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

Investment analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY - Get Free Report) in a report issued on Monday. The brokerage set a "hold" rating on the stock.

Lifeway Foods Stock Performance

Shares of Lifeway Foods stock traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $21.98. The company's stock had a trading volume of 36,117 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,849. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $23.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $22.46. Lifeway Foods has a 12-month low of $9.93 and a 12-month high of $28.61. The company has a market cap of $325.74 million, a PE ratio of 25.56 and a beta of 1.01.

Insider Transactions at Lifeway Foods

In other news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 15,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $25,098,041.88. The trade was a 1.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 112,034 shares of company stock valued at $2,584,117. 18.86% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lifeway Foods

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Lifeway Foods by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,127 shares of the company's stock worth $176,000 after acquiring an additional 707 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in shares of Lifeway Foods by 33.6% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,855 shares of the company's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Lifeway Foods by 1.6% in 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 purchasing an additional 868 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its holdings in shares of Lifeway Foods by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 120,350 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,985,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in Lifeway Foods by 23.3% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 5,606 shares of the company's stock worth $139,000 after buying an additional 1,059 shares during the period. 36.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.