21.91 USD
+0.06 (+0.27%)
Taking everything into account, LWAY scores 7 out of 10 in our fundamental rating. LWAY was compared to 87 industry peers in the Food Products industry. LWAY scores excellent points on both the profitability and health parts. This is a solid base for a good stock. LWAY has a decent growth rate and is not valued too expensively. These ratings could make LWAY a good candidate for quality investing.
1. Profitability
1.1 Basic Checks
- LWAY had positive earnings in the past year.
- In the past year LWAY had a positive cash flow from operations.
- LWAY had positive earnings in each of the past 5 years.
- LWAY had a positive operating cash flow in each of the past 5 years.
1.2 Ratios
- LWAY has a better Return On Assets (10.19%) than 94.25% of its industry peers.
- Looking at the Return On Equity, with a value of 13.48%, LWAY belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 81.61% of the companies in the same industry.
- The Return On Invested Capital of LWAY (10.12%) is better than 88.51% of its industry peers.
- Measured over the past 3 years, the Average Return On Invested Capital for LWAY is significantly below the industry average of 27.79%.
| Industry Rank | Sector 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%
1.3 Margins
- The Profit Margin of LWAY (5.47%) is better than 72.41% of its industry peers.
- LWAY's Profit Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
- Looking at the Operating Margin, with a value of 6.43%, LWAY is in the better half of the industry, outperforming 67.82% of the companies in the same industry.
- In the last couple of years the Operating Margin of LWAY has grown nicely.
- LWAY has a Gross Margin of 26.82%. This is in the better half of the industry: LWAY outperforms 63.22% of its industry peers.
- In the last couple of years the Gross Margin of LWAY has grown nicely.
| Industry Rank | Sector 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%
2. Health
2.1 Basic Checks
- LWAY has a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), which is just above the Cost of Capital (WACC), which means it is creating some value.
- LWAY has more shares outstanding than it did 1 year ago.
- LWAY has less shares outstanding than it did 5 years ago.
- 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.
2.2 Solvency
- An Altman-Z score of 11.15 indicates that LWAY is not in any danger for bankruptcy at the moment.
- The Altman-Z score of LWAY (11.15) is better than 93.10% of its industry peers.
- LWAY has no outstanding debt. Therefor its Debt/Equity and Debt/FCF ratios are 0 and belong to the best of the industry.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0 | ||
| Debt/FCF | N/A | ||
| Altman-Z | 11.15 |
ROIC/WACC1.14
WACC8.86%
2.3 Liquidity
- A Current Ratio of 2.30 indicates that LWAY has no problem at all paying its short term obligations.
- LWAY has a better Current ratio (2.30) than 67.82% of its industry peers.
- A Quick Ratio of 1.83 indicates that LWAY should not have too much problems paying its short term obligations.
- The Quick ratio of LWAY (1.83) is better than 83.91% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 2.3 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 1.83 |
3. Growth
3.1 Past
- LWAY shows a strong negative growth in Earnings Per Share. In the last year the EPS decreased by -40.70%.
- The Earnings Per Share has been growing by 81.84% on average over the past years. This is a very strong growth
- LWAY shows quite a strong growth in Revenue. In the last year, the Revenue has grown by 12.14%.
- LWAY shows quite a strong growth in Revenue. Measured over the last years, the Revenue has been growing by 14.80% yearly.
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
- Based on estimates for the next years, LWAY will show a very strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS will grow by 48.76% on average per year.
- Based on estimates for the next years, LWAY will show a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue will grow by 13.02% on average per year.
EPS Next Y82.39%
EPS Next 2Y48.76%
EPS Next 3YN/A
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue Next Year12.86%
Revenue Next 2Y13.02%
Revenue Next 3YN/A
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.
4. Valuation
4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio
- With a Price/Earnings ratio of 42.96, LWAY can be considered very expensive at the moment.
- The rest of the industry has a similar Price/Earnings ratio as LWAY.
- When comparing the Price/Earnings ratio of LWAY to the average of the S&P500 Index (27.38), we can say LWAY is valued expensively.
- The Price/Forward Earnings ratio is 16.78, which indicates a correct valuation of LWAY.
- Compared to the rest of the industry, the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of LWAY indicates a somewhat cheap valuation: LWAY is cheaper than 63.22% of the companies listed in the same industry.
- When comparing the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of LWAY to the average of the S&P500 Index (24.29), we can say LWAY is valued slightly cheaper.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 42.96 | ||
| Fwd PE | 16.78 |
4.2 Price Multiples
- LWAY's Enterprise Value to EBITDA is on the same level as the industry average.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P/FCF | N/A | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 18.25 |
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 48.76% in the coming years. This may justify a more expensive valuation.
