We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time, and you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties. You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
LANC to Acquire Atlanta-Based Sauce and Dressing Production Plant
Read MoreHide Full Article
Lancaster Colony Corporation (LANC - Free Report) is set to enhance its operational capabilities with the planned acquisition of a sauce and dressing production facility in Atlanta, GA, from Winland Foods, Inc.
Key Details of Lancaster Colony's Acquisition Deal
Lancaster Colony expects to close the asset purchase transaction, valued at approximately $75 million, in the first quarter of calendar year 2025, subject to standard closing requirements. The facility covers around 300,000 square feet, with approximately 250,000 square feet allocated for manufacturing operations. Let us explore how this acquisition is expected to benefit LANC moving forward.
Through this acquisition, LANC will strengthen its sauce and dressing operations by improving operational efficiency, increasing production capacity and enhancing proximity to key customers, while also bolstering the company’s manufacturing network. After thoroughly evaluating several options, it determined that this asset purchase is the most practical and cost-effective solution to support continued growth and meet long-term needs.
This move reinforces Lancaster Colony’s position in the food manufacturing industry. By leveraging the strategic advantages of this acquisition, the company is poised to strengthen its competitive edge and address future market demands effectively.
What More Should Investors Know About LANC?
The company’s continued emphasis on supply-chain productivity, value engineering and revenue management remains central to its strategy for driving financial performance. This focus contributed to LANC’s strong results in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with a consolidated sales increase of 1.1% to $466.6 million and a gross profit growth of 1.9% to $110.8 million, driven by higher volumes, an improved product mix and cost-saving initiatives.
LANC’s licensing program continues to be a key driver of growth for its retail segment, highlighted by the success of Subway sauces, launched this past spring. The company is also highly encouraged by the recent introduction of Texas Roadhouse Dinner Rolls. Given the strong excitement around these flavorful rolls, LANC is planning a phased expansion, similar to the approach taken with the Chick-fil-A sauce a few years ago.
Marzetti, one of the brands of the company, achieved a 2.4% increase in sales and a gain of approximately 25 basis points in market share in the first quarter. When including Chick-fil-A dressings, sales in the category grew 2.6% and market share expanded about 40 basis points in the produce dressing segment.
LANC’s Foodservice segment saw a 3.5% increase in net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by higher demand from national chain-restaurant customers and volume growth for branded Foodservice products. The company expects this trend to continue, with further volume gains from selected national-chain accounts.
Lancaster Colony ended the first quarter of fiscal 2025 with cash and cash equivalents totaling $135.1 million. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the company had no outstanding borrowings, underscoring its commitment to prudent financial management.
LANC looks well-positioned on the dividend front. Recently, its board of directors raised the quarterly dividend by 5 cents to 95 cents per share. This increase marks 62 consecutive years of increasing regular cash dividends, a notable achievement as LANC is one of only 12 U.S. companies with such an impressive history of dividend increases.
LANC’s Stock Performance
LANC stock has gained approximately 4.7% in the past month against the industry’s decline of 6.1% and outpacing the S&P 500's growth of 0.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Lancaster Colony's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 25.99X, significantly higher than the industry’s ratio of 15.39X. This indicates that investors may be paying a high price relative to the company's expected earnings growth. LANC’s Value Score of C further underscores these concerns.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Should be Your Approach to LANC?
Lancaster Colony is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by higher volumes, an improved product mix and cost-saving initiatives. However, investors should also consider the challenges the company faces, particularly increased investments in personnel, IT and legal expenses. Investors with a long-term horizon may stay invested in this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock but potential investors should look for a better entry point given its higher valuation.
Top 3 Picks
Ingredion Incorporated (INGR - Free Report) manufactures and sells sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn and other starch-based materials. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
INGR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.5%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ingredion’s current-financial year’s earnings indicates growth of 12.5% from the year-ago reported number.
Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT - Free Report) , together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). FRPT delivered an earnings surprise of 144.5% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current-fiscal year’s sales and earnings implies growth of 27.3% and 224.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported number.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spices, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors to the entire food industry. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. MKC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.8%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McCormick’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 0.6% and 8.2%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
Image: Bigstock
LANC to Acquire Atlanta-Based Sauce and Dressing Production Plant
Lancaster Colony Corporation (LANC - Free Report) is set to enhance its operational capabilities with the planned acquisition of a sauce and dressing production facility in Atlanta, GA, from Winland Foods, Inc.
Key Details of Lancaster Colony's Acquisition Deal
Lancaster Colony expects to close the asset purchase transaction, valued at approximately $75 million, in the first quarter of calendar year 2025, subject to standard closing requirements. The facility covers around 300,000 square feet, with approximately 250,000 square feet allocated for manufacturing operations. Let us explore how this acquisition is expected to benefit LANC moving forward.
Through this acquisition, LANC will strengthen its sauce and dressing operations by improving operational efficiency, increasing production capacity and enhancing proximity to key customers, while also bolstering the company’s manufacturing network. After thoroughly evaluating several options, it determined that this asset purchase is the most practical and cost-effective solution to support continued growth and meet long-term needs.
This move reinforces Lancaster Colony’s position in the food manufacturing industry. By leveraging the strategic advantages of this acquisition, the company is poised to strengthen its competitive edge and address future market demands effectively.
What More Should Investors Know About LANC?
The company’s continued emphasis on supply-chain productivity, value engineering and revenue management remains central to its strategy for driving financial performance. This focus contributed to LANC’s strong results in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with a consolidated sales increase of 1.1% to $466.6 million and a gross profit growth of 1.9% to $110.8 million, driven by higher volumes, an improved product mix and cost-saving initiatives.
LANC’s licensing program continues to be a key driver of growth for its retail segment, highlighted by the success of Subway sauces, launched this past spring. The company is also highly encouraged by the recent introduction of Texas Roadhouse Dinner Rolls. Given the strong excitement around these flavorful rolls, LANC is planning a phased expansion, similar to the approach taken with the Chick-fil-A sauce a few years ago.
Marzetti, one of the brands of the company, achieved a 2.4% increase in sales and a gain of approximately 25 basis points in market share in the first quarter. When including Chick-fil-A dressings, sales in the category grew 2.6% and market share expanded about 40 basis points in the produce dressing segment.
LANC’s Foodservice segment saw a 3.5% increase in net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by higher demand from national chain-restaurant customers and volume growth for branded Foodservice products. The company expects this trend to continue, with further volume gains from selected national-chain accounts.
Lancaster Colony ended the first quarter of fiscal 2025 with cash and cash equivalents totaling $135.1 million. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the company had no outstanding borrowings, underscoring its commitment to prudent financial management.
LANC looks well-positioned on the dividend front. Recently, its board of directors raised the quarterly dividend by 5 cents to 95 cents per share. This increase marks 62 consecutive years of increasing regular cash dividends, a notable achievement as LANC is one of only 12 U.S. companies with such an impressive history of dividend increases.
LANC’s Stock Performance
LANC stock has gained approximately 4.7% in the past month against the industry’s decline of 6.1% and outpacing the S&P 500's growth of 0.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Lancaster Colony's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 25.99X, significantly higher than the industry’s ratio of 15.39X. This indicates that investors may be paying a high price relative to the company's expected earnings growth. LANC’s Value Score of C further underscores these concerns.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Should be Your Approach to LANC?
Lancaster Colony is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by higher volumes, an improved product mix and cost-saving initiatives. However, investors should also consider the challenges the company faces, particularly increased investments in personnel, IT and legal expenses. Investors with a long-term horizon may stay invested in this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock but potential investors should look for a better entry point given its higher valuation.
Top 3 Picks
Ingredion Incorporated (INGR - Free Report) manufactures and sells sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn and other starch-based materials. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
INGR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.5%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ingredion’s current-financial year’s earnings indicates growth of 12.5% from the year-ago reported number.
Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT - Free Report) , together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). FRPT delivered an earnings surprise of 144.5% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current-fiscal year’s sales and earnings implies growth of 27.3% and 224.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported number.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spices, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors to the entire food industry. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. MKC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.8%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McCormick’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 0.6% and 8.2%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.