London Co. of Virginia, an investment firm, has recently decreased its stake in Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. by 21.1% during the first quarter of this year, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm now owns 2,815,455 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, after selling 753,633 shares. This reduction in position resulted in Lamb Weston comprising approximately 1.7% of London Co. of Virginia’s holdings, making it their 19th largest position overall.
At the end of the most recent quarter, London Co. of Virginia owned 1.93% of Lamb Weston’s total worth, which amounts to $294,271,000. This signifies a significant investment on their part.
In terms of financial performance, Lamb Weston reported its quarterly earnings data on July 25th. During that period, the specialty retailer surpassed analysts’ consensus estimates by reporting an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.22 compared to the expected $1.05 EPS – a difference of $0.17.
Furthermore, Lamb Weston generated revenue amounting to $1.69 billion for that quarter whereas analyst estimates projected a slightly lower figure at $1.66 billion in revenue.
The company’s net margin was recorded at 18.86%, indicating strong profitability in relation to its revenue generation and operational expenses during this period.
Lamb Weston’s return on equity reached an impressive figure of 84.65%. This shows how effectively the company is utilizing shareholder investments to generate profits.
Moreover, when comparing year-over-year data for this specific quarter, Lamb Weston experienced an exceptional growth rate with its revenue increasing by a notable 46.9%.
It is worth noting that in the same period last year, the company had reported an EPS of $0.65 – highlighting significant improvement and growth over time.
Industry analysts are now anticipating that for the current year, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. will likely post earnings per share of 5.26.
These recent developments and financial performance indicators demonstrate Lamb Weston’s ability to exceed market expectations. Investors may find it valuable to consider these factors when evaluating their investment decisions.
Overall, the decrease in London Co. of Virginia’s position in Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. alongside the company’s impressive financial performance suggests a complex yet favorable investment landscape for this specialty retailer moving forward.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute financial advice and is purely for informational purposes. Investors should conduct their own research and analysis before making any investment decisions.
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Institutional Investors Show Interest in Lamb Weston Stock as Analysts Hold Mostly Positive Outlook
As of September 10, 2023, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. has seen significant interest from institutional investors in its stock. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in the specialty retailer by 60.0% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 11,741 shares and bringing their total ownership to 31,305 shares. Similarly, American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake by 37.5%, adding 5,933 shares and bringing their total ownership to 21,746 shares.
Acadian Asset Management LLC also entered the scene during the first quarter by purchasing a new position valued at approximately $92,000. Meanwhile, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings by 28.5%, acquiring an additional 9,184 shares and now owning a total of 41,455 shares of Lamb Weston’s stock. Panagora Asset Management Inc., in a more significant move, lifted its position by a staggering 158.3% during the same period – buying an additional 17,726 shares and bringing their total ownership to 28,927 shares.
These moves highlight the increased interest among hedge funds and other institutional investors in Lamb Weston’s stock. In fact, as per Bloomberg data referenced on September 10th , these types of investors now account for about 85.77% of the company’s overall stock ownership.
On Friday morning when markets opened on September 10th , LW stock traded at $98.40 per share. Over the past year, the company has experienced a low of $74.91 and reached a high of $117.38 per share – showcasing considerable volatility within that timeframe.
With a market capitalization of $14.35 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.22, Lamb Weston appears to be holding steady despite some uncertainty in the market due to economic conditions or potentially unforeseen factors influencing growth potentials down the line. However, this is offset somewhat by a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54, which may raise questions about the company’s future growth prospects.
Additionally, Lamb Weston maintains a beta value of 0.54 – indicating that its stock has historically shown lower volatility compared to the overall market. With a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.56, the company appears to possess sufficient liquidity to meet its short-term financial obligations. However, it is worth noting that Lamb Weston holds a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30, possibly prompting investors to scrutinize its leverage position further.
In terms of moving averages, Lamb Weston’s fifty-day simple moving average currently stands at $103.16, while its two-hundred-day simple moving average is slightly higher at $106.37 per share as recorded on September 10th . These figures provide additional insight into the stock’s recent performance and potential trends.
On Friday, September 1st , Lamb Weston declared its quarterly dividend payment to shareholders of record as of August 4th . Shareholders received a $0.28 dividend per share on this date, amounting to an annualized dividend yield of 1.14%. With a dividend payout ratio (DPR) presently at 16.18%, Lamb Weston remains committed to distributing returns to its shareholders.
In light of these developments in the company’s finances and investor interest, several brokerages have recently provided their assessments of LW stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage with a “hold” rating on August 17th , indicating their neutral outlook on the stock’s near-term performance.
On August 4th , Stifel Nicolaus upgraded their rating for Lamb Weston from “hold” to “buy,” setting a price target for the company at $115.00 per share – possibly suggesting optimism about future growth opportunities for the specialty retailer.
Barclays, on the other hand, increased their target price for Lamb Weston from $120.00 to $125.00 per share on July 20th but maintained an “equal weight” rating – possibly signifying cautiousness despite acknowledging potential upside.
Lastly, The Goldman Sachs Group raised the company’s rating from “neutral” to “buy” and increased their price target from $125.00 to $127.00 on September 4th , further solidifying positive sentiments towards Lamb Weston and its growth prospects.
Overall, while two analysts have assigned a hold rating to LW stock, four analysts project a buy rating for the specialty retailer based on Bloomberg data referenced on September 10th . The average price target determined by these analysts stands at $123.40 per share – another indicator of moderate optimism surrounding Lamb Weston’s future direction.
