LWAY
BEARISH
$24.4
Live
Lifeway Foods, Inc. · NASDAQ
Target $35.0
(+43.4%)
$17.31
52W Range
$34.2
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Apr 14, 2026
Market cap
$371.58M
P/E
27.42
ROE
17.6%
Profit margin
6.5%
Debt/Equity
0.01
Dividend yield
N/A
AI Analysis
AI-powered fundamental assessment
Confidence
85%
LWAY exhibits a weak Piotroski F-Score of 3/9, indicating deteriorating fundamental health despite a clean balance sheet. The stock is trading at a severe premium to both its Graham Number ($10.62) and Intrinsic Value ($6.23), suggesting the current price of $24.40 is speculative. While revenue growth is strong at 18%, consistent earnings misses and aggressive insider selling signal a lack of confidence in the current valuation.
Key Strengths
Extremely low leverage (Debt/Equity 0.01)
Strong liquidity position (Current Ratio 2.23)
Robust top-line growth (18% YoY Revenue Growth)
Healthy Return on Equity (17.57%)
Positive profit margins compared to sector averages
Key Risks
Severe overvaluation relative to defensive fair value (Graham Number)
Weak fundamental health score (Piotroski 3/9)
Poor earnings track record (only 1 of last 4 quarters beat estimates)
Aggressive insider selling totaling $2.95M
Low analyst coverage (single analyst recommendation)
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$10.62
-56.5% below current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
33
Weak
20
60
55
30
0
AI Verdict
Overvalued with deteriorating fundamentals
Key drivers: Price-to-Fair-Value gap, Piotroski F-Score, Insider selling
Confidence
90%
Value
20/100
Current price $24.40 vs Graham Number $10.62
Positives
- P/E is slightly below sector average
Watchpoints
- Price is 129% above Graham Number
- Price is 292% above Intrinsic Value
Future
60/100
Growth is driven by revenue, not consistent earnings
Positives
- Strong YoY and Q/Q revenue growth (~18%)
Watchpoints
- Negative earnings surprises in recent quarters
- Recent Q/Q EPS growth decline (-30.4%)
Past
55/100
Long-term growth is strong, but short-term momentum is fading
Positives
- Impressive 5-year return (+343.6%)
Watchpoints
- Negative 6-month price trend (-7.7%)
Health
30/100
Low debt masks poor operational efficiency/earnings quality
Positives
- Near-zero debt
- Strong current ratio
Watchpoints
- Piotroski F-Score of 3/9 indicates weak financial health
Dividend
0/100
0/100 Dividend Strength
Positives
No standout positives identified.
Watchpoints
- No dividend payments
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$24.4
Analyst Target
$35.0
Upside/Downside
+43.4%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for LWAY and closest competitors.
Updated 2026-04-13
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LWAY
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Primary
|
+343.6% | +305.3% | +3.4% | -7.7% | +16.7% | +7.2% |
|
HELE
Helen of Troy Limited
Peer
|
-92.3% | -81.5% | -52.5% | -18.8% | +2.1% | +14.6% |
|
BGS
B&G Foods, Inc.
Peer
|
-79.7% | -56.7% | -21.4% | +6.6% | +1.4% | +0.5% |
|
MGPI
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Peer
|
-68.9% | -79.4% | -27.4% | -18.3% | +8.1% | +0.8% |
|
HNST
The Honest Company, Inc.
Peer
|
-81.8% | +57.8% | -34.1% | -21.5% | +3.5% | +3.5% |
LWA
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Primary
5Y
+343.6%
3Y
+305.3%
1Y
+3.4%
6M
-7.7%
1M
+16.7%
1W
+7.2%
HEL
Helen of Troy Limited
Peer
5Y
-92.3%
3Y
-81.5%
1Y
-52.5%
6M
-18.8%
1M
+2.1%
1W
+14.6%
BGS
B&G Foods, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-79.7%
3Y
-56.7%
1Y
-21.4%
6M
+6.6%
1M
+1.4%
1W
+0.5%
MGP
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-68.9%
3Y
-79.4%
1Y
-27.4%
6M
-18.3%
1M
+8.1%
1W
+0.8%
HNS
The Honest Company, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-81.8%
3Y
+57.8%
1Y
-34.1%
6M
-21.5%
1M
+3.5%
1W
+3.5%
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
27.42
Forward P/E
17.81
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
4.33
P/S Ratio
1.75
EV/Revenue
1.72
EV/EBITDA
18.09
Market Cap
$371.58M
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
6.52%
Operating Margin
6.8%
Gross Margin
29.01%
ROE
17.57%
ROA
10.31%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
+18.0%
Earnings Growth
N/A
Q/Q Revenue Growth
+17.96%
Q/Q Earnings Growth
N/A
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
0.01
Low debt
Current Ratio
2.23
Strong
Quick Ratio
1.35
Good
Cash/Share
$0.37
Financial Statement Flow
Interactive flow visualization showing how money moves through the company Q4 2025
