tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Lamar Advertising Company (LAMR)
NASDAQ:LAMR

Lamar Advertising (LAMR) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
461 Followers

Top Page

LAMR

Lamar Advertising

(NASDAQ:LAMR)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Outperform 75 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$152.00
▲(10.35% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/27/26
The score is driven primarily by strong cash flow and high margins, reinforced by positive earnings-call guidance (AFFO growth and record margin outlook) and constructive technical momentum. Offsetting factors are leverage-related balance-sheet risk and a valuation that is supported by the dividend but not especially cheap on P/E.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation & margins
Lamar generates consistently robust operating cash flow and high free cash flow, which supports recurring dividends, buybacks and M&A without relying on equity raises. Durable cash conversion and elevated EBITDA margins underpin long-term ability to fund capital allocation and weather cyclical ad demand.
Digital and programmatic momentum
Rapid digital buildout and strong programmatic growth increase revenue per site and enable multiple advertisers per display. This structural shift to digital OOH supports higher yields, faster ad rotation, and recurring programmatic demand, creating a durable earnings uplift versus static inventory.
Active M&A and available investment capacity
A proven acquisition cadence and >$1B deployable capacity allow Lamar to grow inventory, capture high-return local assets and drive scale. Disciplined bolt-on M&A plus integration experience offers a repeatable path to revenue and margin expansion when organic occupancy is constrained.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage
Capital structure is meaningfully leveraged, raising sensitivity to interest-rate moves and refinancing cycles. High leverage can constrain flexibility for opportunistic investment, increase interest expense volatility, and magnify downside in an ad revenue slowdown despite strong ROE supported by leverage.
Limited organic volume upside (peak occupancy)
With occupancy near peak, organic growth must come largely from price increases and product mix rather than adding faces. That structural constraint limits volume-driven revenue growth, places more reliance on pricing power and M&A, and heightens exposure to demand elasticity in slower ad cycles.
Persistent operating expense pressures
Elevated health-insurance costs and multi-year ERP/technology investments are driving structural operating-cost increases. Even modest OpEx creep erodes margin gains from pricing or digital mix improvements and can compress free cash flow if sustained, limiting the pace of deleveraging or excess returns to shareholders.

Lamar Advertising (LAMR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Lamar Advertising Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFounded in 1902, Lamar Advertising (Nasdaq: LAMR) is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in North America, with over 352,000 displays across the United States and Canada. Lamar offers advertisers a variety of billboard, interstate logo, transit and airport advertising formats, helping both local businesses and national brands reach broad audiences every day. In addition to its more traditional out-of-home inventory, Lamar is proud to offer its customers the largest network of digital billboards in the United States with approximately 3,800 displays.
How the Company Makes MoneyLamar Advertising generates revenue primarily through leasing advertising space on its extensive network of billboards, digital displays, and transit advertising locations. The company's revenue model is based on long-term contracts with advertisers who pay for the right to display their advertisements for specified periods. Key revenue streams include traditional static billboard advertising, digital billboard advertising which allows for rotating ads and real-time updates, and transit advertising on buses and shelters. Additionally, Lamar benefits from partnerships with local municipalities and transit authorities, which can provide exclusive advertising rights in certain locations. Seasonal advertising campaigns and promotional events also contribute to its earnings, as businesses often seek to increase visibility during peak shopping times or special events.

Lamar Advertising Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Type
Revenue by Type
Shows how revenue is generated across different segments, highlighting which areas drive growth and profitability, and indicating potential shifts in business focus or market demand.
Chart InsightsLamar Advertising's revenue growth is driven by strong performance in the Billboard segment, which continues to rise, supported by a 5% increase in digital billing. Despite challenges in local revenue growth and a decline in political advertising, the company remains optimistic about future prospects, buoyed by successful M&A activity and strategic capital market transactions. The focus on digital expansion and acquisition strategy suggests a robust approach to sustaining growth, with political advertising expected to provide additional momentum in 2026.
Data provided by:The Fly

