despite a low single-digit percentage point decline in North America restaurant traffic in fiscal 2025, compared with fiscal 2024. Increased regional, small, and retail customer volume more than offset low single-digit volume declines with large chain customers in North America, which were primarily in the first half of the year.

North America Segment Adjusted EBITDA declined USD 161.7 million to USD 1,101.4 million, reflecting investments in price and trade, higher manufacturing costs per pound (which largely reflected higher factory burden absorption related to temporarily curtailed production as part of the Company’s previously discussed effort to reduce inventory to current demand levels), and higher transportation and warehousing costs per pound. These cost increases were partially offset by lapping an approximately USD 83 million negative impact of the ERP transition in the prior year and lower Adjusted SG&A(1) in fiscal 2025, including a USD 9.5 million decrease in advertising and promotion expenses.

International 

Net sales for the International segment, which includes all sales to customers outside of North America, increased USD 81.7 million to USD 2,186.1 million, up 4 percent. Volume increased 5 percent, which reflects growth related to new customer wins and growth with existing customers in all regions. Price/mix declined 1 percent, which reflects pricing actions in support of customers in key international markets in response to the continued competitive environment. 

International Segment Adjusted EBITDA declined USD 78.2 million to USD 253.7 million. Higher net sales and lower Adjusted SG&A(1) were offset by an increase in manufacturing costs per pound, including mid-to-high single-digit increases in raw potato costs, primarily in the first half of the year and incremental costs related to the start-up of the new production line in the Netherlands.

Higher warehouse inventories also led a mid-to-high single-digit increase in warehousing costs. These costs more than offset lapping a USD 9.9 million charge for the write-off of excess raw potatoes, approximately USD 9 million, net of allocated losses related to the voluntary product withdrawal, and an approximately USD 5 million negative impact related to the ERP transition in the prior year.

Equity Method Investment Earnings

Equity method investment earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures were earnings of USD 15.2 million and USD 26.0 million in fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. The results for the current and prior years reflect earnings associated with the Company’s 50 percent interest in Lamb Weston/RDO Frozen, an unconsolidated potato processing joint venture in Minnesota.

Adjusted Equity Method Investment Earnings(1) declined USD 0.3 million to USD 25.7 million compared to the prior year. The fiscal 2024 results included a USD 10.8 million charge for the write-off of excess raw potatoes. The decrease in equity method investment earnings reflects lower net sales and higher manufacturing costs per pound, primarily related to softer restaurant traffic contributing to lower production and increased factory burden absorption.

Liquidity, Cash Flows and Capital Expenditures

As of May 25, 2025, the Company had USD 70.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, with USD 1,166.8 million of available liquidity under its revolving credit facility. Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2025 was USD 868.3 million, up USD 70.1 million versus the prior year period, primarily related to USD 349.1 million of favorable changes in working capital.

The favorable changes in working capital were primarily attributable to reduced inventories and a favorable change in accrued liabilities related to changes in compensation and benefit accruals in the prior year. Inventory days on hand at the end of fiscal 2025 declined eight days compared with fiscal 2024. This was partially offset by USD 279.0 million of lower income after adjustments for non-cash operating activities. 

Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from blue chip swap transactions, during fiscal 2025 were USD 650.7 million, down USD 323.1 million versus the prior year period. This decline was primarily attributable to reduced cash expenditures in fiscal 2025 as the Company’s strategic capacity expansion projects in China and the U.S. were completed in fiscal 2024 and the capacity expansion in the Netherlands was completed in the first half of fiscal 2025. The capacity expansion project in Argentina is expected to begin production in August 2025.

Capital Returned to Shareholders 

In fiscal 2025, the Company returned USD 488.9 million to shareholders, including USD 206.9 million through cash dividends and USD 282.0 million of common stock repurchases. In total, the Company repurchased 4,867,449 shares during fiscal 2025 at an average price of USD 57.94 per share. The Company has approximately USD 358 million remaining that is authorized and available for repurchase under the share repurchase program. 

On July 15, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of USD 0.37 per share of Lamb Weston common stock. The dividend is payable on August 29, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 1, 2025. 

Fiscal 2026 Outlook

Beginning in fiscal 2026, the Company is implementing changes in its reporting of Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures(1). These adjusted measures currently exclude unrealized mark-to-market derivative gains and losses, foreign currency exchange gains and losses, gains on blue chip swap transactions, and items affecting comparability, and in fiscal 2026 the items have been changed to exclude the net non-cash expenses arising from share-based compensation awards.

The changes will be applied starting with the Company’s quarterly report for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and related earnings release and are reflected in the Company’s fiscal 2026 outlook below and prior periods will be conformed to this presentation. The Company’s fiscal 2026 outlook includes the contribution of a 53rd week in the fiscal period, with the additional week falling in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. 

The Company’s 2026 outlook assumes continued pressure on consumers from macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. The Company believes customers and consumers will continue to prioritize french fries as a menu and at home item, and its outlook assumes that global restaurant traffic will remain approximately even with fiscal 2025 levels. The fiscal 2026 outlook does not include additional impacts of evolving trade policies, including additional changes in tariffs and retaliatory countermeasures.

• Net sales of USD 6.35 billion to USD 6.55 billion, reflecting a 2 percent decline to 2 percent growth on a constant currency basis. The Company expects sales to be stronger in the second half of the fiscal year, which will also benefit from the additional week in fiscal 2026. In addition, price/mix is expected to decline low to mid-single-digits in the first half of the fiscal year and low single-digits in the second half of the fiscal year.
• Adjusted EBITDA(1) of USD 1,000 million to USD 1,200 million. Compared with the prior year, the Company expects lower Adjusted Gross Profit(1), due primarily to pricing investments (carryover and fiscal 2026 planned investments), higher fixed factory burden, and low single-digit cost inflation, net of the benefit of lower potato costs. This impact is expected to have a larger negative year-over-year impact in the first half of fiscal 2026, compared with the second half of the year.
• Cash used for capital expenditures of approximately USD 500 million, primarily related to base capital and modernization efforts of long-lived assets as well as environmental projects largely focused on wastewater treatment at the Company’s production facilities.

Cost Savings Program.

The Focus to Win strategic plan includes a Cost Savings Program which is expected to deliver at least USD 250 million of annualized run rate savings by the end of fiscal year 2028. Approximately USD 200 million of these annualized cost savings are expected by fiscal year end 2027, with approximately 75 percent of the anticipated savings benefiting gross profit and 25 percent benefiting SG&A.

These cost savings includes headcount reductions of approximately 4 percent of the Company's global workforce, which also reflects the elimination of certain unfilled positions. In addition, the Company expects to generate approximately USD 120 million of working capital improvements compared to current levels by the end of fiscal 2027. In connection with these cost savings, the Company expects to recognize total pre-tax charges of USD 70 million to USD 100 million, most of which will be paid in fiscal 2026. 

Compensation Design Changes.

Consistent with the Company’s focus on driving improved free cash flow and returns, the Company’s fiscal year 2026 annual incentive plan will include a free cash flow target and its long-term incentive plan will include a return on invested capital related metric. In addition, to further enhance shareholder alignment, the Board of Directors unanimously elected to receive their fiscal year 2026 annual cash retainer in shares of restricted stock. 

End Notes

(1)Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Equity Method Investment Earnings, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Income Tax Expense, are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a discussion of guidance provided on a non-GAAP basis, and the associated reconciliations at the end of this press release for more information. 

(2)The effective tax rate is calculated as the ratio of income tax expense to pre-tax income, inclusive of equity method investment earnings.