Revenue
$0.1B
Gross Margin
27.8%
Op. Margin
6.8%
Net Margin
4.6%
Total Assets
$0.1B
Liabilities
$0.0B
Equity
$0.1B
Debt/Equity
0.23x
Operating CF
$0.0B
CapEx
$-0.0B
Free Cash Flow
$-0.0B
FCF Yield
-6524%
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-05-14
$N/A
2026-03-17
$0.16
-44.8% surprise
2025-11-12
$0.23
-17.9% surprise
2025-08-12
$0.28
+55.6% surprise
Consumer Defensive Sector Comparison
Comparing LWAY against 91 companies in the Consumer Defensive sector
(5 bullish, 39 neutral, 47 bearish)
P/E Ratio
27.42
This Stock
vs
31.95
Sector Avg
-14.2%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
17.57%
This Stock
vs
-18.83%
Sector Avg
-193.3%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
6.52%
This Stock
vs
-6.56%
Sector Avg
-199.5%
(Weaker)
Debt to Equity
0.01
This Stock
vs
1.3
Sector Avg
-99.6%
(Less Debt)
Revenue Growth
18.0%
This Stock
vs
4.39%
Sector Avg
+310.2%
(Fast Growth)
Current Ratio
2.23
This Stock
vs
2.26
Sector Avg
-1.5%
(Weaker)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LWAY
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $371.58M | 27.42 | 17.6% | 6.5% | $24.4 | |
|
HELE
Helen of Troy Limited
|
BEARISH | $386.0M | - | -63.9% | -44.0% | $16.73 | Compare |
|
BGS
B&G Foods, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $352.82M | - | -40.9% | -13.6% | $4.41 | Compare |
|
MGPI
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $413.07M | - | -13.9% | -20.1% | $19.33 | Compare |
|
HNST
The Honest Company, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $328.42M | - | -9.1% | -4.2% | $2.92 | Compare |
LWAY
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
BEARISH
Mkt Cap
$372M
P/E
27.4
ROE
17.6%
Price
$24.4
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-27 | HANSON ERIC A | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 743 | - |
| 2026-03-27 | HANSON ERIC A | Chief Financial Officer | Option Exercise | 743 | $13,597 |
| 2026-03-19 | SMOLYANSKY EDWARD P | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 14,353 | $255,053 |
| 2026-03-18 | SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 10,000 | $187,400 |
| 2026-03-17 | SMOLYANSKY EDWARD P | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 35,647 | $723,172 |
| 2026-03-06 | HANSON ERIC A | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 21,396 | - |
| 2026-03-06 | SMOLYANSKY JULIE | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 13,334 | - |
| 2026-01-09 | SCHER JASON SCOTT | Director | Option Exercise | 1,600 | $36,448 |
| 2026-01-09 | HANSON ERIC A | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 3,751 | - |
| 2026-01-09 | MCWHORTER DORRI | Director | Stock Award | 3,151 | - |
| 2026-01-09 | DALTO JUAN CARLOS | Director | Option Exercise | 1,600 | $36,448 |
| 2025-12-23 | SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 26,431 | $645,351 |
| 2025-12-10 | SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 20,000 | $463,400 |
| 2025-12-09 | SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA | Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Sale | 28,569 | $671,050 |
HANSON ERIC A
Chief Financial Officer
2026-03-27
743 shares
HANSON ERIC A
Chief Financial Officer
2026-03-27
743 shares
·
$13,597
SMOLYANSKY EDWARD P
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2026-03-19
14,353 shares
·
$255,053
SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2026-03-18
10,000 shares
·
$187,400
SMOLYANSKY EDWARD P
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2026-03-17
35,647 shares
·
$723,172
HANSON ERIC A
Chief Financial Officer
2026-03-06
21,396 shares
SMOLYANSKY JULIE
Chief Executive Officer
2026-03-06
13,334 shares
SCHER JASON SCOTT
Director
2026-01-09
1,600 shares
·
$36,448
HANSON ERIC A
Chief Financial Officer
2026-01-09
3,751 shares
MCWHORTER DORRI
Director
2026-01-09
3,151 shares
DALTO JUAN CARLOS
Director
2026-01-09
1,600 shares
·
$36,448
SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2025-12-23
26,431 shares
·
$645,351
SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2025-12-10
20,000 shares
·
$463,400
SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2025-12-09
28,569 shares
·
$671,050
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
Wall Street Analysts
Professional analyst ratings and price targets
Consensus
STRONG_BUY
1 analysts
Benchmark
2025-11-13
Buy
Past News Coverage
Recent headlines mentioning LWAY from our newsroom.
Newest → oldest
No matching news yet.