Insider Selling: Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) Major Shareholder Sells 14,353 Shares of Stock

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWAY) major shareholder Edward Smolyansky sold 14,353 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.77, for a total value of $255,052.81. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,101,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,576,178.34. This trade represents a 1.29% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a company’s stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Edward Smolyansky also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, March 17th, Edward Smolyansky sold 22,313 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.10, for a total value of $448,491.30.
• On Monday, March 16th, Edward Smolyansky sold 13,334 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.60, for a total value of $274,680.40.

Lifeway Foods Stock Down 3.6%

Shares of Lifeway Foods stock traded down $0.66 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $17.83. 62,662 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,918. Lifeway Foods, Inc. has a one year low of $17.49 and a one year high of $34.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $271.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.81 and a beta of 0.13. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $21.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.30.

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.13). The business had revenue of $55.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $55.00 million. Lifeway Foods had a return on equity of 17.65% and a net margin of 6.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Lifeway Foods from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Lifeway Foods in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley set a $35.00 target price on Lifeway Foods in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Lifeway Foods in a report on Monday, December 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lifeway Foods presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $34.33.

Institutional Trading of Lifeway Foods

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in shares of Lifeway Foods by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 6,068 shares of the company’s stock valued at $148,000 after buying an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in Lifeway Foods by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 9,250 shares of the company’s stock worth $257,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Lifeway Foods by 9.0% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 8,009 shares of the company’s stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 659 shares during the period. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 6.8% in the third quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 15,750 shares of the company’s stock valued at $437,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 6.8% in the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 17,178 shares of the company’s stock valued at $423,000 after acquiring an additional 1,091 shares in the last quarter. 36.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lifeway Foods Company Profile

Lifeway Foods, Inc (NASDAQ: LWAY) is a Chicago-based food company specializing in probiotic-rich cultured dairy products. Established in 1986 by Michael Smolyansky, the company pioneered the introduction of kefir to the U.S. market. Under the leadership of CEO Julie Smolyansky, who succeeded her father in 2002, Lifeway has grown from a single product operation into a diversified portfolio of fermented foods and beverages aimed at promoting digestive health and wellness.

The company’s flagship product is kefir, a cultured milk beverage naturally rich in probiotics, vitamins and minerals.