B&G Foods (BGS) vs Lifeway Foods (LWAY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Lifeway Foods (LWAY) has outperformed B&G Foods (BGS) over the past year, losing 21.1% versus a loss of 37.6%. Over five years, LWAY leads with a +280.0% price change compared with -90.9% for BGS. Lifeway Foods is the larger company by market cap ($336.3 million vs $197.1 million), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, B&G Foods trades at a lower forward P/E (4.7x vs 16.5x for Lifeway Foods). B&G Foods pays a dividend yielding 27.42%, while Lifeway Foods does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BGS | LWAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $2.43 | $22.26 |
| Market cap | $197.09M | $336.28M |
| 1-day change | -7.44% | +5.55% |
| YTD return | -39.07% | -12.96% |
| 1-year return | -37.62% | -21.07% |
| 5-year return | -90.91% | +280.00% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 32.26 |
| Forward P/E | 4.70 | 16.49 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.88 | $0.69 |
| Dividend yield | 27.42% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.665 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $6.38 | $32.71 |
| 52-week low | $2.40 | $17.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -61.99% | -31.95% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +77.32% | +48.25% |
| Average volume | 2.28M | 148.54K |
| Shares outstanding | 81.28M | 15.11M |
| Employees | 2,294 | 293 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Packaged Foods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- LWAY has outperformed BGS by 16.5 percentage points over the past year.
- B&G Foods offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (27.42% vs 0.00%).
About B&G Foods
BGS stock →B&G Foods, Inc. manufactures, sells, and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen foods, and household products in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 2,294 employees
About Lifeway Foods
LWAY stock →Lifeway Foods, Inc. produces and markets probiotic-based products in North America.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 293 employees
BGS vs LWAY FAQ
Which is bigger, B&G Foods or Lifeway Foods?
Lifeway Foods (LWAY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $336.28M compared with $197.09M for B&G Foods (BGS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BGS or LWAY?
LWAY returned -21.07% over the past 12 months, compared with -37.62% for BGS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, B&G Foods or Lifeway Foods?
B&G Foods pays a dividend yielding 27.42%, while Lifeway Foods does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are B&G Foods and Lifeway Foods in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Staples sector.