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

StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a research report report published on Friday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

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

Lifeway Foods Stock Performance

NASDAQ:LWAY opened at $24.12 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.87. Lifeway Foods has a one year low of $9.93 and a one year high of $28.61. The firm has a market cap of $357.29 million, a P/E ratio of 27.87 and a beta of 1.05.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Lifeway Foods news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.19, for a total value of $272,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,110,133 shares in the company, valued at $20,193,319.27. This trade represents a 1.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 18.86% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Lifeway Foods

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in Lifeway Foods by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 454,682 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,806,000 after buying an additional 30,000 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 1.8% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 115,971 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,006,000 after acquiring an additional 2,018 shares during the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL raised its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 37.8% in the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 109,700 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,889,000 after purchasing an additional 30,100 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in Lifeway Foods by 48.5% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, De Lisle Partners LLP grew its position in Lifeway Foods by 30.7% during the 3rd quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP now owns 59,782 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,552,000 after purchasing an additional 14,051 shares during 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.