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Lamb Weston Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2019 Results; Reaffirms Fiscal Year 2019 Outlook

First Quarter 2019 Highlights

  • Net sales increased 12% to $915 million
  • Income from operations increased 11% to $153 million; Adjusted
    Income from Operations
    (1) increased 9% to
    $153 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1)
    increased 11% to $213 million
  • Diluted EPS increased to $0.73 from $0.56; and includes $0.10
    benefit from a lower tax rate as a result of U.S. tax reform
  • Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) increased to $0.73
    from $0.57; and includes $0.10 benefit from a lower tax rate as a
    result of U.S. tax reform
  • Reaffirms FY 2019 outlook

EAGLE, Idaho–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) announced today its fiscal first
quarter 2019 results.

“We’re pleased with our solid results in the first quarter, with each of
our core business segments driving sales growth and expanding product
contribution margins,” said Tom Werner, President and CEO. “Our results
continue to reflect the strong execution by our commercial, supply chain
and support teams, as well as our ongoing commitment to invest in our
production capacity, operating, sales and product innovation
capabilities to support our customers’ growth, improve operating
efficiency and execute on our strategies over the long term.”

“For the remainder of fiscal 2019, we continue to anticipate the
operating environment in North America will remain generally favorable,
with solid demand for frozen potato products and tight manufacturing
capacity. However, we expect that our European joint venture, Lamb
Weston/Meijer, will face challenges arising from a poor potato crop.
Although it’s too early to determine the full impact of these
challenges, we believe that Lamb Weston/Meijer’s pricing and cost
reduction actions, along with opportunities in our North American and
export businesses, enable us to remain on track to deliver on our fiscal
2019 targets.”

   
Summary of First Quarter FY 2019 Results
($ in millions, except per share)
 
Year-Over-Year
Q1 2019 Growth Rates
Net sales $ 914.9 12%
Income from operations $ 152.6 11%
Net income attributable to Lamb Weston $ 107.8 29%
Diluted EPS $ 0.73 30%
 
Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1) $ 212.9 11%
Adjusted Diluted EPS(1) $ 0.73 28%
 

Q1 2019 Commentary

Net sales were $914.9 million, up 12 percent versus the year-ago period.
Price/mix increased 8 percent due to pricing actions and favorable
product and customer mix. Volume increased 4 percent, driven by growth
in the Company’s Global and Retail segments.

Income from operations rose 11 percent to $152.6 million from the prior
year period, which included $2.2 million of pre-tax costs related to the
Company’s separation from Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods,
Inc., “Conagra”) on November 9, 2016.

Excluding this comparability item, income from operations grew $12.8
million, or 9 percent, driven by higher sales and gross profit. Gross
profit increased $34.3 million due to favorable price/mix, volume
growth, and supply chain efficiency savings. This increase was partially
offset by transportation, warehousing, input and manufacturing cost
inflation, and higher depreciation expense primarily associated with the
Company’s french fry production line in Richland, Washington, which
started operating in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. In addition,
gross profit included a $5.6 million loss related to unrealized
mark-to-market adjustments and realized settlements associated with
commodity hedging contracts in the current quarter, compared with a $3.2
million gain in the prior year period.

The rise in gross profit was partially offset by a $21.5 million
increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”),
excluding comparability items. The increase includes approximately $7
million of unfavorable foreign exchange, a $5 million increase in
incentive compensation expense, primarily reflecting an increase in
stock price and absolute shares outstanding, and a $3 million increase
in advertising and promotional support. The remainder of the increase
was largely driven by higher expenses related to information technology
services and infrastructure, as well as investments in the Company’s
sales, marketing and operating capabilities.

Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1)
was $212.9 million, up 11 percent versus the prior year quarter,
primarily due to growth in income from operations.

Diluted EPS increased $0.17, or 30 percent, to $0.73, while Adjusted
Diluted EPS(1) increased $0.16, or 28 percent, to $0.73. A
lower U.S. corporate tax rate related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
(the “Tax Act”) increased Diluted EPS $0.10. The remaining increase
reflects growth in income from operations.

The Company’s effective tax rate(2) was 23.5 percent in the
first quarter of fiscal 2019, versus 33.3 percent in the prior year
period. The lower rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 is
attributable to the effects of the Tax Act enacted in December 2017.

Q1 2019 Segment Highlights

Global

       
Global Segment Summary
 
Year-Over-Year
Q1 2019 Growth Rates Price/Mix Volume
($ in mil.)
Net sales $ 466.8 13% 8% 5%
Segment product contribution margin(1) $ 94.5 27%
 

Net sales for the Global segment, which is comprised of the top 100
North American based restaurant chain customers as well as the Company’s
international business, increased to $466.8 million, up 13 percent
compared to the prior year period. Price/mix increased 8 percent,
reflecting the carryover impact of pricing actions taken in the prior
year as well as improvement in customer and product mix. Volume
increased 5 percent, driven by the benefit of limited time product
offerings and growth in sales to strategic customers in the U.S. and key
international markets.

Global segment product contribution margin(1) increased to
$94.5 million, up 27 percent compared to the prior year period.
Favorable price/mix and volume growth drove the increase, which was
partially offset by transportation, warehousing, input and manufacturing
cost inflation, as well as higher depreciation expense primarily
associated with the Richland production line.

Foodservice

       
Foodservice Segment Summary
 
Year-Over-Year
Q1 2019 Growth Rates Price/Mix Volume
($ in mil.)
Net sales $ 297.8 7% 7% 0%
Segment product contribution margin(1) $ 102.0 12%
 

Net sales for the Foodservice segment, which services North American
foodservice distributors and restaurant chains outside the top 100 North
American based restaurant chain customers, increased to $297.8 million,
up 7 percent compared to the prior year period. Price/mix increased 7
percent, reflecting carryover impact of pricing actions taken in the
prior year as well as improvement in customer and product mix. Volume
declined nominally as growth in sales of higher-margin Lamb
Weston-branded and operator-labeled products largely offset the loss of
some lower-margin, distributor-label product volumes.

Foodservice segment product contribution margin(1) increased
to $102.0 million, up 12 percent compared to the prior year period,
driven by favorable price/mix, partially offset by transportation,
warehousing, input and manufacturing cost inflation, as well as higher
depreciation expense primarily associated with the Richland production
line.

Retail

       
Retail Segment Summary
 
Year-Over-Year
Q1 2019 Growth Rates Price/Mix Volume
($ in mil.)
Net sales $ 116.2 26% 13% 13%
Segment product contribution margin(1) $ 22.7 38%
 

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 to $116.2 million, up 26 percent compared to
the prior year period. Price/mix increased 13 percent, due to higher
prices across the private label and branded portfolios, as well as
improved mix. Volume increased 13 percent, primarily driven by
distribution gains of Grown in Idaho and other branded products.

Retail segment product contribution margin(1) increased to
$22.7 million, up 38 percent compared to the prior year period, due to
higher price/mix, volume and lower trade expense. The increase was
partially offset by increased advertising and promotional support, as
well as transportation, warehousing, input and manufacturing cost
inflation.

Equity Method Investment Earnings

Equity method investment earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures in
the U.S. and Europe were $19.9 million and $20.0 million for the first
quarter of fiscal 2019 and 2018, respectively. These amounts included a
$0.7 million unrealized gain related to mark-to-market adjustments
associated with currency and commodity hedging contracts in the current
quarter and a $3.8 million gain in the prior year quarter. Excluding
these adjustments, earnings from equity method investments increased
$3.0 million compared to the prior year period, reflecting solid
operating results in Europe, largely driven by lower production costs
and volume growth, partially offset by lower price/mix.

Outlook

The Company provides earnings guidance on a non-GAAP basis and does not
reconcile guidance to GAAP as the Company cannot predict certain
elements that are included in reported GAAP results, including the
impact of U.S. tax reform and other items impacting comparability.

   
FY 2019 Outlook Summary
 
Net sales growth rate Mid-Single Digit Range
       
 
Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1) $860 million-$870 million
       
 
Interest expense Approximately $110 million
       
 
Effective tax rate(2) excluding comparability items Approximately 24%
       
 
Cash used for capital expenditures Approximately $360 million
       
 

For fiscal 2019, the Company continues to expect:

  • Net sales to grow mid-single digits, with price/mix higher in the
    first half of fiscal 2019 versus the second half of the year,
    reflecting the carryover impact of customer contract pricing
    structures that took effect beginning in the second half of fiscal
    2018.
  • Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures(1)
    in the range of $860 million to $870 million. The Company continues to
    expect the rate of gross profit dollar growth to be at least in line
    with net sales growth. The Company also continues to expect to incur
    significantly higher SG&A as it invests to upgrade its information
    systems and enterprise resource planning infrastructure, as well as
    sales, marketing, innovation, operations and other functional
    capabilities, designed to drive operating efficiencies and support
    future growth. In addition, this range includes the impact of the
    Company exercising its contractual right to purchase the remaining
    50.01% equity interest in its joint venture, Lamb Weston BSW, LLC,
    that it currently does not own (the “call option”). The Company has
    provided notice to exercise the call option, and expects to consummate
    the transaction as soon as practicable.

