Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW) Shares Acquired by Cetera Investment Advisers

Key Points

• Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Lamb Weston by 15.6%, owning a total of 66,536 shares valued at approximately $3.54 million as of the latest filing.
• Lamb Weston reported improved quarterly earnings, with EPS of $0.87, significantly beating analysts' estimates and achieving 4.0% year-over-year revenue growth.
• Analysts have set a consensus price target of $67.40 for Lamb Weston, with varying ratings, including a significant upgrade from Wall Street Zen to a "hold" rating.

Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW - Free Report) by 15.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,536 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 8,959 shares during the quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers' holdings in Lamb Weston were worth $3,546,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Capital Research Global Investors purchased a new stake in Lamb Weston during the fourth quarter worth about $423,270,000. JANA Partners Management LP increased its stake in Lamb Weston by 22.3% during the fourth quarter. JANA Partners Management LP now owns 7,131,339 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $476,587,000 after purchasing an additional 1,302,585 shares during the period. Continental Grain Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Lamb Weston during the fourth quarter worth approximately $63,786,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Lamb Weston during the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,752,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Lamb Weston by 20.0% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,016,944 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $201,624,000 after buying an additional 503,095 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.56% of the company's stock.

Lamb Weston Stock Performance

Shares of LW traded down $1.53 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $53.11. 1,948,374 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,012,873. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.40 billion, a PE ratio of 21.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.49. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $53.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.27. Lamb Weston has a 52-week low of $47.87 and a 52-week high of $83.98.

Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.23. Lamb Weston had a return on equity of 27.99% and a net margin of 5.54%. The firm had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.78 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Lamb Weston will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Lamb Weston Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 1st. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Lamb Weston's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Lamb Weston from $65.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Lamb Weston from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Lamb Weston from $61.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $56.00 price target on shares of Lamb Weston and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Lamb Weston from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $67.40.

About Lamb Weston

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc produces, distributes, and markets frozen potato products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Global, Foodservice, Retail, and Other. It offers frozen potatoes, commercial ingredients, and appetizers under the Lamb Weston brand, as well as under various customer labels.