Lamar Advertising Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 20, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed a largely positive message: Lamar delivered revenue and AFFO growth, exceeded revised guidance, expanded margins, demonstrated strong digital and programmatic momentum, maintained a healthy balance sheet and active M&A pipeline, and increased the dividend. Headwinds included political advertising volatility (a 2025 drag that should reverse in 2026 but is back-loaded), notable declines in telecom and beverage verticals, and expense pressures from healthcare and ERP initiatives. On balance, the positives (guidance beat, margin expansion, digital/programmatic strength, strong liquidity and M&A activity) outweigh the negatives, though management remains cautious about expense inflation and political timing.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Exceeded Full-Year AFFO Guidance and Grew AFFO
Fiscal 2025 diluted AFFO per share was $8.26, above the high end of the revised guidance; full-year diluted AFFO per share increased 3.4% year-over-year. Q4 diluted AFFO per share was $2.24, up 1.4% versus Q4 2024. Management provided 2026 AFFO guidance of $8.50 to $8.70 per share (guidance range implying 2.9%–5.4% growth vs. 2024; midpoint implies ~4.1% AFFO per share growth).
Top-Line Growth and Margin Expansion
Excluding political, Q4 revenues grew more than 4% on an acquisition-adjusted basis (Sean: ex-political Q4 pro forma growth 4.3%). Full-year acquisition-adjusted revenue increased 2.1% to $2.27 billion. Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin was 48.5%, expanding 40 basis points year-over-year; full-year adjusted EBITDA margin was 46.7% and the midpoint of 2026 guidance implies consolidated operating margins above 47% (company's best-ever).
Strong Adjusted EBITDA and December Outperformance
Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $288.9 million, up 3.7% year-over-year (2.1% on an acquisition-adjusted basis). December outperformed with acquisition-adjusted revenue growth of almost 6% and acquisition-adjusted EBITDA increasing 13.5% for the month, driving outperformance versus internal expectations.
Digital and Programmatic Momentum
Added 111 digital units in Q4 to end the year with 5,553 operating digital units (559 net additions year-over-year). Same-store digital revenue increased 3.7% in Q4. Digital represented 33.7% of the book in Q4 and 31.6% for the full year. Programmatic revenue grew ~18.7%–19% year-over-year in Q4.
Active M&A Program and Integration Success
Completed 50 acquisitions in 2025 for approximately $191 million in cash (13 in Q4 for ~$57 million). Verde UPREIT transaction closed and integrations are progressing well. Management expects an active M&A year in 2026 and has already completed 7 acquisitions since Jan 1 for ~$40 million, targeting at least a similar cash acquisition cadence (~$200M) in 2026.
Healthy Balance Sheet and Liquidity Position
Total consolidated debt of approximately $3.4 billion with a weighted average interest rate of 4.5% and weighted average debt maturity of 4.6 years. Net leverage (as defined under credit facility) was 2.92x net debt to EBITDA (near company lows); secured debt leverage 0.6x. Total liquidity just over $800 million (cash $64.8M + $742.2M revolver available). Management estimates investment capacity well over $1 billion.
Disciplined Capital Allocation and Dividend Increase
2025 regular cash dividend totaled $6.20 ($1.55 per quarter). Management proposed a $1.60 Q1 dividend and expects to distribute $6.40 for 2026 (annualized Q1 dividend implies a ~4.8% yield at the prior close). Full-year CapEx for 2025 was $180.8M (maintenance CapEx $57.3M), and Q4 CapEx was ~$63M (maintenance $20.8M).
Negative Updates
Political Advertising Headwind in 2025
Political advertising was a drag in Q4 and for the full year: political was down about $11 million in Q4 versus 2024 and the difference between 2024 and 2025 political was a little less than $20 million for the year. Management expects this dynamic to reverse in 2026 but the timing and magnitude typically back-load into the second half of the year.
Significant Weakness in Select Vertical Categories
Telecommunications advertising declined ~10% in Q4 (represents ~2% of the book). Beverages (beer & wine) declined ~20% in Q4 (represents ~1.5% of the book) and showed similar weakness for the full year, creating concentrated pressure in those verticals.
Expense Pressures from Healthcare and ERP
Management expects acquisition-adjusted operating expenses to increase ~3% in 2026 (cash OpEx guidance ~3%), modestly higher than a historical ~2.5% run rate. Contributing factors include elevated health insurance costs (high single-digit growth on the health care line) and ERP/technology spend; corporate expense growth should moderate below 2% later in the year as ERP phases complete.
Peak Occupancy Limits Volume Upside
Management noted that the portfolio is at 'peak average annual occupancy,' meaning future revenue gains will be driven primarily by rate (pricing) rather than meaningful increases in inventory/occupancy, which could limit organic volume growth.
Noncash ARO Volatility Impacted Comparability
Depreciation and amortization decreased by $151.3 million in Q4 2025 after a large 2024 increase driven by a revised asset retirement obligation (ARO) estimate. While Q4 2025 normalization is positive, it underscores noncash volatility from ARO revisions that complicate year-over-year comparability.
Company Guidance
Lamar guided full-year AFFO of $8.50–$8.70 per share (midpoint implying ~4.1% YoY AFFO per share growth; management said the range represents ~2.9%–5.4% growth versus 2024), with acquisition‑adjusted revenue growth of roughly 3.5%–3.6% and acquisition‑adjusted operating expenses rising about 3% (or “modestly slower than revenue”); the midpoint also implies consolidated operating margins north of 47% (a company record). The guidance assumes cash interest of $154 million (SOFR flat), maintenance CapEx of ~$64 million, cash taxes of ~$10 million, and reflects a dividend plan of $1.60 for Q1 (a $6.40 regular cash dividend for 2026; Q1 annualized yield ~4.8% at yesterday’s close); balance‑sheet metrics cited alongside the guidance include ~ $3.4 billion total debt at a 4.5% weighted average rate, weighted average debt maturity of 4.6 years, net leverage of 2.92x ND/EBITDA, ~$800 million total liquidity ($64.8M cash, $742.2M revolver), and a $250M AR securitization outstanding, with management saying they retain >$1 billion of investment capacity and can deploy capital while remaining at or below their 3.5–4.0x target leverage range.

