StockNews.com Begins Coverage on Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY)

Stock analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a research report issued on Saturday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the stock.

Lifeway Foods Price Performance

Shares of Lifeway Foods stock opened at $23.85 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.59. Lifeway Foods has a 1 year low of $10.06 and a 1 year high of $28.61. The company has a market capitalization of $362.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.73 and a beta of 1.00.

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) last posted 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). The company had revenue of $46.93 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.00 million. Lifeway Foods had a return on equity of 19.97% and a net margin of 7.23%.

Insider Activity

In other Lifeway Foods news, major shareholder Edward Smolyansky sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.23, for a total transaction of $464,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,251,642 shares in the company, valued at $29,075,643.66. This trade represents a 1.57 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.12, for a total transaction of $361,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,040,549 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,098,041.88. The trade was a 1.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 142,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,261,817. 18.86% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lifeway Foods

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Lifeway Foods in the 3rd quarter valued at about $679,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 71.2% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,778 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 1,155 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 28.9% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 53,683 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,391,000 after buying an additional 12,020 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Lifeway Foods during the third quarter worth approximately $1,270,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Lifeway Foods by 451.4% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,576 shares of the company’s stock worth $274,000 after buying an additional 8,658 shares in the last quarter. 36.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.