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Lazard (LAZ)
NYSE:LAZ

Lazard (LAZ) AI Stock Analysis

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LAZ

Lazard

(NYSE:LAZ)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
$55.00
▲(8.85% Upside)
Lazard's overall score is driven by strong earnings call performance and technical indicators suggesting short-term bullish momentum. However, financial performance is hindered by high leverage and declining revenue growth, and valuation metrics indicate potential overvaluation. The positive earnings call sentiment and strategic expansions are key strengths, while financial stability remains a concern.
Positive Factors
Record Financial Advisory Revenue
The record revenue in financial advisory indicates strong demand for Lazard's services, enhancing its market position and long-term growth potential.
Significant Increase in AUM
The significant increase in AUM reflects effective asset management strategies, boosting revenue potential and client trust over the long term.
Strategic Expansions
The addition of new managing directors strengthens Lazard's advisory capabilities, supporting strategic growth and competitive advantage.
Negative Factors
High Debt-to-Equity Ratio
A high debt-to-equity ratio indicates financial risk, potentially limiting Lazard's flexibility in pursuing growth opportunities.
Declining Revenue Growth
Declining revenue growth suggests challenges in maintaining market share and could impact future profitability and expansion efforts.
Decline in Free Cash Flow Growth
A decline in free cash flow growth may constrain Lazard's ability to invest in new opportunities and sustain long-term growth.

Lazard (LAZ) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Lazard Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLazard Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial advisory and asset management firm in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. It operates in two segments, Financial Advisory and Asset Management. The Financial Advisory segment offers various financial advisory services regarding mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, capital advisory, shareholder advisory, capital raising, sovereign advisory, and other strategic advisory matters. This segment serves corporate, partnership, institutional, government, sovereign, and individual clients across various industry areas, including consumers, financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences, industrials, power and energy/infrastructure, and real estate, as well as technology, telecommunication, and media and entertainment. The Asset Management segment offers a range of investment solutions, and investment and wealth management services in equity and fixed income strategies; asset allocation strategies; and alternative investments and private equity funds to corporations, public funds, sovereign entities, endowments and foundations, labor funds, financial intermediaries, and private clients. The company was founded in 1848 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
How the Company Makes MoneyLazard generates revenue primarily through its Financial Advisory and Asset Management services. In the Financial Advisory segment, the company earns fees from advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and capital raising activities, which are typically contingent on successful transactions. The Asset Management division generates management fees based on the asset base of its clients, as well as performance fees tied to investment returns. Key revenue streams include advisory fees from high-profile transactions, management fees from institutional and retail clients, and performance fees from outperforming investment funds. Additionally, Lazard benefits from strategic partnerships and alliances that enhance its advisory capabilities and expand its client base, further contributing to its earnings.

Lazard Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Financial Advisory with Fees Greater than 1M
Financial Advisory with Fees Greater than 1M
Focuses on high-value advisory deals, indicating the firm's ability to secure and manage large, lucrative projects that can significantly impact overall profitability.
Chart InsightsLazard's Financial Advisory segment is showing signs of recovery, with a notable uptick in fees greater than $1M in late 2024 and mid-2025. This aligns with the earnings call highlighting record revenue and increased private capital engagement, which now accounts for over 40% of advisory revenue. The strategic focus on private equity and talent acquisition is driving this growth, despite challenges like a higher tax rate and compensation expenses. Investors should watch for continued momentum in private capital and M&A activities as Lazard invests in long-term growth.
Data provided by:The Fly

Lazard Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 23, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance, particularly in financial advisory and asset management segments, with record revenues and positive net inflows. However, there are concerns about the potential impact of a U.S. government shutdown on deal timings and ongoing challenges with sub-advised funds. Overall, the positive aspects notably outweigh the negatives.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Financial Advisory Revenue
Financial advisory revenue reached a record $1.3 billion for the first 9 months of 2025, reflecting strong M&A activity across healthcare, industrials, and consumer sectors.
Asset Management Revenue Growth
Asset Management revenue for the first 9 months of the year totaled $827 million with a year-over-year increase of 8% in the third quarter.
Significant Increase in AUM
Total Assets Under Management (AUM) up 17% year-to-date, reaching $265 billion by September 30, 2025, with a net inflow of $4.6 billion in the third quarter.
Expansion in Financial Advisory
20 new Managing Directors joined Lazard this year, enhancing the firm's advisory capabilities across various sectors and regions.
Positive Flow in Asset Management
Net positive flows of $1.6 billion year-to-date with significant inflows into quantitative and emerging market strategies.
Improved Compensation Ratio
Compensation expense ratio reduced to 65.5% from 66% in the same quarter last year, indicating improved efficiency.
Negative Updates
Potential Impact of U.S. Government Shutdown
Concerns that a U.S. government shutdown could delay deal approvals, affecting the timing of financial advisory activities.
Challenges with Sub-Advised Funds
Continued outflows from sub-advised funds, although partially offset by inflows into other strategic areas.
Company Guidance
During Lazard's third quarter 2025 earnings call, the company provided guidance focusing on strong performance across its financial advisory and asset management divisions. For the first nine months, Lazard reported total firm-wide revenue of $2.1 billion, with record financial advisory revenue of $1.3 billion. The third quarter alone saw firm-wide revenue of $725 million, a 12% increase from the previous year, driven by financial advisory revenue of $422 million, up 14% year-over-year, and asset management revenue of $294 million, an 8% increase. The company highlighted notable transactions, including Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals' $6.7 billion combination with Endo Pharmaceuticals and Ferrero's $3.1 billion acquisition of W.K. Kellogg. Asset management saw record gross inflows, achieving net positive flows of $1.6 billion year-to-date, with total assets under management (AUM) up 17% to $265 billion as of September 30. Compensation expenses were reported at $475 million, with a ratio of 65.5%, while non-compensation expenses were $149 million, equating to a ratio of 20.5%. Lazard projected a full-year 2025 effective tax rate of around 20% and emphasized ongoing growth initiatives, including the addition of 20 new managing directors and strategic expansions in the Middle East and Northern Europe.

