Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY) Financial Ratios
30 years of historical data (1996–2025) · Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods
EV/EBITDA
↑
19.03
↑+29% vs avg
5yr avg: 14.77
30Y Low8.1·High91.8
P/FCF
↑
N/A
—
5yr avg: 64.65
30Y Low11.6·High162.1
P/B Ratio
↑
4.60
↑+41% vs avg
5yr avg: 3.26
30Y Low0.7·High8.0
ROE
↑
17.6%
↓+44% vs avg
5yr avg: 12.2%
30Y Low-7%·High21%
Debt/EBITDA
↓
0.02
↓-95% vs avg
5yr avg: 0.46
30Y Low0.0·High16.3
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
LWAY Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
Lifeway Foods, Inc. trades at 28.6x earnings, 30% below its 5-year average of 40.7x, sitting at the 39th percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Consumer Defensive sector median P/E of 18.8x, the stock trades at a premium of 52%.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $389M | $377M | $379M | $203M | $87M | $73M | $85M | $31M | $31M | $129M | $186M |
| Enterprise Value | $384M | $371M | $362M | $192M | $89M | $71M | $80M | $31M | $34M | $130M | $184M |
| P/E Ratio → | 28.57 | 27.22 | 42.03 | 17.88 | 94.39 | 21.90 | 25.76 | 69.34 | — | — | 52.32 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.83 | 1.77 | 2.03 | 1.26 | 0.62 | 0.61 | 0.84 | 0.34 | 0.30 | 1.08 | 1.50 |
| P/B Ratio | 4.60 | 4.39 | 5.26 | 3.35 | 1.83 | 1.48 | 1.82 | 0.73 | 0.72 | 2.77 | 3.85 |
| P/FCF | — | — | 60.43 | 16.09 | 162.15 | 19.92 | 19.00 | 11.94 | — | — | 99.63 |
| P/OCF | 35.50 | 34.39 | 29.21 | 11.96 | 21.88 | 13.04 | 13.36 | 8.25 | 12.69 | 33.83 | 36.44 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
LWAY EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s enterprise value stands at 19.0x EBITDA, 29% above its 5-year average of 14.8x. The Consumer Defensive sector median is 11.0x, placing the stock at a 73% premium on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 1.75 | 1.94 | 1.20 | 0.63 | 0.59 | 0.79 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 1.09 | 1.49 |
| EV / EBITDA | 19.03 | 18.43 | 21.00 | 9.54 | 16.81 | 8.09 | 9.86 | 22.16 | 91.76 | 50.33 | 20.24 |
| EV / EBIT | 23.71 | 22.97 | 25.72 | 11.29 | 42.44 | 12.35 | 16.27 | 20.98 | — | — | 31.47 |
| EV / FCF | — | — | 57.78 | 15.27 | 166.30 | 19.44 | 17.92 | 11.82 | — | — | 98.72 |
LWAY Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Lifeway Foods, Inc. earns an operating margin of 7.6%, above the Consumer Defensive sector average of 3.5%. Operating margins have compressed from 10.6% to 7.6% over the past 3 years, signaling potential cost pressures or competitive headwinds. ROE of 17.6% indicates solid capital efficiency, compared to the sector median of 6.5%. ROIC of 17.8% represents solid returns on invested capital versus a sector median of 5.7%.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 27.4% | 27.4% | 26.0% | 26.5% | 18.9% | 24.1% | 26.4% | 23.6% | 25.0% | 25.8% | 28.3% |
| Operating Margin | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.4% | 10.6% | 1.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% | -2.1% | -3.0% | -0.4% | 4.9% |
| Net Profit Margin | 6.5% | 6.5% | 4.8% | 7.1% | 0.7% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 0.5% | -3.0% | -0.3% | 2.8% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 17.6% | 17.6% | 13.6% | 21.0% | 1.9% | 6.9% | 7.2% | 1.1% | -6.9% | -0.7% | 7.4% |
| ROA | 14.1% | 14.1% | 10.4% | 15.0% | 1.3% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 0.8% | -5.1% | -0.5% | 5.3% |
| ROIC | 17.8% | 17.8% | 19.7% | 25.5% | 3.6% | 9.9% | 8.7% | -3.3% | -5.0% | -0.8% | 9.7% |
| ROCE | 19.7% | 19.7% | 19.6% | 27.9% | 4.1% | 10.4% | 9.6% | -3.9% | -6.2% | -1.0% | 11.0% |
LWAY Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
Lifeway Foods, Inc. carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 0.0x, which is very conservative (99% below the sector average of 3.5x). The company holds a net cash position — cash of $6M exceeds total debt of $466000, providing substantial financial flexibility for buybacks, acquisitions, or weathering downturns. Interest coverage of 210.0x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.05 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.15 | 1.26 | 0.85 | 0.38 | 2.50 | 16.34 | 2.43 | 0.78 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | -0.06 | -0.23 | -0.17 | 0.05 | -0.04 | -0.10 | -0.01 | 0.07 | 0.03 | -0.04 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.25 | -0.25 | -0.96 | -0.51 | 0.42 | -0.20 | -0.59 | -0.23 | 8.17 | 0.50 | -0.19 |
| Debt / FCF | — | — | -2.65 | -0.82 | 4.15 | -0.49 | -1.07 | -0.12 | — | — | -0.91 |
| Interest Coverage | 210.03 | 210.03 | 134.04 | 44.36 | 7.90 | 49.41 | 41.92 | 5.96 | -11.22 | -2.32 | 26.62 |
Net cash position: cash ($6M) exceeds total debt ($466000)