In addition, the Company continues to expect:

  • Total interest expense to be approximately $110 million.
  • An effective tax rate(2) of approximately 24 percent.
  • Cash used for capital expenditures of approximately $360 million,
    excluding acquisitions, of which approximately $200 million is related
    to completing the construction of the Company’s 300 million pound
    french fry production line in Hermiston, Oregon, which is expected to
    be operational in May 2019.
  • Total depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $150
    million.

End Notes

(1)   Adjusted EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures, Adjusted
Income from Operations, Adjusted Diluted EPS and segment product
contribution margin 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. See also
“Outlook” in this press release for a discussion of earnings
guidance provided on a non-GAAP basis.
 
(2) The effective tax rate is calculated as the ratio of income tax
expense to pre-tax income, inclusive of equity method investment
earnings.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Lamb Weston will host a conference call to review its first quarter 2019
results at 10:00 a.m. ET today. Investors and analysts may access the
call toll-free by dialing (800) 289-0438, and using the event
confirmation code of 2196129. A listen-only webcast will be provided at www.lambweston.com.

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 60
years, Lamb Weston has led the industry in innovation, introducing
inventive products that simplify back-of-house management for our
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 “expand,”
“execute,” “believe,” “continue,” “deliver,” “expect,” “drive,”
“support,” “grow,” “will,” “invest,” “anticipate,” “target,” “improve,”
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, taxes, and business outlook and prospects.
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: the
Company’s ability to successfully execute its long-term value creation
strategies; its ability to execute on large capital projects, including
construction of new production lines; the competitive environment and
related conditions in the markets in which it and its joint ventures
operate; political and economic conditions of the countries in which it
and its joint ventures conduct business and other factors related to its
international operations; disruption of its access to export mechanisms;
risks associated with possible acquisitions, including its ability to
complete acquisitions or integrate acquired businesses; its debt levels;
the availability and prices of raw materials; changes in its
relationships with its growers or significant customers; the success of
its joint ventures; actions of governments and regulatory factors
affecting its businesses or joint ventures; the ultimate outcome of
litigation or any product recalls; levels of pension, labor and
people-related expenses; its 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 Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted
EBITDA including unconsolidated joint ventures, Adjusted Diluted EPS,
and segment product contribution margin, 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 net
income, diluted earnings per share, cash flow from operations, 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 by removing the impact of certain items that management
believes do not directly reflect the Company’s underlying operations.
Management believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures
provide 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, dollars in millions, except
per-share amounts)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended (1)
August 26, August 27,
2018 2017
Net sales $ 914.9 $ 817.5
Cost of sales   684.3   621.2
Gross profit 230.6 196.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses (2)   78.0   58.7
Income from operations 152.6 137.6
Interest expense, net   26.8   25.2
Income before income taxes and equity method earnings 125.8 112.4
Income tax expense 34.3 44.1
Equity method investment earnings   19.9   20.0
Net income 111.4 88.3
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests   3.6   4.9
Net income attributable to Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. $ 107.8 $ 83.4
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.73 $ 0.56
Diluted $ 0.73 $ 0.56
Dividends declared per common share $ 0.19125 $ 0.1875
 
 
Computation of diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. $ 107.8 $ 83.4
Less: Increase in redemption value of noncontrolling interests in
excess of earnings allocated
  0.9   0.8
Net income available to Lamb Weston common stockholders $ 106.9 $ 82.6
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding   147.2   146.8
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.73 $ 0.56
 
(1) On May 28, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update
2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (new revenue
standard), using the modified retrospective method. The Company
recognized a $13.7 million cumulative effect of initially applying
the new revenue standard as an adjustment to opening retained
earnings. The new revenue standard did not have a significant impact
on the Company’s results of operations. The comparative information
has not been restated and continues to be reported under the
accounting standards in effect for those periods. See Note 2,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers, of the Condensed Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial
Statements” in the Company’s fiscal 2019 first quarter Form 10-Q,
for more information.
 
(2) The thirteen weeks ended August 27, 2017 includes $2.2 million
of expenses related to the Company’s separation from Conagra Brands,
Inc. These expenses related primarily to professional fees and other
employee-related costs.
 
