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⚠️ Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Lamb Weston Holdings LW

United StatesConsumer Defensive · Packaged FoodsUSD
4.8AI score
Rank 1,784 of 2,130
better than 16% of companies
48.09USD
▼ 22.2% in one year
LW MSCI World +22.1%
Average analyst target
55.91 USD (+16.3%)
11 analysts
52-wk low 37.62High 67.07
📈 Chart on TradingView ↗(affiliate link)Analysis of 08/10/2026

What does it do?

Lamb Weston Holdings is a producer and processor of frozen potatoes and other potato products, selling mainly to restaurants, fast-food chains, and supermarkets worldwide.

Key points

from its scores
  • ✓Favourable backdrop7.9
  • ✕Weak growth1.9
  • ✕Poor share-price trend2.1
  • ✕Fragile balance sheet3.6

AI analysis

bottom line, main risk, context and news
Bottom line

Hold or wait for an improvement in fundamentals before buying; the valuation is attractive but the deterioration in growth and high leverage are significant risks.

Lamb Weston presents a mixed financial profile: its financial health is weak (score 4.22) due to high leverage (Net Debt/EBITDA of 3.63x) and a low operating margin (7.92%), while its valuation is attractive (forward P/E of 14.25) and it offers a decent dividend (net yield of 3.16%). However, earnings growth is very negative (-54.30%), reflecting a business under pressure.

⚠ Main risk

The main risk is the high leverage (Net Debt/EBITDA of 3.63x) combined with a low operating margin (7.92%), which makes the company vulnerable to a rising interest rate environment and any additional cost pressure.

Context and risks

Lamb Weston operates in the food sector, a defensive consumer sector, but its high leverage (Net Debt/EBITDA of 3.63x) and relatively narrow operating margin (7.92%) make it vulnerable to a rising interest rate environment, which increases the cost of servicing its debt. The governance risk of the country of domicile (USA) is moderate, but no specific regulatory or geopolitical risk is identified beyond the general context.

Is Lamb Weston Holdings stock cheap or expensive?

at the analysis date
In line with its sector

On P/E and EV / EBITDA, it trades in line with the Consumer Defensive median (within 15%).

MultipleCompanySectorDifference
P/E26.319.8+33%
EV / EBITDA10.010.8−8%
Price / book3.62.7+33%
Price / sales1.01.2−19%

Sector: median of the 124 Consumer Defensive companies analysed. In bold, the multiples used for the comparison.

Valuation score: 6.0 out of 10 (median for Consumer Defensive: 6.3).

Average analyst target: 55.91 USD, +16.3% versus the price.

Indicative fair value · USD
Graham52.16▲ +8% vs price
Cash flow (DCF)54.09▲ +12% vs price
Dividends53.20▲ +11% vs price
Price48.09at the analysis date

Classic formulas with standard assumptions (10.0% growth, 8-9% discount rate). Indicative only: they change a lot with the assumptions and are not a recommendation.

Work out its fair value yourself →How much would you have made investing every month? →

Comparing it with its sector does not say whether it is a good buy: this is not investment advice.

🛒 Where to buy LWCheapest · US (NYSE/Nasdaq) · sample 200.00 € orderCheapest · US (NYSE/Nasdaq) · sample 200.00 € orderAvailable in your country · US (NYSE/Nasdaq) · sample 200.00 € order
By the cost of that order: commission and FX, taxes excluded (public fee schedules). Brokers marked «affiliate» may pay Meridian a commission at no cost to you. This is not investment advice. · Compare all 22 brokers by real cost →

Score by category

0 to 10 · hover overtap each one to see what it measures
Financial healthiWeak3.6Consumer Defensive median: 5.5
Quality / MoatiWeak4.3Consumer Defensive median: 5.7
ValuationiFair6.0Consumer Defensive median: 6.3
GrowthiPoor1.9Consumer Defensive median: 5.3
DividendiFair6.0Consumer Defensive median: 6.0
MomentumiPoor2.1Consumer Defensive median: 5.0
Risk & ContextiGood7.9Consumer Defensive median: 8.2
Consumer Defensive median7 or more 5 to 7 under 5

Key metrics

at the analysis date · compared with the Consumer Defensive median
P/Ei
26.3
Consumer Defensive: 19.8above
EV / EBITDAi
10.0
Consumer Defensive: 10.8below
ROEi
14.2%
Consumer Defensive: 14.5%in line
Operating margini
7.9%
Consumer Defensive: 11.0%below
Net debt / EBITDAi
3.63
Consumer Defensive: 2.38above
Revenue growthi
+0.7%
Consumer Defensive: +3.0%below

Valuation

P/E
26.3
Forward P/E
14.3
EV / EBITDA
10.0
Price / book
3.6
Price / sales
1.0
PEG
0.78
Market cap
6.6B USD
Enterprise value
10.4B USD

Profitability

ROE
14.2%
ROA
5.5%
ROIC (approx.)
9.1%
Gross margin
19.8%
Operating margin
7.9%
Net margin
3.8%
Free cash flow
315.6M USD
FCF yield
4.8%
Cash conversion
30%

Solvency

Total debt
4.0B USD
Net debt
3.8B USD
Cash
166.3M USD
EBITDA
1.0B USD
Net debt / EBITDA
3.63
Debt / equity
219.00
Current ratio
1.46
Quick ratio
0.68

Growth

Revenue growth
+0.7%
Earnings growth
−54.3%
EPS (TTM)
1.83 USD
EPS (forward)
3.37 USD

Dividend

Dividend yield
3.2%
Payout
82.5%

Risk and market

Beta
0.47
Analyst consensus
Buy (11)
Target price
55.91 USD
52-week range
37.62 – 67.07

Compare it with its sector

All 124 in Consumer Defensive →
See the full ranking with filters →

Keep browsing the ranking

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Frequently asked questions about Lamb Weston Holdings

Is Lamb Weston Holdings stock cheap or expensive?

On P/E and EV / EBITDA, it trades in line with the Consumer Defensive median (within 15%). Valuation score: 6.0 out of 10 (median for Consumer Defensive: 6.3). Average analyst target: 55.91 USD, +16.3% versus the price. This is not investment advice.

What score does Lamb Weston Holdings get on MeridIAn Screener?

It scores 4.8 out of 10, rank 1,784 of 2,130 (better than 16% of the companies analysed). Its strongest category is Risk & Context (7.9) and its weakest, Growth (1.9). Analysis of 08/10/2026.

What is Lamb Weston Holdings's P/E ratio?

Its P/E is 26.3: the share price equals 26.3 times earnings per share over the last 12 months. The Consumer Defensive median is 19.8. Based on the earnings analysts expect, the forward P/E is 14.3.

How much is Lamb Weston Holdings worth on the stock market?

Its market capitalisation is 6.6B USD and its enterprise value, debt included, is 10.4B USD.

How much debt does Lamb Weston Holdings have?

Its net debt (debt minus cash) is 3.8B USD. That is 3.63 times its EBITDA; the Consumer Defensive median is 2.38.

Does Lamb Weston Holdings pay a dividend?

Yes: its dividend yield is 3.16% and it pays out 83% of its earnings.

How has Lamb Weston Holdings stock performed over the last year?

It has fallen 22.2% over the last year, excluding dividends. Over the last 52 weeks it has traded between 37.62 and 67.07 USD. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

What do analysts think of Lamb Weston Holdings?

11 analysts cover it; their average recommendation is “Buy” and their average target is 55.91 USD (+16.3% versus the price). It is an estimate, not market data.