Fact based stock research
Lancaster Colony (NasdaqGS:LANC)

US5138471033

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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

Lancaster Colony stock research in summary

lancastercolony.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 74 (better than 74% compared with investment alternatives), Lancaster Colony (Packaged Foods & Meats, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Lancaster Colony are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 15 (worse than 85% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 77) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 94, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 74, is a buy recommendation based on Lancaster Colony's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Lancaster Colony exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 15), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 77). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 94) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	15
Growth Rank	77
Safety Rank	94
Combined Rank	74

Country	USA
Industry	Packaged Foods & Meats
Index	NASDAQ, S&P US Food & Beverage, S&P MIDCAP
Size class	Large

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: Lancaster Colony

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	29	19	18	15
GROWTH
GROWTH	43	35	49	77
SAFETY
SAFETY	78	90	88	94
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	n/a	64	42	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	n/a	61	51	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 19-Dec-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Lancaster Colony is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	29	19	18	15
GROWTH
GROWTH	43	35	49	77
SAFETY
SAFETY	78	90	88	94
COMBINED
COMBINED	54	48	57	74

Last update of combined financial performance: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Lancaster Colony the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 15 (worse than 85% compared with alternatives), Lancaster Colony shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Lancaster Colony. Price-to-Sales is 19 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 81% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Lancaster Colony's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 18, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Lancaster Colony. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 14 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 52% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 15, is a sell recommendation based on Lancaster Colony's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Lancaster Colony? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Lancaster Colony? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Lancaster Colony may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	38	23	28	19
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	50	24	19	14
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	20	22	13	18
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	52	56	63	48
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	29	19	18	15

Last update of Value Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Lancaster Colony; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 77 (better than 77% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Lancaster Colony shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Lancaster Colony. Profit Growth has a rank of 67 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 67% of its competitors. The same is valid for capital growth and stock returns. Capital Growth has a rank of 67, and Stock Returns has a rank of 71 which means that the stock returns have recently been above 71% of alternative investments. Only revenue growth is low with a Sales Growth has a rank of 49 (51% of its competitors are better). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 77, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The many positive growth indicators indicate a positive growth momentum with only low revenue growth. That can also be attributed to divestments or the sale of unprofitable businesses. If that is the reason, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	47	42	49	49
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	6	19	73	67
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	n/a	75	44	67
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	32	33	37	71
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	43	35	49	77

Last update of Growth Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Lancaster Colony.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 94 (better than 94% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company Lancaster Colony has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Lancaster Colony is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for Lancaster Colony. Leverage is at a rank of 90, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 90% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 100, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 100% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 39, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 61% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 94 (better than 94% compared with alternatives), Lancaster Colony has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for Lancaster Colony. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with Lancaster Colony and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	74	90	90	90
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	44	29	30	39
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	74	100	98	100
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	78	90	88	94

Last update of Safety Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Lancaster Colony and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2021	2022	2023	2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	39	34	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	n/a	50	72	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	n/a	82	48	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	n/a	48	29	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	n/a	64	42	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Lancaster Colony.
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