Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWAY) Major Shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky Sells 13,000 Shares

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWAY) major shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky sold 13,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.71, for a total transaction of $243,230.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,334,534 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,969,131.14. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed 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.

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

• On Friday, March 22nd, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 3,852 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.80, for a total transaction of $60,861.60.
• On Wednesday, March 20th, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 13,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.87, for a total transaction of $167,310.00.
• On Monday, February 26th, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 13,542 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.34, for a total transaction of $167,108.28.
• On Thursday, February 8th, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 22,747 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.61, for a total transaction of $264,092.67.
• On Tuesday, February 6th, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 10,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.84, for a total transaction of $118,400.00.
• On Wednesday, January 24th, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 5,000 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.44, for a total transaction of $67,200.00.
• On Monday, January 22nd, Ludmila Smolyansky sold 11,459 shares of Lifeway Foods stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.54, for a total transaction of $155,154.86.

Lifeway Foods Price Performance

Shares of LWAY stock traded down $2.11 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $17.22. 246,516 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 68,740. Lifeway Foods, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $5.61 and a fifty-two week high of $19.60. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $12.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.60. The company has a market cap of $252.96 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.66 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 2.30 and a quick ratio of 1.75.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lifeway Foods

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Kanen Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 107.9% during the second quarter. Kanen Wealth Management LLC now owns 620,973 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,085,000 after purchasing an additional 322,260 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 2.2% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 383,982 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,319,000 after purchasing an additional 8,200 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 7.3% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 317,479 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,257,000 after purchasing an additional 21,732 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 260,569 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,494,000 after purchasing an additional 2,211 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lifeway Foods by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 235,097 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,153,000 after purchasing an additional 31,813 shares in the last quarter. 36.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Noble Financial reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Lifeway Foods in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com cut shares of Lifeway Foods from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday.

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.