Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (LFCR) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: LFCRAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

LFCR AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization and gourmet food processor. In FY2026, the company generated $129.5M in revenue and reached positive free cash flow of $6.2M, though it posted a net income of -$30.8M. The balance sheet reflects leverage, with total debt of $155.1M against $17.2M in cash and short-term investments.

Market cap
$241.8M
Revenue (TTM)
$129.5M
P/E
—
fwd 8.7x
1Y return
-2.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$6.28
-1.6% vs last close

Bull case

  • Free cash flow turned positive in FY2026 at $6.2M, driven by $12.6M in operating cash flow.
  • Forward valuation multiples trade below the peer group, including a forward P/E of 8.7x versus the US-listed Healthcare median of 17.3x.
  • The company beat analyst EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters.

Bear case

  • The balance sheet carries significant leverage, with net debt of $137.8M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.64.
  • Lifecore Biomedical reported net losses in four of the last five years, including -$30.8M in FY2026.
  • Analysts project current fiscal year revenue to drop to $121.1M from $129.5M in FY2026, accompanied by an EPS growth estimate of -86.4%.

What Lifecore Biomedical does

Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. is a contract development and manufacturing organization serving global markets across three segments: Lifecore, Curation Foods, and Other. The Lifecore segment specializes in producing pharmaceutical-grade sodium hyaluronate (HA) in bulk, as well as formulating and filling syringes and vials for injectable medical products. It also provides technology development, formulation studies, and clinical trial production. The Curation Foods segment processes and markets gourmet food products, including olive oils and vinegars under the O brand, and guacamole and avocado items under Yucatan and Cabo Fresh brands. Headquartered in Santa Maria, California, the company was originally incorporated as Landec Corporation in 1986.

Growth and profitability

Lifecore Biomedical generated $129.5M in revenue for FY2026, representing 0.5% growth compared to $128.9M in FY2025 and $128.3M in FY2024. Over a five-year period from FY2021 to FY2026, revenue increased at a CAGR of 5.1%. Gross margin was 31.4% in FY2026, roughly flat compared to 31.3% in FY2025. Operating margin improved from -13.4% in FY2025 to -1.0% in FY2026, while net margin registered at -23.8% with a net loss of -$30.8M. Operating cash flow turned positive at $12.6M in FY2026 from -$206,000 in FY2025. In the latest quarter ended May 31, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 3.8% year-over-year.

LFCR income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of May 31, 2026, Lifecore Biomedical held $17.2M in cash and short-term investments alongside total assets of $229.5M. Total debt stood at $155.1M, yielding net debt of $137.8M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.64 relative to shareholders' equity of $16.1M. The company maintained a current ratio of 3.87. During FY2026, operating cash flow reached $12.6M, which funded capital expenditures of $6.3M to deliver free cash flow of $6.2M. The company also allocated $1.9M toward share buybacks.

LFCR balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Lifecore Biomedical trades at an enterprise value of $307.8M and a market capitalization of $241.8M. Its forward P/E of 8.7x and EV/EBITDA of 8.1x sit below the median of its US-listed Healthcare peers, which stand at 17.3x and 12.0x, respectively. The stock trades at a price-to-sales multiple of 1.9x compared to the peer median of 4.1x, alongside a price-to-book ratio of 198.0x. Over the past year, the stock fell 2.3%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, while over five years it fell 35.0% compared to an 83.0% gain for the index.

LFCR key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 4 Hold ratings, with 0 Buy, 0 Strong Buy, 0 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $6.28, which represents a 1.6% decline from the last close of $6.38. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $121.1M and an EPS of -$1.01. For the following fiscal year, 3 analysts project revenue to expand 7.9% to $130.7M with an EPS of -$0.89. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters.

LFCR forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Net debt of $137.8M exceeds total cash and short-term investments of $17.2M, which creates financial vulnerability.
  • Quarterly revenue fell 3.8% year-over-year in the period ended May 31, 2026, indicating ongoing top-line volatility.
  • The five-year share count change of 27.5% reflects historical dilution for existing equity holders.
  • A negative return on equity of -76.4% underscores ongoing challenges in generating net profits.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this LFCR AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (LFCR). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: LFCR income statement, LFCR balance sheet, LFCR key metrics, LFCR analyst forecast, LFCR chart. See the LFCR stock overview for the latest quote and news.

LFCR AI stock analysis FAQ

Does Lifecore Biomedical pay a dividend?

No, Lifecore Biomedical does not currently pay a dividend. Cash flow in FY2026 was directed toward capital expenditures of $6.3M and share buybacks of $1.9M.

What is Lifecore Biomedical's debt position?

As of May 31, 2026, Lifecore Biomedical had total debt of $155.1M and cash and short-term investments of $17.2M, resulting in net debt of $137.8M. Its debt-to-equity ratio was 9.64.

What are analysts forecasting for LFCR stock?

Analysts hold 4 Hold ratings with a mean price target of $6.28, implying a 1.6% decline from the last close of $6.38. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate an EPS of -$1.01 on revenue of $121.1M.

How did Lifecore Biomedical perform in FY2026?

In FY2026, Lifecore Biomedical delivered revenue of $129.5M, representing 0.5% growth. While it recorded a net loss of -$30.8M, free cash flow improved to positive $6.2M.

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