Lamb Weston Appoints Jan Craps as Executive Chair and James Gray as CFO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 04 2026
0mins
Lamb Weston (LW) announced two leadership appointments. The Lamb Weston board of directors has appointed Jan Craps executive chair, effective February 6. Craps most recently was the CEO and co-chair of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, and CEO APAC for Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD). James Gray will join Lamb Weston as CFO, effective April 2, succeeding Bernadette Madarieta, who will serve in an interim advisory capacity. Gray has spent the last 12 years with Ingredion (INGR).
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Analyst Views on LW
Wall Street analysts forecast LW stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 46.780
Low
48.00
Averages
54.44
High
65.00
Current: 46.780
Low
48.00
Averages
54.44
High
65.00
About LW
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. is a global producer, distributor, and marketer of value-added frozen potato products. The Company is a supplier of frozen potato, sweet potato, appetizer and vegetable products to restaurants and retailers around the globe. The Company’s segments include North America and International. The Company’s frozen potato products are sold in North America and international markets generally to North American-based restaurant chains and international customers, comprised of global and regional quick service and full-service restaurant chains, foodservice distributors, and retailers. Its product portfolio includes frozen potatoes and appetizers sold under the Lamb Weston brand, as well as many customer labels. The Company’s product categories include classic fries, extra crispy fries, sweet potatoes, and other products. Its recipes include appetizers, desserts, dips, sauces and seasonings, entree, salad, side dishes, and topped and loaded.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Gates Capital Fully Exits Lamb Weston Stake
- Exit Transaction: Gates Capital Management disclosed on February 17, 2026, in an SEC filing that it fully liquidated its stake in Lamb Weston by selling 1,096,923 shares worth $63.71 million, indicating a reduced conviction in this defensive food name.
- Performance Decline: Lamb Weston reported a 1% increase in second-quarter net sales to $1.62 billion, yet adjusted EBITDA fell 3% to $285.7 million; although volume rose 8%, this was offset by an 8% decline in price and mix, highlighting the intensifying competitive landscape.
- Shareholder Returns: Despite challenges, management reaffirmed full-year sales guidance of $6.35 billion to $6.55 billion and approved a 3% dividend hike, continuing a steady capital return streak, which reflects confidence in future performance.
- Poor Market Performance: Currently priced at $47.47, Lamb Weston shares are down approximately 9% over the past year, significantly trailing the S&P 500's 17% increase, suggesting that within a portfolio focused on industrial and infrastructure names, its upside potential may rank lower.
See More
The Major Shift Has Begun—and Perhaps Concluded. What Are the Next Steps?
Market Dynamics: The article questions whether the current stock market trends represent a genuine rotation or are simply erratic fluctuations akin to a carnival ride.
Personal Reflection: The author expresses regret over their investment choices, likening the experience to regretting a poor food choice at a fair.
See More
Food Stocks Decline Following General Mills' Sales Forecast Reduction
- Stock Performance: General Mills' stock fell on Tuesday following a revised sales outlook.
- Consumer Demand: The company attributed the lowered outlook to weaker-than-expected consumer demand for its products.
- Brand Recognition: General Mills is known for popular brands such as Cheerios, Pillsbury, and Betty Crocker.
- Market Impact: The decline in stock reflects broader concerns about consumer spending trends affecting food companies.
See More
Liberty One Reduces Lamb Weston Stake by 544,473 Shares
- Share Reduction Details: Liberty One sold 544,473 shares of Lamb Weston in Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $32.04 million, indicating a strategic shift in the fund's liquidity management approach.
- Impact on AUM: This sale reduced Lamb Weston’s representation in the fund to 2.23% from 3.1% in the previous quarter, reflecting a diminishing confidence in the stock's performance within the fund's portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of February 13, 2026, Lamb Weston shares were priced at $49.82, down 12.4% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 25 percentage points, highlighting market concerns regarding its growth prospects.
- Financial Overview: While Lamb Weston has returned over $2 billion to shareholders in the past decade, its net debt of $3.8 billion against a market cap of $6.9 billion indicates financial leverage pressure that may limit future growth and shareholder returns.
See More
Liberty One Reduces Stake in Lamb Weston by 544,473 Shares
- Share Reduction Details: According to an SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, Liberty One Investment Management reduced its stake in Lamb Weston by 544,473 shares during Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $32.04 million, indicating a waning confidence in the company.
- Ownership Proportion Shift: Following this sale, Lamb Weston now represents only 2.23% of Liberty One's portfolio, down from 3.1% in the previous quarter, reflecting a cautious outlook on its future performance.
- Company Financial Overview: As of February 13, 2026, Lamb Weston shares were priced at $49.82, down 12.4% over the past year, and with declining sales over the last two years, the company faces challenges in maintaining its competitive edge in the market.
- Investor Considerations: Despite Liberty One's reduction, Lamb Weston’s reasonable valuation (EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 9 and P/E ratio of 11) may attract value investors; however, its $3.8 billion net debt against a $6.9 billion market cap limits growth potential, making it a less appealing option for aggressive growth investors.
See More
Upstart and Lamb Weston See Active Options Trading
- Upstart Options Volume: Upstart Holdings Inc recorded options trading volume of 14,721 contracts, equating to approximately 1.5 million shares, which represents about 41.2% of its average daily trading volume of 3.6 million shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Volume Contracts: Notably, the $45 strike call option expiring on March 20, 2026, saw 841 contracts traded today, representing around 84,100 underlying shares, reflecting bullish sentiment among investors at this price level.
