General Mills (GIS) vs Lamb Weston (LW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Lamb Weston (LW) has outperformed General Mills (GIS) over the past year, losing 24.0% versus a loss of 37.6%. Over five years, LW leads with a -14.5% price change compared with -48.9% for GIS. General Mills is the larger company by market cap ($17.43 billion vs $6.82 billion), about 2.6 times the size, while Lamb Weston is growing revenue faster (+2.5% vs -5.4%).
On valuation, General Mills trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 14.7x for Lamb Weston). General Mills offers the higher dividend yield (7.49% vs 3.05%). Lamb Weston converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 4.4% versus -0.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | GIS | LW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $32.60 | $49.48 |
| Market cap | $17.43B | $6.82B |
| 1-day change | +2.60% | +2.89% |
| YTD return | -31.68% | +14.80% |
| 1-year return | -37.62% | -24.04% |
| 5-year return | -48.89% | -14.49% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 27.04 |
| Forward P/E | 10.34 | 14.69 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.64 | $1.83 |
| Dividend yield | 7.49% | 3.05% |
| Annual dividend | $2.44 | $1.51 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $18.42B | $6.61B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.45% | +2.50% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-87.60M | $290.00M |
| Gross margin | 33.63% | 20.56% |
| Operating margin | 4.81% | 8.94% |
| Net margin | -0.48% | 4.39% |
| 52-week high | $49.96 | $67.07 |
| 52-week low | $31.18 | $37.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.76% | -26.23% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.51% | +13.00% |
| Average volume | 9.61M | 1.87M |
| Shares outstanding | 534.69M | 137.78M |
| Employees | 30,000 | 10,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Packaged Foods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- General Mills is about 2.6 times larger than Lamb Weston by market value ($17.43B vs $6.82B).
- LW has outperformed GIS by 13.6 percentage points over the past year.
- General Mills offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.49% vs 3.05%).
- Lamb Weston grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.50% vs -5.45%).
About General Mills
GIS stock →General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer food in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 30,000 employees
About Lamb Weston
LW stock →Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. engages in the production, distribution, and marketing of frozen potato products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 10,000 employees
GIS vs LW FAQ
Which is bigger, General Mills or Lamb Weston?
General Mills (GIS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $17.43B compared with $6.82B for Lamb Weston (LW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GIS or LW?
LW returned -24.04% over the past 12 months, compared with -37.62% for GIS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, General Mills or Lamb Weston?
General Mills has the higher yield at 7.49%, compared with 3.05% for Lamb Weston.
Are General Mills and Lamb Weston in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Staples sector.