Lamar Advertising Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong profitability and cash generation (high EBITDA margins and consistently robust operating/free cash flow) support the score. The main offset is balance-sheet risk: leverage is elevated per the balance-sheet analysis, increasing sensitivity to rates and asset-value swings, and earnings have shown some volatility.
Income Statement
78
Positive
LAMR shows strong profitability with consistently high gross and EBITDA margins (TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) EBITDA margin ~47%) and improving net margin versus 2024. Revenue growth is modest in the annual period (low-to-mid single digits in 2023–2024), but the TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data indicates a sharp acceleration in revenue growth. A key weakness is earnings volatility: net income dropped in 2024 versus 2023, even as revenue rose, before rebounding in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months).
Balance Sheet
52
Neutral
The balance sheet is leveraged, with debt-to-equity consistently around ~3.4–4.4x across the annual periods (elevated for financial flexibility). Equity is relatively stable but does not meaningfully de-risk the capital structure. Return on equity is strong (mid-30% to low-40% range, including TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months)), which is a positive, but it is partly supported by high leverage, increasing sensitivity to refinancing costs and asset-value swings.
Cash Flow
84
Very Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength: operating cash flow is consistently robust (~$570M to ~$874M annually) and free cash flow remains high and stable, supporting dividends/deleveraging capacity. Cash conversion is healthy, with operating cash flow generally exceeding net income and free cash flow covering a large portion of earnings. The main watch item is variability in free cash flow growth (including a small decline in 2023 and outsized swings in other periods), though overall levels remain strong.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.27B2.21B2.11B2.03B1.79B
Gross Profit866.53M1.48B1.41B1.36B1.21B
EBITDA1.10B1.00B974.55M933.06M775.02M
Net Income587.15M361.87M495.76M438.65M388.09M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.93B6.59B6.56B6.48B6.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments64.81M49.46M44.60M52.62M99.79M
Total Debt6.18B4.56B4.64B4.57B4.23B
Total Liabilities5.91B5.54B5.35B5.28B4.83B
Stockholders Equity1.01B1.05B1.22B1.20B1.22B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow736.01M748.33M605.34M614.53M608.33M
Operating Cash Flow864.05M873.61M783.61M781.61M734.42M
Investing Cash Flow-244.63M-164.91M-310.12M-619.07M-461.76M
Financing Cash Flow-604.32M-703.42M-481.63M-209.32M-294.52M

Lamar Advertising Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price137.74
Price Trends
50DMA
129.77
Positive
100DMA
126.42
Positive
200DMA
122.81
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.74
Negative
RSI
65.74
Neutral
STOCH
87.80
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LAMR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 137.74 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 132.31, above the 50-day MA of 129.77, and above the 200-day MA of 122.81, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.74 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.74 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.80 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for LAMR.

Lamar Advertising Risk Analysis

Lamar Advertising disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lamar Advertising reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Lamar Advertising Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$4.55B18.117.05%2.93%-0.87%
75
Outperform
$13.95B23.8657.04%4.90%3.04%-14.88%
65
Neutral
$2.17B12.193.79%4.94%3.15%1.96%
63
Neutral
$5.07B35.1319.88%5.02%-1.48%-50.05%
* Real Estate Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LAMR
Lamar Advertising
137.74
20.03
17.01%
EPR
EPR Properties
59.41
9.72
19.57%
OUT
Outfront Media
28.81
11.38
65.26%

Lamar Advertising Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividends
Lamar Advertising Extends Buyback Programs, Declares Quarterly Dividend
Positive
Feb 26, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Lamar Advertising announced its board had declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.60 per share, payable on March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 16. The move underscored the company’s ongoing capital return strategy and signaled continued confidence in cash generation.

On the same date, the board extended Lamar’s stock and debt repurchase programs, each authorizing up to $250 million of buybacks, through September 30, 2027. With $250 million still available under the enlarged $400 million stock plan and no debt repurchases yet executed, the extension increases flexibility for balance sheet management and potential shareholder value enhancement.

The most recent analyst rating on (LAMR) stock is a Hold with a $140.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lamar Advertising stock, see the LAMR Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Lamar Advertising Declares Quarterly and Special Dividends
Positive
Dec 11, 2025

On December 11, 2025, Lamar Advertising Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.55 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share, both payable on December 31, 2025, to stockholders of record on December 22, 2025. This announcement reflects the company’s continued commitment to providing value to its shareholders and may enhance its attractiveness to investors by offering a competitive return on investment.

The most recent analyst rating on (LAMR) stock is a Buy with a $145.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lamar Advertising stock, see the LAMR Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 27, 2026