Company: LW
Filing Date: 2025-09-30
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001679273-25-000070
Chunk: 78

Company: Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-09-30
Form: 10-Q
Item: Part I, Item 2
Chunk 78
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 The increase was driven by higher sales volumes and lower manufacturing costs per pound. The improvement primarily reflects lapping an approximately $18 million charge related to the prior year’s voluntary product withdrawal, lower potato prices and benefits from ongoing cost savings initiatives. These benefits were partially offset by $3.5 million in start-up costs associated with the new production facility in Argentina, which is expected to support future growth. 

Interest Expense, Net 

Interest expense, net declined $1.5 million, versus the prior year quarter, to $43.7 million, reflecting the impact of lower total debt outstanding primarily driven by lower borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025 was $47.9 million and $50.8 million, respectively. The effective income tax rate (calculated as the ratio of income tax expense to pre-tax income, inclusive of equity method investment earnings) was 42.7% and 28.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The results in both periods reflect the impact of items outlined in “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, we also recorded $10.2 million of discrete tax expense, primarily related to the establishment of a non-cash full valuation allowance against certain international deferred tax assets. Excluding the impact of these items, the Company’s effective tax rate was 30.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, versus 30.8% in the prior year quarter.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”). Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes, requires the effects of changes in tax rates and laws to be recognized in the period in which the legislation is enacted. We currently anticipate a favorable cash tax timing benefit of approximately $35 million to $45 million in fiscal 2026 as of result of OBBBA; it is not expected to have a significant impact on our effective tax rate. 

Equity Method Investment Earnings (Loss)

Equity method investment earnings (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures were a loss of $0.6 million and earnings of $11.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The decline in earnings was primarily the result of lower net sales and an unfavorable product mix. The