Lamb Weston Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2021 Results; Provides Update for Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2021
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) announced today its third quarter fiscal 2021 results and provided a business update for the fourth quarter fiscal 2021.
“We delivered solid sales volumes during the quarter as consumers and full-service restaurant traffic responded favorably to the gradual easing of broad social restrictions as the quarter progressed, as well as to the benefit of relatively mild winter weather for much of the period,” said Tom Werner, President and CEO. “However, COVID-19 continued to significantly disrupt our manufacturing and distribution operations across our entire supply chain network, which resulted in higher costs.”
“In the coming months, we believe the gradual improvement in frozen potato demand will continue to the extent governments further lift social restrictions, and as warmer weather provides more outside dining opportunities. The ongoing disruptive effects of COVID-19 on our supply chain will continue to pressure near-term costs, but should also lessen after vaccines become more widely available for our manufacturing teams and our supply chain partners. In addition, we remain optimistic that overall demand in the U.S. will steadily return to pre-pandemic levels around the end of calendar 2021, and that global category growth will resume at historical rates soon thereafter. Our recently-announced investments to construct a new manufacturing facility in China, as well as the expansion of our chopped and formed product capacity in the U.S., underscore our confidence in the long-term health of the global category, as well as our strategy to support the growth of our customers as they continue to expand across our key markets.”
Summary of Third Quarter 2021 Results |
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($ in millions, except per share) |
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Year-Over-Year |
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YTD |
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Year-Over-Year |
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Q3 2021 |
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Growth Rates |
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FY 2021 |
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Growth Rates |
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Net sales |
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$ |
895.8 |
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( |
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$ |
2,663.4 |
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( |
Income from operations |
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$ |
100.6 |
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( |
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$ |
375.9 |
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( |
Net income |
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$ |
66.1 |
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( |
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$ |
252.3 |
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( |
Diluted EPS |
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$ |
0.45 |
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( |
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$ |
1.72 |
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( |
Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) |
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$ |
0.45 |
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( |
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$ |
1.72 |
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( |
Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1) |
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$ |
167.1 |
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( |
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$ |
582.1 |
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( |
Q3 2021 Commentary
Net sales declined
Income from operations declined
SG&A increased
Net income declined
Diluted EPS decreased
Adjusted Diluted EPS(1), which excludes the
Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1) declined
The Company’s effective tax rate(3) in the third quarter fiscal 2021 declined to 19.8 percent, versus 24.3 percent in the prior year period, primarily due to discrete items originating during the third quarter fiscal 2021 and a slightly lower annual effective tax rate. The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21 percent principally due to the impact of U.S. state taxes, foreign taxes, permanent differences, and discrete items.
Q3 2021 Segment Highlights
Global
Global Segment Summary |
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Year-Over-Year |
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Q3 2021 |
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Growth Rates |
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Price/Mix |
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Volume |
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(dollars in millions) |
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Net sales |
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$ |
478.5 |
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( |
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( |
Segment product contribution margin(4) |
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$ |
79.3 |
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( |
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Net sales for the Global segment, which is generally comprised of the top 100 North American based quick service (“QSR”) and full service restaurant chain customers as well as all of the Company’s international sales, decreased
Global segment product contribution margin decreased
Foodservice
Foodservice Segment Summary |
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Year-Over-Year |
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Q3 2021 |
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Growth Rates |
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Price/Mix |
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Volume |
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(dollars in millions) |
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Net sales |
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$ |
219.5 |
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( |
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( |
Segment product contribution margin(4) |
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$ |
70.2 |
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( |
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Net sales for the Foodservice segment, which services North American foodservice distributors and restaurant chains generally outside the top 100 North American based restaurant chain customers, declined
Foodservice segment product contribution margin decreased
Retail
Retail Segment Summary |
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Year-Over-Year |
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Q3 2021 |
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Growth Rates |
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Price/Mix |
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Volume |
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(dollars in millions) |
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Net sales |
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$ |
162.5 |
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Segment product contribution margin(4) |
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$ |
33.1 |
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Net sales for the Retail segment, which includes sales of branded and private label products to grocery, mass merchant and club customers in North America, increased
Retail segment product contribution margin increased
Equity Method Investment Earnings
Equity method investment earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures in Europe, the U.S., and South America were
Excluding the mark-to-market adjustments and the Lamb Weston RDO pension-related comparability item, earnings from equity method investments decreased
Cash Flow and Liquidity
Through the third quarter fiscal 2021, net cash from operating activities was
During the quarter, the Company paid
In March 2021, the Company announced the planned construction of a new french fry processing facility in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, China with capacity to produce more than 250 million pounds of frozen french fries and other potato products per year. The new facility will add to the Company’s existing in-country production from its facility in Shangdu, Inner Mongolia, China. The new facility is expected to be completed in the first half of fiscal year 2024 and the investment is expected to be approximately
Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2021 Business Update
Set forth below is additional detail on the Company’s shipments for the first four weeks of the fourth quarter fiscal 2021 through March 28, 2021. Because of the severe government-imposed social and business restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting negative impact on frozen potato shipments during the fourth quarter fiscal 2020, the Company believes a comparison to shipments during the fourth quarter fiscal 2019 provides a more meaningful comparison for readers to understand the current condition of the Company’s business.
