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LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) Stock Fundamental Analysis

USA - Nasdaq - NASDAQ:LWAY - US5319141090 - Common Stock

22.08 USD
+0.08 (+0.36%)
Last: 1/26/2026, 8:00:00 PM
22.08 USD
0 (0%)
After Hours: 1/26/2026, 8:00:00 PM
Fundamental Rating

6

We assign a fundamental rating of 6 out of 10 to LWAY. LWAY was compared to 87 industry peers in the Food Products industry. Both the health and profitability get an excellent rating, making LWAY a very profitable company, without any liquidiy or solvency issues. LWAY has a correct valuation and a medium growth rate. With these ratings, LWAY could be worth investigating further for quality investing!.


Dividend Valuation Growth Profitability Health

8

1. Profitability

1.1 Basic Checks

  • In the past year LWAY was profitable.
  • LWAY had a positive operating cash flow in the past year.
  • Each year in the past 5 years LWAY has been profitable.
  • In the past 5 years LWAY always reported a positive cash flow from operatings.
LWAY Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFLWAY Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFYearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 5M 10M 15M

1.2 Ratios

  • Looking at the Return On Assets, with a value of 10.19%, LWAY belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 94.25% of the companies in the same industry.
  • With an excellent Return On Equity value of 13.48%, LWAY belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 81.61% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LWAY has a better Return On Invested Capital (10.12%) than 88.51% of its industry peers.
  • The Average Return On Invested Capital over the past 3 years for LWAY is significantly below the industry average of 27.79%.
Industry RankSector Rank
ROA 10.19%
ROE 13.48%
ROIC 10.12%
ROA(3y)8.4%
ROA(5y)7.01%
ROE(3y)11.08%
ROE(5y)9.36%
ROIC(3y)10.79%
ROIC(5y)9.06%
LWAY Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICLWAY Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICYearly ROA, ROE, ROIC 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 5 -5 10 15

1.3 Margins

  • With a decent Profit Margin value of 5.47%, LWAY is doing good in the industry, outperforming 72.41% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LWAY's Profit Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
  • LWAY has a Operating Margin of 6.43%. This is in the better half of the industry: LWAY outperforms 67.82% of its industry peers.
  • In the last couple of years the Operating Margin of LWAY has grown nicely.
  • The Gross Margin of LWAY (26.82%) is better than 63.22% of its industry peers.
  • LWAY's Gross Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
Industry RankSector Rank
OM 6.43%
PM (TTM) 5.47%
GM 26.82%
OM growth 3Y13.75%
OM growth 5YN/A
PM growth 3Y20.36%
PM growth 5Y55.37%
GM growth 3Y2.57%
GM growth 5Y1.97%
LWAY Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsLWAY Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsYearly Profit, Operating, Gross Margins 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 10 20

8

2. Health

2.1 Basic Checks

  • With a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) just above the Cost of Capital (WACC), LWAY is creating some value.
  • The number of shares outstanding for LWAY has been increased compared to 1 year ago.
  • Compared to 5 years ago, LWAY has less shares outstanding
  • There is no outstanding debt for LWAY. This means it has a Debt/Equity and Debt/FCF ratio of 0 and it is amongst the best of the sector and industry.
LWAY Yearly Shares OutstandingLWAY Yearly Shares OutstandingYearly Shares Outstanding 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 5M 10M 15M
LWAY Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsLWAY Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsYearly Total Debt VS Total Assets 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 20M 40M 60M 80M

2.2 Solvency

  • LWAY has an Altman-Z score of 11.23. This indicates that LWAY is financially healthy and has little risk of bankruptcy at the moment.
  • Looking at the Altman-Z score, with a value of 11.23, LWAY belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 93.10% of the companies in the same industry.
  • There is no outstanding debt for LWAY. This means it has a Debt/Equity and Debt/FCF ratio of 0 and it is amongst the best of the sector and industry.
Industry RankSector Rank
Debt/Equity 0
Debt/FCF N/A
Altman-Z 11.23
ROIC/WACC1.14
WACC8.86%
LWAY Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFLWAY Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFYearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 20M 40M 60M

