Alico, Inc. (ALCO) vs Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY)
A side-by-side comparison of Alico, Inc. and Lifeway Foods, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of October 6, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
ALCO
Alico, Inc.
$38.47Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Oct 6, 2026, 10:59 AM EDT
LWAY
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
$20.83Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Oct 6, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT
Total return — ALCO vs LWAY
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yALCO +68.3% (+5.3%/yr)LWAY +18.6% (+1.7%/yr)ALCO compounded faster over this window
ALCO LWAY
ALCO vs LWAY: by the numbers
- •LWAY is the larger company ($318M vs $285M market cap).
- •LWAY trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (29.82 vs 183.19 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •ALCO converts more revenue to profit (8.98% vs 4.48% net margin).
- •LWAY grew revenue faster over the past five years (17.09% vs -31.04% CAGR).
- •ALCO pays a dividend (0.52% yield), while LWAY is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | ALCO | LWAY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 183.19 | 29.82 |
| Forward P/E | N/A | 40.07 |
| PEG ratio | N/A | 0.89 |
| P/S ratio | 16.72 | 1.31 |
| P/B ratio | 2.72 | 3.76 |
| EV / EBITDA | N/A | 16.69 |
Profitability
| Metric | ALCO | LWAY |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | -436.15% | 26.01% |
| Operating margin | -462.72% | 6.49% |
| Net margin | 8.98% | 4.48% |
| ROE | 1.46% | 12.85% |
| ROIC | -12.29% | 10.06% |
Dividends
| Metric | ALCO | LWAY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 0.52% | N/A |
| Payout ratio | 95.24% | N/A |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | ALCO | LWAY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -31.04% | 17.09% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 34.09% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 3.91% | 30.78% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, ALCO or LWAY?
- LWAY has the lower trailing P/E: ALCO trades at 183.19 and LWAY at 29.82. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, ALCO or LWAY?
- Over the past five years, LWAY grew revenue faster — ALCO at a -31.04% CAGR versus LWAY at 17.09%.
- Does ALCO or LWAY pay a bigger dividend?
- ALCO pays a dividend (0.52% yield), while LWAY is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
- Is ALCO or LWAY more profitable?
- ALCO runs the higher net margin — ALCO at 8.98% versus LWAY at 4.48%.
- How have ALCO and LWAY total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, ALCO delivered 5.33% and LWAY delivered 3.30% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Alico P/E ratioLifeway Foods P/E ratioAlico dividend yieldAlico ROELifeway Foods ROEAlico operating marginLifeway Foods operating marginAlico revenue growthLifeway Foods revenue growthAlico free cash flowLifeway Foods free cash flow
Alico & Lifeway Foods appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified October 6, 2026.