Lamb Weston guided fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings per share in a range of $2.95 to $3.25, with net sales expected to be flat to up 1% versus a 52-week adjusted base of $6.5 billion for fiscal 2026. Chief Financial Officer James Gray also projected adjusted operating income of $720 million to $800 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion, while warning that first-quarter EBITDA would decline in the low teens before growth resumes later in the year. The outlook follows a fourth quarter in which company net sales rose 6%, driven by a 7% increase in volume and a 2% favorable currency impact, partially offset by a 3% decline in price and mix. Management highlighted near-term pressure from edible oil and freight inflation, as well as carryover costs from the prior potato crop, and announced the planned closure of a facility in the Netherlands that represents about 10% of EMEA production capacity. Executive Chair Jan Eli B. Craps said the company is evaluating all options for its international footprint, including M&A, partnerships, and divestitures, with a fuller strategy update expected at an Investor Day in early calendar 2027.
Lamb Weston Holdings IncGuidance for fiscal 2027 EPS ($2.95-$3.25) and flat sales growth, plus Q1 EBITDA decline, signals weak near-term profitability.