   

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Balance
Sheets

(unaudited, dollars in millions, except share data)

 
August 26, May 27,
2018 (1) 2018
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 150.5 $ 55.6
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.6 and $0.6 331.1 225.9
Inventories 447.7 549.7
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   55.5     99.2  
Total current assets   984.8     930.4  
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,467.9 1,420.8
Goodwill 133.3 135.1
Intangible assets, net 34.8 35.4
Equity method investments 221.7 219.8
Other assets   11.8     11.1  
Total assets $ 2,854.3   $ 2,752.6  
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings $ 8.8 $ 9.6
Current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations 38.7 38.7
Accounts payable 270.2 254.4
Accrued liabilities   200.6     216.0  
Total current liabilities   518.3     518.7  
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, excluding current portion 2,329.5 2,336.7
Deferred income taxes 109.9 92.1
Other noncurrent liabilities   84.8     84.3  
Total long-term liabilities   2,524.2     2,513.1  
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 57.2 55.6
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1.00 par value, 600,000,000 shares authorized;
146,565,333 and 146,395,866 shares issued
146.6 146.4
Additional distributed capital (896.4 ) (900.4 )
Retained earnings 519.7 426.4
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (8.5 ) (4.3 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 117,577 and 63,534 common shares   (6.8 )   (2.9 )
Total stockholders’ deficit   (245.4 )   (334.8 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,854.3   $ 2,752.6  
 

(1) See footnote (1) to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings
above for a discussion of the impact of adopting the new revenue
standard.

 
   

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows

(unaudited, dollars in millions)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
August 26, August 27,
2018 2017
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income $ 111.4 $ 88.3
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles and debt issuance costs 38.6 31.0
Stock-settled, stock-based compensation expense 4.2 2.6
Earnings of joint ventures in excess of distributions (3.2 ) (7.1 )
Deferred income taxes 13.9 11.5
Pension expense, net of contributions 1.9 2.0
Other 1.2 (8.9 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables (18.6 ) (28.5 )
Inventories 33.2 30.7
Income taxes payable/receivable, net 9.5 3.4
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 41.1 26.8
Accounts payable 17.1 12.9
Accrued liabilities   (22.4 )   (21.2 )
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 227.9   $ 143.5  
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment (87.0 ) (104.4 )
Other   0.2      
Net cash used for investing activities $ (86.8 ) $ (104.4 )
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds (repayments) of short-term borrowings, net (1.0 ) 10.2
Debt repayments (10.9 ) (9.9 )
Dividends paid (28.0 ) (27.4 )
Cash distributions paid to noncontrolling interest (2.9 ) (2.3 )
Other   (3.1 )   (1.1 )
Net cash used for financing activities $ (45.9 ) $ (30.5 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (0.3 ) 4.1
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 94.9 12.7
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period   55.6     57.1  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 150.5   $ 69.8  
 
         

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
Segment Information
(unaudited,
dollars in millions)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Year-Over-
August 26, August 27, Year Growth
2018 2017 Rates Price/Mix Volume
Segment sales
Global $ 466.8 $ 413.9 13% 8% 5%
Foodservice 297.8 279.4 7% 7% 0%
Retail 116.2 92.0 26% 13% 13%
Other   34.1   32.2 6% 12% (6%)
$ 914.9 $ 817.5 12% 8% 4%
 
Segment product contribution margin (1)
Global $ 94.5 $ 74.4 27%
Foodservice 102.0 90.8 12%
Retail 22.7 16.5 38%
Other   5.0   11.2 NM
  224.2   192.9 16%
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses (2)   71.6   55.3 29%
Income from operations $ 152.6 $ 137.6 11%
 
Items impacting comparability (2)
Expenses related to the Separation $ $ 2.2
   
Adjusted income from operations (3) $ 152.6 $ 139.8 9%
 

(1) Product contribution margin is defined as net sales, less cost
of sales and advertising and promotion expenses. Segment product
contribution margin excludes general corporate expenses and
interest expense because management believes these amounts are not
directly associated with segment performance for the period.

 

(2) The thirteen weeks ended August 27, 2017 includes $2.2 million
of expenses related to the Company’s separation from Conagra
Brands, Inc. These expenses related primarily to professional fees
and other employee-related costs.

 

(3) Adjusted income from operations is a non-GAAP financial
measure. Management excludes items impacting comparability between
periods as it believes these items are not necessarily reflective
of the ongoing operations of the Company. These non-GAAP measures
provide a means to evaluate the performance of Lamb Weston’s
segments and the Company on an ongoing basis using the same
measures that are frequently used by the Company’s management and
assist in providing a meaningful comparison between periods. Any
analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be done only in
conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. The
non-GAAP measures are not intended to be substitutes for GAAP
financial measures and should not be used as such.

 

Contacts

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
Investors:
Dexter
Congbalay, 224-306-1535
dexter.congbalay@lambweston.com
or
Media:
Shelby
Stoolman, 208-424-5461
shelby.stoolman@lambweston.com

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