PEG (NY)0.52
PEG (5Y)0.52
EPS Next 2Y48.76%
EPS Next 3YN/A
5. Dividend
5.1 Amount
- LWAY does not give a dividend.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0% |
NASDAQ:LWAY (1/20/2026, 11:30:22 AM)
21.91
+0.06 (+0.27%)
Chartmill FA Rating
GICS SectorConsumer Staples
GICS IndustryGroupFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryFood Products
Earnings (Last)11-12 2025-11-12/bmo
Earnings (Next)03-12 2026-03-12/bmo
Inst Owners26.78%
Inst Owner Change0.19%
Ins Owners15.24%
Ins Owner Change-1.94%
Market Cap333.69M
Revenue(TTM)204.07M
Net Income(TTM)11.16M
Analysts82.5
Price Target34.68 (58.28%)
Short Float %5.34%
Short Ratio3.39
Dividend
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0% |
Yearly DividendN/A
Dividend Growth(5Y)N/A
DP0%
Div Incr Years0
Div Non Decr Years0
Ex-DateN/A
Surprises & Revisions
EPS beat(2)1
Avg EPS beat(2)16.52%
Min EPS beat(2)-19.47%
Max EPS beat(2)52.51%
EPS beat(4)1
Avg EPS beat(4)-41.62%
Min EPS beat(4)-104.67%
Max EPS beat(4)52.51%
EPS beat(8)3
Avg EPS beat(8)-23.52%
EPS beat(12)5
Avg EPS beat(12)3.29%
EPS beat(16)N/A
Avg EPS beat(16)N/A
Revenue beat(2)1
Avg Revenue beat(2)0.78%
Min Revenue beat(2)-0.29%
Max Revenue beat(2)1.86%
Revenue beat(4)1
Avg Revenue beat(4)-2.35%
Min Revenue beat(4)-6.83%
Max Revenue beat(4)1.86%
Revenue beat(8)4
Avg Revenue beat(8)-0.74%
Revenue beat(12)7
Avg Revenue beat(12)-0.71%
Revenue beat(16)N/A
Avg Revenue beat(16)N/A
PT rev (1m)0%
PT rev (3m)3.03%
EPS NQ rev (1m)0%
EPS NQ rev (3m)5.36%
EPS NY rev (1m)0%
EPS NY rev (3m)-0.47%
Revenue NQ rev (1m)0%
Revenue NQ rev (3m)1.82%
Revenue NY rev (1m)0%
Revenue NY rev (3m)0.99%
Valuation
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 42.96 | ||
| Fwd PE | 16.78 | ||
| P/S | 1.64 | ||
| P/FCF | N/A | ||
| P/OCF | 41.19 | ||
| P/B | 4.03 | ||
| P/tB | 5.13 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 18.25 |
EPS(TTM)0.51
EY2.33%
EPS(NY)1.31
Fwd EY5.96%
FCF(TTM)-0.19
FCFYN/A
OCF(TTM)0.53
OCFY2.43%
SpS13.4
BVpS5.43
TBVpS4.27
PEG (NY)0.52
PEG (5Y)0.52
Graham Number7.9
Profitability
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | 10.19% | ||
| ROE | 13.48% | ||
| ROCE | 15.24% | ||
| ROIC | 10.12% | ||
| ROICexc | 13.81% | ||
| ROICexgc | 19.17% | ||
| OM | 6.43% | ||
| PM (TTM) | 5.47% | ||
| GM | 26.82% | ||
| FCFM | N/A |
ROA(3y)8.4%
ROA(5y)7.01%
ROE(3y)11.08%
ROE(5y)9.36%
ROIC(3y)10.79%
ROIC(5y)9.06%
ROICexc(3y)13.51%
ROICexc(5y)11.16%
ROICexgc(3y)20.52%
ROICexgc(5y)17.09%
ROCE(3y)16.23%
ROCE(5y)13.64%
ROICexgc growth 3Y19.7%
ROICexgc growth 5YN/A
ROICexc growth 3Y25.21%
ROICexc growth 5YN/A
OM growth 3Y13.75%
OM growth 5YN/A
PM growth 3Y20.36%
PM growth 5Y55.37%
GM growth 3Y2.57%
GM growth 5Y1.97%
F-Score4
Asset Turnover1.86
Health
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0 | ||
| Debt/FCF | N/A | ||
| Debt/EBITDA | 0 | ||
| Cap/Depr | 283.67% | ||
| Cap/Sales | 5.35% | ||
| Interest Coverage | 291.6 | ||
| Cash Conversion | 47.73% | ||
| Profit Quality | N/A | ||
| Current Ratio | 2.3 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 1.83 | ||
| Altman-Z | 11.15 |
F-Score4
WACC8.86%
ROIC/WACC1.14
Cap/Depr(3y)150.52%
Cap/Depr(5y)115.42%
Cap/Sales(3y)2.91%
Cap/Sales(5y)2.44%
Profit Quality(3y)80.06%
Profit Quality(5y)98.16%
High Growth Momentum
Growth
EPS 1Y (TTM)-40.7%
EPS 3Y39.44%
EPS 5Y81.84%
EPS Q2Q%21.05%
EPS Next Y82.39%
EPS Next 2Y48.76%
EPS Next 3YN/A
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue 1Y (TTM)12.14%
Revenue growth 3Y16.19%
Revenue growth 5Y14.8%
Sales Q2Q%23.97%
Revenue Next Year12.86%
Revenue Next 2Y13.02%
Revenue Next 3YN/A
Revenue Next 5YN/A
EBIT growth 1Y-30.54%
EBIT growth 3Y32.17%
EBIT growth 5YN/A
EBIT Next Year39.88%
EBIT Next 3YN/A
EBIT Next 5YN/A
FCF growth 1Y-133.24%
FCF growth 3Y19.84%
FCF growth 5Y18.96%
OCF growth 1Y-35.13%
OCF growth 3Y32.6%
OCF growth 5Y27.75%
LIFEWAY FOODS INC / LWAY FAQ
What is the ChartMill fundamental rating of LIFEWAY FOODS INC (LWAY) stock?
ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 7 / 10 to LWAY.
What is the valuation status for LWAY stock?
ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 5 / 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 42.96 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 4.03.
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%.