Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) Now Covered by StockNews.com

Analysts at StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY) in a report released on Tuesday. The brokerage set a “hold” rating on the stock.

Lifeway Foods Stock Down 4.5 %

NASDAQ:LWAY opened at $22.22 on Tuesday. Lifeway Foods has a 52 week low of $9.93 and a 52 week high of $28.61. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $22.83. The company has a market cap of $329.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.84 and a beta of 1.01.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lifeway Foods

In related news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 15,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.12, for a total value of $361,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,040,549 shares in the company, valued at $25,098,041.88. The trade was a 1.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders have sold 122,034 shares of company stock worth $2,797,217 over the last three months. Insiders own 18.86% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Covestor Ltd purchased a new position in Lifeway Foods during the third quarter worth $50,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 718 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in Lifeway Foods by 71.2% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,778 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 1,155 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Lifeway Foods by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 5,606 shares of the company’s stock worth $139,000 after purchasing an additional 1,059 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its stake in Lifeway Foods by 40.5% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,420 shares of the company’s stock valued at $167,000 after purchasing an additional 1,849 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.