New CEO Could Spice Things Up at this Specialty Food Leader
- New CEO Dave Ciesinski is focusing on accelerating growth and driving the gross margin up to 30% (vs an estimated 25% in FY18) through supply chain and other initiatives which, if successful, could add over $1.30 to EPS.
- The shares are 17% off from their January 2017 high despite continued record results.
- Lancaster’s operating margins are among the highest in the food group category; we project the operating margin at 14.4% for FY18 and 15.3% for FY19.
- Dividends, compounding at 10% over the last five years, have increased for 55 consecutive years (a feat accomplished by only 13 other U.S. companies) and were supplemented by two $5 special dividends in December 2015 and 2012.
The balance sheet has no debt and $179 million in cash, equal to $6.50 per share
Lancaster Colony is a manufacturer and marketer of food products for the retail and foodservice channels. Within its Retail segment, the primary food products the company manufactures and sells include: frozen garlic breads; frozen Parkerhouse style yeast rolls and dinner rolls; salad dressings; vegetable dips and fruit dips; flatbread wraps and pizza crusts; sprouted grain bakery products; salad dressings; and croutons and salad toppings. Within its Foodservice segment, the primary food products the company manufactures and sells include: salad dressings; frozen garlic breads; frozen Parkerhouse style yeast rolls and dinner rolls; and frozen pasta.
Great Lakes Review is located in Cleveland, Ohio, was founded in 1981 and became a division of Wellington Shields & Co. LLC in 2011. Great Lakes Review is a research boutique focused on the fundamentally-oriented investor seeking companies that dominate their respective specialty niche regardless of industry. The objective is to make money for the long-term by gradually accumulating a diversified portfolio from a universe of no more than 30 companies. Although short-term-oriented accounts will be alerted to trading opportunities, aggressive sell recommendations are triggered only by a deterioration in long-term fundamentals, not by short-term blips or investor fancy. Coverage of those names that lose their earnings momentum or earnings predictability may be dropped and replaced with more vital candidates.
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