LWAY Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s current ratio of 2.23x is well above the 1.0 safety threshold, indicating strong short-term liquidity with ample room to cover current liabilities. The quick ratio of 1.51x is notably lower than the current ratio, indicating a significant portion of current assets is tied up in inventory. The current ratio has declined from 2.30x to 2.23x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 2.23 | 2.23 | 2.81 | 2.30 | 2.07 | 2.41 | 2.85 | 2.02 | 2.54 | 1.87 | 3.01 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.51 | 1.51 | 2.25 | 1.75 | 1.33 | 1.72 | 2.03 | 1.34 | 1.76 | 1.29 | 2.15 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 | 1.08 | 0.79 | 0.34 | 0.77 | 0.94 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.38 | 0.94 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 2.01 | 2.06 | 1.94 | 2.05 | 1.66 | 1.64 | 1.60 | 1.82 | 1.84 | 1.88 |
| Inventory Turnover | 12.98 | 12.98 | 15.93 | 12.93 | 11.92 | 10.91 | 10.84 | 11.19 | 13.32 | 11.46 | 11.05 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 28.59 | 31.37 | 31.63 | 29.43 | 31.50 | 28.74 | 28.73 | 31.87 | 33.84 | 29.18 |
LWAY Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Lifeway Foods, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend and has no material buyback yield, reinvesting earnings back into the business. The earnings yield of 3.5% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 3.5% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 5.6% | 1.1% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 1.4% | — | — | 1.9% |
| FCF Yield | — | — | 1.7% | 6.2% | 0.6% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 8.4% | — | — | 1.0% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.6% | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 4.5% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.6% | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 4.5% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $16M | $15M | $15M | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M |
Peer Comparison
Compare LWAY with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LWAYYou | $389M | 28.6 | 19.0 | — | 27.4% | 7.6% | 17.6% | 17.8% | 0.0 |
 JJSF | $1B | 22.2 | 9.4 | 17.2 | 29.7% | 5.3% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 1.0 |
 NWFL | $284M | 10.2 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 63.6% | 26.1% | 12.2% | 7.3% | 2.0 |
 SMPL | $1B | 12.4 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 35.1% | 15.1% | 5.9% | 8.1% | 1.3 |
 FRPT | $3B | 20.8 | 16.4 | 218.4 | 38.6% | 8.6% | 12.3% | 5.3% | 3.1 |
 HAIN | $55M | -0.1 | 8.2 | — | 21.0% | 3.6% | -74.9% | 2.9% | 8.2 |
 GRWG | $96M | -4.0 | — | — | 19.8% | -15.0% | -22.1% | -16.1% | — |
 NOMD | $1B | 9.6 | 7.4 | 4.9 | 27.1% | 10.7% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 5.3 |
 COKE | $15B | 26.7 | 15.3 | 24.3 | 39.7% | 13.2% | 168.3% | 34.2% | 2.6 |
 SYY | $38B | 21.1 | 12.2 | 21.2 | 18.4% | 3.8% | 97.5% | 15.7% | 3.5 |
 UNFI | $3B | -26.4 | 22.5 | 13.1 | 13.3% | -0.1% | -7.4% | -0.5% | 11.9 |
| Consumer Defensive Median | — | 18.8 | 11.0 | 15.3 | 40.8% | 3.5% | 6.5% | 5.7% | 3.5 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
Download Financial Ratios Data
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
Check Valuation
Historical Returns
10-year return with dividends reinvested.
Calculate
DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Run Numbers
Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
Compare
LWAY — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying LWAY stock.
What is Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s P/E ratio?
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 28.6x. The historical average is 45.4x. This places it at the 39th percentile of its historical range.
What is Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s EV/EBITDA?
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 19.0x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 22.6x.
What is Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s ROE?
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 17.6%. The historical average is 10.7%.
Is LWAY stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, Lifeway Foods, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 28.6x. This is at the 39th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What are Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s profit margins?
Lifeway Foods, Inc. has 27.4% gross margin and 7.6% operating margin.
How much debt does Lifeway Foods, Inc. have?
Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 0.0x, indicating low leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.