Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at StockNews.com

Equities researchers at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a research note issued on Tuesday. The brokerage set a “hold” rating on the stock.

Lifeway Foods Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of LWAY opened at $23.60 on Tuesday. Lifeway Foods has a twelve month low of $10.06 and a twelve month high of $28.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $358.79 million, a P/E ratio of 27.44 and a beta of 0.93. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $22.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.76.

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) last issued its earnings results on Friday, March 14th. The company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.19). Lifeway Foods had a return on equity of 19.97% and a net margin of 7.23%. The firm had revenue of $46.93 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $48.00 million.

Insider Activity at Lifeway Foods

In other Lifeway Foods news, major shareholder Edward Smolyansky sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.23, for a total value of $464,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,251,642 shares in the company, valued at $29,075,643.66. The trade was a 1.57 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.51, for a total transaction of $235,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 955,823 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $22,471,398.73. The trade was a 1.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 62,034 shares of company stock worth $1,410,867. 18.86% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 6,068 shares of the company’s stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Algert Global LLC raised its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 9,076 shares of the company’s stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,127 shares of the company’s stock worth $176,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its stake in Lifeway Foods by 33.6% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,855 shares of the company’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in Lifeway Foods by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 55,841 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,385,000 after purchasing an additional 868 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 36.39% of the company’s stock.

Lifeway Foods Company Profile

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 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.