Lazard Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Lazard shows operational efficiency with stable profit margins but faces challenges with declining revenue growth and high leverage. The income statement reflects a decline in revenue growth, while the balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio. Cash flow analysis indicates moderate cash generation relative to net income.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Lazard's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a decline in revenue growth rate by 32.4%, reflecting potential challenges in market conditions. However, the company maintains a reasonable gross profit margin of 34.2% and a net profit margin of 8.9%, suggesting operational efficiency. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have decreased compared to previous years, indicating pressure on profitability.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.61, which is a concern for financial stability. The return on equity stands at 38.7%, showing effective use of equity to generate profits. However, the equity ratio is relatively low, indicating a higher reliance on debt financing.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows a decline in free cash flow growth by 15.2% in the TTM period, which could impact future investments. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.56, indicating moderate cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 0.97, suggesting efficient cash conversion.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.07B3.09B2.55B2.83B3.27B2.64B
Gross Profit1.05B1.08B605.13M1.17B1.37B1.09B
EBITDA385.05M511.27M40.90M640.77M842.99M619.66M
Net Income273.28M279.91M-75.48M357.52M528.06M402.46M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.63B4.79B4.64B5.85B7.15B5.97B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.39B1.58B1.19B2.01B2.81B2.52B
Total Debt2.20B2.19B2.18B2.20B2.24B2.29B
Total Liabilities3.68B4.03B4.07B4.59B5.49B4.97B
Stockholders Equity841.52M636.24M423.76M556.46M975.22M911.77M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow467.61M697.33M136.37M784.47M826.38M511.64M
Operating Cash Flow482.48M742.83M164.66M833.98M866.08M575.93M
Investing Cash Flow-29.69M134.07M-38.32M-56.44M-39.06M-62.94M
Financing Cash Flow-562.83M-439.67M-1.57B-1.38B195.84M-547.35M

Lazard Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price50.53
Price Trends
50DMA
49.67
Positive
100DMA
51.63
Negative
200DMA
47.59
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.24
Positive
RSI
49.89
Neutral
STOCH
32.45
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LAZ, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 50.53 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 50.71, above the 50-day MA of 49.67, and above the 200-day MA of 47.59, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.24 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 49.89 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 32.45 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for LAZ.

Lazard Risk Analysis

Lazard disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lazard 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

Lazard Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$5.59B23.2251.98%3.71%51.19%456.59%
68
Neutral
$6.76B30.9415.88%1.67%3.96%-20.33%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$6.01B25.6119.30%1.68%12.77%36.43%
66
Neutral
$4.78B20.0036.41%3.96%1.58%1.93%
64
Neutral
$5.15B7.2929.43%2.86%27.66%131.25%
58
Neutral
$5.00B15.9714.47%32.53%13.38%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LAZ
Lazard
50.53
0.63
1.26%
SNEX
StoneX Group
94.12
30.75
48.52%
MKTX
Marketaxess Holdings
181.05
-45.49
-20.08%
PIPR
Piper Sandler
343.31
51.39
17.60%
MC
Moelis
70.05
-0.85
-1.20%
VIRT
Virtu Financial
33.56
-0.97
-2.81%

Lazard Corporate Events

Business Operations and Strategy
Lazard Updates Vision and Growth Strategy 2030
Neutral
Sep 10, 2025

On September 10, 2025, Lazard, Inc. announced an update to its vision and long-term growth strategy for Lazard 2030. This strategic update is expected to impact the company’s operations and industry positioning, potentially influencing its stakeholders.

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: Dec 09, 2025