2.3 Liquidity

  • LWAY has a Current Ratio of 2.30. This indicates that LWAY is financially healthy and has no problem in meeting its short term obligations.
  • Looking at the Current ratio, with a value of 2.30, LWAY is in the better half of the industry, outperforming 67.82% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LWAY has a Quick Ratio of 1.83. This is a normal value and indicates that LWAY is financially healthy and should not expect problems in meeting its short term obligations.
  • The Quick ratio of LWAY (1.83) is better than 83.91% of its industry peers.
Industry RankSector Rank
Current Ratio 2.3
Quick Ratio 1.83
LWAY Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesLWAY Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesYearly Current Assets VS Current Liabilites 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 10M 20M 30M 40M

6

3. Growth

3.1 Past

  • The earnings per share for LWAY have decreased strongly by -40.70% in the last year.
  • Measured over the past years, LWAY shows a very strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS has been growing by 81.84% on average per year.
  • Looking at the last year, LWAY shows a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue has grown by 12.14% in the last year.
  • Measured over the past years, LWAY shows a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue has been growing by 14.80% on average per year.
EPS 1Y (TTM)-40.7%
EPS 3Y39.44%
EPS 5Y81.84%
EPS Q2Q%21.05%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)12.14%
Revenue growth 3Y16.19%
Revenue growth 5Y14.8%
Sales Q2Q%23.97%

3.2 Future

  • LWAY is expected to show a strong growth in Earnings Per Share. In the coming years, the EPS will grow by 39.79% yearly.
  • Based on estimates for the next years, LWAY will show a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue will grow by 13.67% on average per year.
EPS Next Y80.66%
EPS Next 2Y45.82%
EPS Next 3Y39.79%
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue Next Year12.32%
Revenue Next 2Y13.02%
Revenue Next 3Y13.67%
Revenue Next 5YN/A

3.3 Evolution

  • Although the future EPS growth is still strong, it is not able to hold up the even more excellent growth rate of the past years.
  • The Revenue growth rate is stable: in the next years the growth will be about the same than in the last years.
LWAY Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesLWAY Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesYearly Revenue VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 50M 100M 150M 200M 250M
LWAY Yearly EPS VS EstimatesLWAY Yearly EPS VS EstimatesYearly EPS VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 0 0.5 1 1.5

4

4. Valuation

4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio

  • The Price/Earnings ratio is 43.29, which means the current valuation is very expensive for LWAY.
  • LWAY's Price/Earnings ratio is in line with the industry average.
  • The average S&P500 Price/Earnings ratio is at 27.25. LWAY is valued rather expensively when compared to this.
  • The Price/Forward Earnings ratio is 17.60, which indicates a rather expensive current valuation of LWAY.
  • LWAY's Price/Forward Earnings ratio is a bit cheaper when compared to the industry. LWAY is cheaper than 66.67% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LWAY is valuated rather cheaply when we compare the Price/Forward Earnings ratio to 25.98, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
Industry RankSector Rank
PE 43.29
Fwd PE 17.6
LWAY Price Earnings VS Forward Price EarningsLWAY Price Earnings VS Forward Price Earnings ChartPrice Earnings - Forward Price Earnings PE FPE 10 20 30 40

4.2 Price Multiples

  • The rest of the industry has a similar Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio as LWAY.
Industry RankSector Rank
P/FCF N/A
EV/EBITDA 18.46
LWAY Per share dataLWAY EPS, Sales, OCF, FCF, BookValue per sharePer Share Data Per Share 0 2 4 6 8 10

4.3 Compensation for Growth

  • LWAY's low PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates a rather cheap valuation of the company.
  • The excellent profitability rating of LWAY may justify a higher PE ratio.
  • LWAY's earnings are expected to grow with 39.79% in the coming years. This may justify a more expensive valuation.
PEG (NY)0.54
PEG (5Y)0.53
EPS Next 2Y45.82%
EPS Next 3Y39.79%

0

5. Dividend

5.1 Amount

  • No dividends for LWAY!.
Industry RankSector Rank
Dividend Yield 0%

LIFEWAY FOODS INC / LWAY FAQ

What is the ChartMill fundamental rating of LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) stock?

ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 6 / 10 to LWAY.


What is the valuation status for LWAY stock?

ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 4 / 10 to LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY). This can be considered as Fairly Valued.


How profitable is LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) stock?

LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) has a profitability rating of 8 / 10.


What is the valuation of LIFEWAY FOODS INC based on its PE and PB ratios?

The Price/Earnings (PE) ratio for LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) is 43.29 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 4.06.


Can you provide the dividend sustainability for LWAY stock?

The dividend rating of LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) is 0 / 10 and the dividend payout ratio is 0%.