Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) stock jumped 5.08% in pre-market trading on Tuesday following the release of its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, which significantly exceeded analysts' expectations across multiple financial metrics.
The potato products manufacturer reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.74, surpassing the IBES estimate of $0.55 by a substantial margin. Net sales for the quarter reached $1,659.3 million, outperforming the projected $1,618 million. The company's strong performance was further highlighted by its adjusted EBITDA of $302.2 million, well above the estimated $250.1 million, and adjusted net income of $103 million, compared to the expected $81 million.
Despite the impressive quarterly results, Lamb Weston maintained its full-year outlook, projecting fiscal year 2026 sales between $6,350 million and $6,550 million. This conservative stance, coupled with the company's ability to exceed expectations in a challenging economic environment, appears to have bolstered investor confidence, contributing to the significant pre-market stock price increase.