Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) Earns Hold Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

Equities researchers at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a report issued on Friday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the stock.

Separately, Noble Financial cut shares of Lifeway Foods from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 24th.

Lifeway Foods Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of Lifeway Foods stock opened at $22.39 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $23.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $331.82 million, a P/E ratio of 26.03 and a beta of 1.02. Lifeway Foods has a 52 week low of $9.93 and a 52 week high of $28.61.

Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 45,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.49, for a total value of $1,057,050.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 1,025,549 shares in the company, valued at $24,090,146.01. This represents a 4.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 90,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,086,050. Company insiders own 18.86% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Lifeway Foods

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 7.1% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 454,682 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,806,000 after acquiring an additional 30,000 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Lifeway Foods by 1.8% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 115,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,006,000 after purchasing an additional 2,018 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Lifeway Foods by 48.5% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 100,217 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,280,000 after purchasing an additional 32,742 shares during the period. De Lisle Partners LLP raised its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 30.7% during the 3rd quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP now owns 59,782 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,552,000 after buying an additional 14,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Lifeway Foods by 56.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 58,589 shares of the company’s stock valued at $748,000 after buying an additional 21,168 shares during the period. 36.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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 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.