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

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a report published on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Lifeway Foods Stock Performance

Shares of LWAY opened at $21.03 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $311.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.45 and a beta of 1.01. Lifeway Foods has a one year low of $10.06 and a one year high of $28.61. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $22.81 and its 200-day moving average is $23.21.

Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.12, for a total transaction of $361,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,040,549 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,098,041.88. This trade represents a 1.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 122,034 shares of company stock valued at $2,797,217. Company insiders own 18.86% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Algert Global LLC boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 8.1% during the fourth quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 9,076 shares of the company’s stock valued at $225,000 after buying an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,127 shares of the company’s stock valued at $176,000 after buying an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 33.6% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 718 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 55,841 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,385,000 after buying an additional 868 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 120,350 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,985,000 after buying an additional 1,050 shares in the last quarter. 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.