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United States: Shipments were approximately 90 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels.
- Shipments to large chain restaurant customers, which are composed of QSR and large full-service chain restaurants, were more than 85 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels. The Company, which records shipments to these customers in its Global segment, anticipates this rate will largely continue for the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter.
- Shipments to customers served by the Company’s Foodservice segment, which includes products ultimately sold to full-service chain and independent restaurants, regional and small QSRs, and non-commercial customers (e.g., lodging and hospitality, healthcare, schools and universities, sports and entertainment, and workplace environments) were approximately 90 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels. The Company believes that its March 2021 shipments include the benefit of customers restocking depleted inventories. As a result, the Company anticipates this rate will largely continue for the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter. The Company also expects shipments to non-commercial customers, which have historically comprised approximately 25 percent of the segment, will remain soft for the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter.
- Shipments to customers served by the Company’s Retail segment were approximately 110 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels, driven by strength in the Company’s premium and mainstream branded offerings, partially offset by a decline of private label product shipments, which reflects incremental losses of certain low-margin private label business. The Company believes this rate may gradually decline during the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter as the Company expects consumers to increase purchases away from home.
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International:
- Europe: Shipments by the Company’s joint venture, Lamb-Weston/Meijer, were approximately 85 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels. The Company anticipates that this rate may soften during the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter as governments across parts of Europe have reimposed stricter social restrictions to curb another resurgence of COVID-19.
- Other Key Markets: Shipments to the Company’s key international markets, which are primarily in Asia, Oceania and Latin America, were approximately 75 percent of fourth quarter fiscal 2019 levels, in aggregate. The Company anticipates that shipment rates will gradually improve during the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter as governments slowly ease social restrictions, where applicable. For markets that are currently operating under more lenient government-imposed social restrictions, the Company anticipates that shipment rates will largely continue for the remainder of its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter. Excluding shipments associated with the Company’s unconsolidated joint venture in Argentina, the Company records shipments to these markets in its Global segment.
The Company believes that the possibility of wide availability of government-approved COVID-19 vaccines by mid-calendar 2021 may allow governments to gradually ease broad social restrictions in their respective jurisdictions, which would likely have a favorable impact on restaurant traffic. While the Company expects to continue to face challenging and volatile operating conditions until the virus is broadly contained, it continues to believe that global restaurant traffic will improve through calendar year 2021. Improvements in global restaurant traffic would, in turn, lead to overall frozen potato demand approaching pre-pandemic levels, on a run-rate basis, by the end of the calendar year.
The Company will continue to prioritize the health and welfare of its employees, maintain product safety, and support its customers as they manage their supply chains and inventories. The Company has taken actions, and will continue to evaluate various options, to lower its cost structure and maximize efficiencies in its manufacturing and commercial operations, including modifying production schedules to rebalance utilization rates across its manufacturing network.
The Company expects that it will continue to incur significant costs as a result of the pandemic’s ongoing impact on its manufacturing, distribution, commercial and functional operations until the COVID-19 virus is broadly contained. These costs may include, but are not limited to: production inefficiencies and labor retention costs arising from modifying production schedules, reducing run-times, and lower overall factory utilization; costs to shut down, sanitize, and restart production facilities after production is impacted by the virus; costs to adopt and maintain enhanced employee safety and sanitation protocols, such as purchasing personal protection and health screening equipment and services; and incremental transportation and warehousing costs.
For all of fiscal 2021, the Company is:
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Reducing its estimate for interest expense, net, to approximately
$120 million from its previous estimate of approximately$125 million , -
Reducing its estimate for depreciation and amortization to approximately
$185 million from its previous estimate of approximately$190 million , and -
Reducing its estimate for cash used for capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, to approximately
$160 million from its previous estimate of approximately$180 million .
