Lifeway Foods (LWAY)
Makes kefir-led cultured dairy products for U.S. grocery and distributor channels.
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Produces a kefir-led cultured dairy portfolio, including drinkable kefir, soft cheeses, drinkable yogurt and children's ProBugs products. The business reports as one segment, sells mainly through a common U.S. distributor and retailer network, and depends on customer concentration and governance arrangements shaped by Danone's ownership role.
Centers on drinkable kefir, the cultured dairy product the founder introduced to U.S. consumers at commercial scale. The portfolio also includes European-style soft cheeses, cream and other dairy, drinkable yogurt, ProBugs products for children, and Fresh Made butter and sour cream.
Runs as one reportable segment, with products made through common processes and sold through a shared U.S. distributor and retailer network. Illinois and Wisconsin facilities operate under food-safety and quality-management programs.
Execution depends on keeping kefir relevant beside yogurt, drinkable dairy and non-dairy probiotic products competing for shelf space. Customer concentration and Danone's board-and-ownership settlement shape the public-company structure around the Smolyansky-led business.
Company facts
Target rangeAs of Sep 21, 2026
Latest analyst notes
| Date | Firm | Action | Prior | Current |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2026 | BTIG | Initiate | Rating: —Target: — | Target: $32 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Freedom Broker | Upgrade | ||
| May 15, 2026 | Freedom Broker | Downgrade | ||
| Jan 14, 2026 | Morgan Stanley | Target | Target: — | Target: $35 |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Noble Capital Markets | Downgrade |
EPSReportedEstimate
RevenueReportedEstimate
Balance sheet, Jun 30, 2026Cash & short-term investments $7.1M · Total debt $22.6M · Total assets $132.4M · Shareholders' equity $84.6M
- Revenue
- $66.9M
- Operating income
- $600.0K
- Net income
- $127.0K
No dividends on record.
| Institutions | 54.73% | 8.27M shares | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 holders · as of Jun 30, 2026 | |||
| Insiders | 35.47% | 5.36M shares | |
| 10 holders · as of Sep 2, 2026 | |||
| Other | 9.80% | 1.48M shares | |
| remainder | |||
15.11M company shares as of Sep 22, 2026 · institutions as of Jun 30, 2026 · holders as of their latest filing
Top shareholders13F · 13D/G · Form 4
| Holder | Stake | Shares | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Edward Smolyansky1Insider10 percent owner | 16.46% | 2.96M | filed Aug 14, 2026 |
Julie SmolyanskyInsiderdirector, 10 percent owner, officer: CEO, President and Secretary | 14.69% | 2.22M | filed Aug 19, 2026 |
Divisadero Street Capital Management, LPInstitution | 13.91% | 2.10M | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
Citadel Advisors LLCInstitution | 6.16% | 930,109 | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
Wellington Management Group LLPInstitution | 3.87% | 585,100 | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
- Edward Smolyansky's transaction reports restate only vehicles that traded; the 2026 ownership statement (2.96M) less the 474.0K net shares sold since is used instead.
Insider tradesForm 4
| Date | Insider | Role | Shares | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 2026 | Julie Smolyansky | director, 10 percent owner, officer: CEO, President and Secretary | +2,000 | $25.26 |
| Aug 17, 2026 | Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP | 10 percent owner | +35,952 | $24.78 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP | 10 percent owner | +15,000 | $24.69 |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP | 10 percent owner | +195,616 | $24.87 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Edward Smolyansky | 10 percent owner | −75,000 | $25.45 |
- The Hain Celestial Group
Natural-channel yogurt peer through The Greek Gods brand
- Coca-Cola
Functional dairy and protein beverages through fairlife
- PepsiCo
Non-dairy probiotic beverages via KeVita water kefir
Compare
| Company | Price | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeway Foods | $23.75 | +0.43% | $361.4M | 33.9 | 29.7 | 1.5 | +24.1% |
| The Hain Celestial Group | $0.5804 | +4.97% | $49.9M | — | 24.0 | 0.0 | −28.5% |
| Coca-Cola | $88.23 | +1.27% | $374.84B | 26.2 | 26.0 | 7.5 | +6.7% |
| PepsiCo | $130.52 | +0.72% | $177.02B | 17.0 | 15.0 | 1.8 | +6.4% |
| Median | 21.6 | 24.0 | 1.8 | +6.4% |