291,709 Shares in Lifeway Foods, Inc. $LWAY Bought by Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC

Key Points

• Pillsbury Lake Capital acquired 291,709 Lifeway Foods shares worth approximately $8.7 million, representing about 1.93% of the company. Several other institutional investors also initiated positions, with institutions collectively owning 36.39% of shares.
• Lifeway’s analyst outlook remains generally positive, with an average rating of “Buy” and a $34 price target, although individual ratings ranged from Sell to Strong Buy. Major shareholders sold a combined 175,000 shares in two disclosed transactions.
• The stock traded at $26.35, while the company’s latest quarterly results showed revenue of $66.89 million—above estimates—but EPS of $0.01, well below the $0.26 consensus forecast.

Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWAY - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 291,709 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,704,597. Lifeway Foods accounts for about 0.0% of Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC's holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC owned about 1.93% of Lifeway Foods at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in shares of Lifeway Foods in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,140,000. Man Group plc purchased a new stake in Lifeway Foods in the second quarter worth about $705,000. AWM Investment Company Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lifeway Foods during the 2nd quarter valued at about $6,654,000. De Lisle Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Lifeway Foods in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,814,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Lifeway Foods during the 2nd quarter worth $9,614,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.39% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Lifeway Foods news, major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 100,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.11, for a total value of $3,011,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 507,207 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,272,002.77. The trade was a 16.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Edward Smolyansky sold 75,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.45, for a total transaction of $1,908,750.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 894,793 shares in the company, valued at $22,772,481.85. This represents a 7.73% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders bought 248,568 shares of company stock valued at $6,176,730 and sold 592,698 shares valued at $17,070,367. Corporate insiders own 18.58% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Lifeway Foods in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Lifeway Foods from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Freedom Capital raised shares of Lifeway Foods from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 14th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Lifeway Foods in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. They set a "buy" rating and a $32.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Lifeway Foods from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Lifeway Foods has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $34.00.

Lifeway Foods Price Performance

LWAY stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $26.35. 87,083 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 118,132. The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The company has a market cap of $398.07 million, a P/E ratio of 37.64 and a beta of 0.44. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $29.23 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.31. Lifeway Foods, Inc. has a one year low of $17.31 and a one year high of $34.20.

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ:LWAY - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 13th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.26 by ($0.25). Lifeway Foods had a net margin of 4.48% and a return on equity of 12.66%. The firm had revenue of $66.89 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $61.40 million.

Lifeway Foods 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.