End Notes
(1) |
Adjusted Diluted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations at the end of this press release for more information. |
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(2) |
This press release provides comparisons of the Company’s third quarter fiscal 2021 financial results with its third quarter fiscal 2020 financial results. However, because of the severe government-imposed social and business restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting negative impact on frozen potato shipments during the fourth quarter fiscal 2020, for purposes of the Company’s business update for the 4 weeks ended March 28, 2021, the Company believes a comparison to shipments during the fourth quarter fiscal 2019 provides a more meaningful comparison for readers to understand the current condition of the Company’s business. |
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(3) |
The effective tax rate is calculated as the ratio of income tax expense to pre-tax income, inclusive of equity method investment earnings. |
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(4) |
For more information about product contribution margin, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the table titled “Segment Information” included in this press release. |
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Lamb Weston will host a conference call to review its third quarter fiscal 2021 results at 10:00 a.m. EDT today, April 7, 2021. Participants in the U.S. and Canada may access the conference call by dialing 800-437-2398 and participants outside the U.S. and Canada should dial +1-323-289-6576. The confirmation code is 9233840. The conference call also may be accessed live on the internet. Participants can register for the event at: https://globalmeet.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1438303&tp_key=21b7f745da.
A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available beginning on Thursday, April 8, 2021 after 2:00 p.m. EDT at https://investors.lambweston.com/events-and-presentations.
About Lamb Weston
Lamb Weston, along with its joint venture partners, is a leading supplier of frozen potato, sweet potato, appetizer and vegetable products to restaurants and retailers around the world. For more than 70 years, Lamb Weston has led the industry in innovation, introducing inventive products that simplify back-of-house management for its customers and make things more delicious for their customers. From the fields where Lamb Weston potatoes are grown to proactive customer partnerships, Lamb Weston always strives for more and never settles. Because, when we look at a potato, we see possibilities. Learn more about us at lambweston.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “expect,” “may,” “improve,” “believe,” “will,” “continue,” “should,” “become,” “remain,” “resume,” “expand,” “support,” “provide,” “anticipate,” “would,” “estimate,” “reduce,” “maintain,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plans, execution, capital expenditures and investments, operational costs and business outlook and prospects, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and consumer demand. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Readers of this press release should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors could affect the Company’s actual financial results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: impacts on the Company’s business due to health pandemics or other contagious outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts on demand for its products, increased costs, disruption of supply or other constraints in the availability of key commodities and other necessary services; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its long-term value creation strategies; the Company’s ability to execute on large capital projects, including construction of new production lines or facilities; the competitive environment and related conditions in the markets in which the Company and its joint ventures operate; political and economic conditions of the countries in which the Company and its joint ventures conduct business and other factors related to its international operations; disruption of the Company’s access to export mechanisms; risks associated with possible acquisitions, including the Company’s ability to complete acquisitions or integrate acquired businesses; its debt levels; the availability and prices of raw materials; changes in the Company’s relationships with its growers or significant customers; the success of the Company’s joint ventures; actions of governments and regulatory factors affecting the Company’s businesses or joint ventures; the ultimate outcome of litigation or any product recalls; levels of pension, labor and people-related expenses; the Company’s ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; and other risks described in the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this press release, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no responsibility for updating these statements, except as required by law.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the financial information included in this press release, the Company has presented product contribution margin on a consolidated basis, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures, Adjusted Diluted EPS, and adjusted income tax expense, equity method investment earnings and net income, each of which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure.
The non-GAAP financial measures provided should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") that are presented in this press release. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable GAAP financial measures, such as gross profit, net income, diluted earnings per share, or other measures prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures.
Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing the Company's performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision making. Management believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with useful information because they (i) provide meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items, (ii) permit investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provide supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provides investors with additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company's business than could be obtained absent these disclosures.
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts) |
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Thirteen Weeks Ended |
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Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended |
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February 28, |
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February 23, |
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February 28, |
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February 23, |
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2021 (1) |
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2020 |
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2021 (1) |
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2020 |
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Net sales |
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$ |
895.8 |
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$ |
937.3 |
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$ |
2,663.4 |
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$ |
2,945.5 |
Cost of sales |
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699.1 |
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686.9 |
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2,029.4 |
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2,161.4 |
Gross profit |
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196.7 |
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250.4 |
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634.0 |
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784.1 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
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96.1 |
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87.9 |
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258.1 |
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258.1 |
Income from operations |
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100.6 |
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162.5 |
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375.9 |
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526.0 |
Interest expense, net |
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29.3 |
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25.2 |
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89.6 |
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78.8 |
Income before income taxes and equity method earnings |
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71.3 |
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137.3 |
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286.3 |
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447.2 |
Income tax expense |
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16.3 |
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35.7 |
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76.2 |
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115.1 |
Equity method investment earnings (2) |
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11.1 |
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9.8 |
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42.2 |
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35.4 |
Net income |
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$ |
66.1 |
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$ |
111.4 |
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$ |
252.3 |
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$ |
367.5 |
Earnings per share |
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