Stocks pairs trading: LW vs WRK

7月5日

Let's examine the trade potential for Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW) and WestRock Company (WRK) by analyzing their key financial metrics and recent performance to determine reasons for going long on LW and short on WRK.

Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio:
LW: P/E ratio of 10.93
WRK: P/E ratio of 43.25

The lower P/E ratio of LW suggests it is relatively undervalued compared to WRK, indicating a potentially better investment opportunity in terms of earnings.

Profitability Metrics:
LW: ROA of 17.75%, ROE of 88.53%
WRK: ROA of 1.11%, ROE of 3.09%

LW's superior return on assets and equity indicates better management efficiency and profitability.

Recent News:

LW: Lamb Weston is facing a class action lawsuit related to securities law violations, which has negatively impacted its stock price recently. However, the fundamentals still appear strong for a recovery.
WRK: WestRock's shareholders have approved a merger with Smurfit Kappa, which could impact future performance and valuation due to integration risks.

Decision:

Long on 1 LW: Based on its undervaluation, strong profitability metrics, and potential for recovery despite recent legal issues.

Short on 2 WRK: Due to its high P/E ratio, modest profitability, and potential overvaluation despite strong recent performance.