Lamb Weston Holdings Inc vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? Lamb Weston Holdings Inc trades at $46.42 (market cap $6.43B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $52.01 (market cap $14.04B). The key difference: McCormick & Company, Incorporated is far larger — about 2.2× Lamb Weston Holdings Inc's market cap, and McCormick & Company, Incorporated pays the higher dividend (3.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LW | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.43B | $14.04B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $66.57 | $72.81 |
52-Week Low | $38.48 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $10.40B | $18.65B |
Dividend Yield | 3.26% | 3.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lamb Weston (LW) trades at $46.59, down 0.43% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $49.33. The company reported revenue of $6.45B in 2025 and has beaten EPS estimates in the last three quarters. Recent news highlights its 'Focus to Win' strategy showing traction, with volume gains in North America and cost-saving initiatives supporting its turnaround.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic, with potential upside from continued earnings beats and strategic execution, but risks include a pending class-action lawsuit, margin pressures, and high debt levels. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 35% buy ratings, reflecting confidence in the turnaround amid operational challenges.
MKC trades at $52.26, up 1.08% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The stock shows strong profitability with a 21.91% net income margin and a low P/E of 8.6, suggesting potential undervaluation. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, and the pending Unilever Foods deal is a key strategic focus. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $962.2 million for 2025, though net cash flow was negative $90.2 million due to financing activities.
The outlook is mixed; analyst consensus is a buy with a $59.67 price target, implying 14% upside, but technicals and modest organic growth pose risks. The transformative Unilever deal offers growth potential, yet execution risks and competitive pressures in consumer segments warrant caution. Debt reduction trends are positive, with debt-to-asset ratio improving to 30.34% in 2025.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Lamb Weston is the world's second-largest producer of branded and private-label frozen potato products, such as French fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots, diced potatoes, mashed potatoes, hash browns, and chips. The company also has a small appetizer business that produces onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and cheese curds. Including joint ventures, 63% of fiscal 2022 revenue was U.S.-based, with the remainder stemming from Europe, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, and several other countries. Lamb Weston's customer mix is estimated 58% quick-serve restaurants, 19% full-service restaurants, 8% other food services (hotels, commercial cafeterias, arenas, schools), and 16% retail. Lamb Weston became an independent company in 2016 when it was spun off from Conagra.
Read more on LW →In its 130-year history, McCormick has grown to become the leading global manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and other flavorings. Beyond end consumers, McCormick's customer base also includes top quick-service restaurants, retail grocery chains, and other packaged food and beverage manufacturers, with about 30% of sales generated beyond its home turf to include 150 other countries and territories. In addition to its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Old Bay, Zatarain's, Thai Kitchen, Frank's RedHot, French's, and the recently acquired Cholula brand.
Read more on MKC →