- Lamb Weston Options Activity: In parallel, Lamb Weston Holdings Inc experienced options trading volume of 12,076 contracts, equivalent to approximately 1.2 million shares, or about 40.6% of its average daily trading volume of 3.0 million shares over the past month, showcasing ongoing market interest in its stock.
- Key Contract Trading: For the $47.50 strike call option expiring on February 20, 2026, 4,191 contracts have traded today, representing approximately 419,100 underlying shares, indicating positive expectations from investors regarding Lamb Weston’s future performance.
See More
Gates Capital Fully Exits Lamb Weston Stake
- Exit Transaction: Gates Capital Management disclosed on February 17, 2026, in an SEC filing that it fully liquidated its stake in Lamb Weston by selling 1,096,923 shares worth $63.71 million, indicating a reduced conviction in this defensive food name.
- Performance Decline: Lamb Weston reported a 1% increase in second-quarter net sales to $1.62 billion, yet adjusted EBITDA fell 3% to $285.7 million; although volume rose 8%, this was offset by an 8% decline in price and mix, highlighting the intensifying competitive landscape.
- Shareholder Returns: Despite challenges, management reaffirmed full-year sales guidance of $6.35 billion to $6.55 billion and approved a 3% dividend hike, continuing a steady capital return streak, which reflects confidence in future performance.
- Poor Market Performance: Currently priced at $47.47, Lamb Weston shares are down approximately 9% over the past year, significantly trailing the S&P 500's 17% increase, suggesting that within a portfolio focused on industrial and infrastructure names, its upside potential may rank lower.
See More
The Major Shift Has Begun—and Perhaps Concluded. What Are the Next Steps?
Market Dynamics: The article questions whether the current stock market trends represent a genuine rotation or are simply erratic fluctuations akin to a carnival ride.
Personal Reflection: The author expresses regret over their investment choices, likening the experience to regretting a poor food choice at a fair.
See More
Food Stocks Decline Following General Mills' Sales Forecast Reduction
- Stock Performance: General Mills' stock fell on Tuesday following a revised sales outlook.
- Consumer Demand: The company attributed the lowered outlook to weaker-than-expected consumer demand for its products.
- Brand Recognition: General Mills is known for popular brands such as Cheerios, Pillsbury, and Betty Crocker.
- Market Impact: The decline in stock reflects broader concerns about consumer spending trends affecting food companies.
See More
Liberty One Reduces Lamb Weston Stake by 544,473 Shares
- Share Reduction Details: Liberty One sold 544,473 shares of Lamb Weston in Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $32.04 million, indicating a strategic shift in the fund's liquidity management approach.
- Impact on AUM: This sale reduced Lamb Weston’s representation in the fund to 2.23% from 3.1% in the previous quarter, reflecting a diminishing confidence in the stock's performance within the fund's portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of February 13, 2026, Lamb Weston shares were priced at $49.82, down 12.4% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 25 percentage points, highlighting market concerns regarding its growth prospects.
- Financial Overview: While Lamb Weston has returned over $2 billion to shareholders in the past decade, its net debt of $3.8 billion against a market cap of $6.9 billion indicates financial leverage pressure that may limit future growth and shareholder returns.
See More
Liberty One Reduces Stake in Lamb Weston by 544,473 Shares
- Share Reduction Details: According to an SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, Liberty One Investment Management reduced its stake in Lamb Weston by 544,473 shares during Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $32.04 million, indicating a waning confidence in the company.
- Ownership Proportion Shift: Following this sale, Lamb Weston now represents only 2.23% of Liberty One's portfolio, down from 3.1% in the previous quarter, reflecting a cautious outlook on its future performance.
- Company Financial Overview: As of February 13, 2026, Lamb Weston shares were priced at $49.82, down 12.4% over the past year, and with declining sales over the last two years, the company faces challenges in maintaining its competitive edge in the market.
- Investor Considerations: Despite Liberty One's reduction, Lamb Weston’s reasonable valuation (EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 9 and P/E ratio of 11) may attract value investors; however, its $3.8 billion net debt against a $6.9 billion market cap limits growth potential, making it a less appealing option for aggressive growth investors.
See More
Upstart and Lamb Weston See Active Options Trading
- Upstart Options Volume: Upstart Holdings Inc recorded options trading volume of 14,721 contracts, equating to approximately 1.5 million shares, which represents about 41.2% of its average daily trading volume of 3.6 million shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Volume Contracts: Notably, the $45 strike call option expiring on March 20, 2026, saw 841 contracts traded today, representing around 84,100 underlying shares, reflecting bullish sentiment among investors at this price level.
- Lamb Weston Options Activity: In parallel, Lamb Weston Holdings Inc experienced options trading volume of 12,076 contracts, equivalent to approximately 1.2 million shares, or about 40.6% of its average daily trading volume of 3.0 million shares over the past month, showcasing ongoing market interest in its stock.
- Key Contract Trading: For the $47.50 strike call option expiring on February 20, 2026, 4,191 contracts have traded today, representing approximately 419,100 underlying shares, indicating positive expectations from investors regarding Lamb Weston’s future performance.
See More
