Analyzing Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) and LifeVantage (NASDAQ:LFVN)

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) and LifeVantage (NASDAQ:LFVN) are both small-cap consumer defensive companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Volatility and Risk

Lifeway Foods has a beta of 1.49, suggesting that its share price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LifeVantage has a beta of 0.85, suggesting that its share price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

30.7% of Lifeway Foods shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.7% of LifeVantage shares are owned by institutional investors. 31.8% of Lifeway Foods shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.8% of LifeVantage shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Lifeway Foods and LifeVantage, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Lifeway Foods	0	0	1	0	3.00
LifeVantage	0	0	0	0	N/A

Lifeway Foods currently has a consensus target price of $13.00, indicating a potential downside of 15.58%. Given Lifeway Foods’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Lifeway Foods is more favorable than LifeVantage.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Lifeway Foods and LifeVantage’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Lifeway Foods	$141.57 million	1.60	$920,000.00	$0.55	28.00
LifeVantage	$213.40 million	0.35	$2.54 million	$0.20	29.25

LifeVantage has higher revenue and earnings than Lifeway Foods. Lifeway Foods is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than LifeVantage, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Lifeway Foods and LifeVantage’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Lifeway Foods	5.27%	15.87%	11.12%
LifeVantage	1.20%	12.47%	6.02%

Summary

Lifeway Foods beats LifeVantage on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Lifeway Foods

Lifeway Foods, Inc. produces and markets probiotic-based products in the United States and internationally. Its primary product is drinkable kefir, a cultured dairy product in various organic and non-organic sizes, flavors, and types. The company also offers European-style soft cheeses; cream and other products; ProBugs, a line of kefir products designed for children; drinkable yogurt; and fresh made butter and sour cream. It sells its products under the Lifeway, Glen Oaks Farms, and Fresh Made brand names, as well as under private labels on behalf of customers primarily through direct sales force, brokers, and distributors. The company was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Morton Grove, Illinois.

About LifeVantage

LifeVantage Corporation engages in the identification, research, development, formulation, and sale of advanced nutrigenomic activators, dietary supplements, nootropics, pre- and pro-biotics, weight management, skin and hair care, bath and body, and targeted relief products. It offers Protandim, a dietary supplement; LifeVantage Omega+, a dietary supplement that combines DHA and EPA Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-7 fatty acids, and vitamin D3; LifeVantage ProBio, a dietary supplement to support gut health; PhysIQ, a weight management system; LifeVantage IC Bright, a supplement to support eye and brain health, reduce eye fatigue and strain, supports cognitive functions, and support normal sleep patterns; Petandim for Dogs, a supplement to combat oxidative stress in dogs; and Axio, a nootropic energy drink mix. The company also provides anti-aging skin care products, including liquid collagen, facial cleansers, perfecting lotions, eye serums, anti-aging creams, hand creams, beauty serum, as well as hair care products, such as invigorating shampoos, nourishing conditioners, and scalp serums under the LifeVantage TrueScience brand name. In addition, it offers bath and body, and targeted relief products, such as body lotion, body wash, body butter, deodorant, soothing balm, and body rub under the TrueScience brand name. It sells its products through its website and network of independent distributors in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan, Austria, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand, Singapore, and the Philippines. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah.