tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Lazard (LAZ)
NYSE:LAZ
Advertisement

Lazard (LAZ) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
637 Followers

Top Page

LAZ

Lazard

(NYSE:LAZ)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$62.00
▲(13.53%Upside)
Lazard's overall stock score reflects strong technical trends and robust earnings performance. Financial performance is solid, with efficient cash flow management and profitability, although revenue inconsistency and a low equity base pose some risks. The stock's fair valuation and attractive dividend yield add to its appeal, while positive earnings call sentiments highlight growth potential despite some operational challenges.
Positive Factors
Assets Under Management
Lazard Ltd announced a preliminary increase in assets under management by 5.6% to $248.4 billion.
Cash Flows
Monthly cash flows turned positive with an inflow of $4.6 billion, compared to outflows the previous month.
Negative Factors
Net Outflows
Monthly net outflows accelerated to -$3.7BN, with QTD net outflows more than double Consensus full-qtr net outflows.
Sub-Advised Relationship
Outflows included -$4.3BN from a single sub-advised relationship.

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 makes money primarily through its two business segments: Financial Advisory and Asset Management. In Financial Advisory, the company generates revenue by providing advisory services for M&A transactions, restructurings, and other financial matters, typically charging fees based on the size and complexity of the transactions. In Asset Management, Lazard earns money through management fees based on a percentage of the assets under management (AUM) and, in some cases, performance fees if certain investment benchmarks are met. The firm benefits from long-term client relationships and a strong reputation, which contribute to its ability to secure high-profile advisory mandates and attract significant assets in its management division. Additionally, Lazard's global presence and expertise across various industries and markets enhance its ability to capture diverse revenue opportunities.

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 with fees over $1M shows a recovery trend after a dip in early 2023, with notable growth by the end of 2024. Despite a 17% revenue decline in Q1 2025 compared to the previous year's record, the earnings call highlights strong client engagement and a growing backlog in M&A and restructuring, particularly in Europe. This suggests potential for future growth, bolstered by strategic expansions in the Middle East and new product launches, despite challenges from economic uncertainties and tariffs.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Lazard Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 24, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -0.65%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a positive outlook for Lazard, with strong performance in Financial Advisory and Asset Management segments, significant new mandates, and increased private capital engagement. However, challenges such as a higher tax rate and compensation expense ratio, along with continued high gross outflows in Asset Management, present areas for improvement.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Advisory Performance
Financial Advisory achieved a record first half of the year with adjusted net revenue of $861 million, demonstrating geographic and product diversity, with record revenue in France and Germany.
Asset Management Growth
Asset Management reported adjusted net revenue of $533 million for the first half of the year, with positive net flows in the quarter, record gross inflows, and AUM increasing 10% year-to-date.
Increased Private Capital Engagement
Revenue associated with private capital has been over 40% of total Financial Advisory revenue, reflecting increased emphasis on this business and hiring over time.
Successful New Mandates in Asset Management
Illustrative examples of new mandates include $1 billion from a U.S. public pension into Global Equity Advantage and $650 million from a Nordic client for Japanese equities.
Expansion and Talent Acquisition
Lazard hired 14 Financial Advisory managing directors so far in 2025, with recent talent additions supporting performance and resulting in new client business.
Negative Updates
Increased Tax Rate
The adjusted effective tax rate for the second quarter was 36.5%, compared to 14% for the second quarter of 2024.
High Compensation Expense Ratio
Adjusted compensation expense was $504 million, resulting in a ratio of 65.5%, which remains higher than the goal of 60% or below.
Continued High Gross Outflows in Asset Management
Despite record gross inflows, there are still high gross outflows, indicating a need for further improvement in retention.
Company Guidance
During Lazard's Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company reported robust performance with total firm-wide adjusted net revenue of $1.4 billion for the first half of the year. The Financial Advisory division achieved record adjusted net revenue of $861 million, with private capital contributing over 40% of total Financial Advisory revenue. Asset Management also showed strength, with adjusted net revenue of $533 million for the first half, bolstered by positive net flows, record gross inflows, and a 10% year-to-date increase in assets under management (AUM), which stood at $248 billion as of June 30. The adjusted compensation expense ratio was 65.5%, while the adjusted non-compensation expense ratio was 20.4%. The company returned $60 million to shareholders through dividends. Lazard remains optimistic about the advisory outlook, expecting private equity to play a more significant role in M&A and continuing to invest in talent and technology to support long-term growth.

Lazard Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Lazard's financial performance is strong, with solid profitability and cash flow management. The income statement shows a healthy gross profit margin and improved net profit margin, although revenue growth has been inconsistent. The balance sheet reveals manageable leverage but a low equity base. Cash flow analysis is robust, highlighting efficient cash generation, despite uneven free cash flow growth.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Lazard's income statement reveals a solid gross profit margin of 47.9% for TTM, driven by strong revenue figures. The net profit margin improved to 10.1% TTM, reflecting better cost control and profitability compared to prior periods. However, revenue growth has been inconsistent, with a notable drop in 2024. EBIT and EBITDA margins for TTM are healthy at 13.6% and 16%, respectively, indicating operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet shows a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84 TTM, suggesting manageable leverage. However, the equity ratio of 14.2% TTM indicates a relatively low equity base, which could be a risk factor. The return on equity has improved to 50.5% TTM, showcasing enhanced profitability for shareholders.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Cash flow analysis is strong, with a robust free cash flow to net income ratio of 2.2 TTM, highlighting efficient cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.2 TTM further emphasizes strong cash flow management. However, free cash flow growth has been uneven, although it remains positive.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.09B2.55B2.83B3.27B2.65B
Gross Profit1.08B605.13M1.12B1.37B1.02B
EBITDA511.27M40.90M640.77M842.99M619.66M
Net Income279.91M-75.48M357.52M528.06M402.46M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.79B4.64B5.85B7.15B5.97B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.58B971.32M2.01B2.81B2.52B
Total Debt2.19B2.18B2.20B2.24B2.29B
Total Liabilities4.03B4.07B4.59B5.49B4.97B
Stockholders Equity636.24M423.76M556.46M975.22M911.77M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow697.33M136.37M784.47M826.38M511.64M
Operating Cash Flow742.83M164.66M833.98M866.08M575.93M
Investing Cash Flow134.07M-38.32M-56.44M-39.06M-62.94M
Financing Cash Flow-439.67M-1.57B-1.38B195.84M-547.35M

Lazard Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price54.61
Price Trends
50DMA
47.21
Positive
100DMA
44.25
Positive
200DMA
48.02
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.32
Negative
RSI
68.96
Neutral
STOCH
75.44
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 54.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 51.48, above the 50-day MA of 47.21, and above the 200-day MA of 48.02, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.32 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 68.96 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 75.44 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
$5.18B19.1750.56%3.66%10.54%92.31%
77
Outperform
$7.42B27.8523.44%56.04%58.58%
73
Outperform
$5.73B32.5139.98%3.52%42.85%1398.33%
72
Outperform
$4.64B16.0716.69%67.71%19.42%
70
Outperform
$6.50B32.7396.33%0.54%16.04%60.32%
70
Neutral
$5.67B27.8917.59%1.75%10.27%88.77%
68
Neutral
$17.10B11.449.70%3.58%11.11%-4.78%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LAZ
Lazard
54.61
8.15
17.54%
SNEX
StoneX Group
94.81
39.43
71.20%
PIPR
Piper Sandler
314.00
44.27
16.41%
MC
Moelis
71.04
5.58
8.52%
PJT
PJT Partners
186.02
60.52
48.22%
FUTU
Futu Holdings
166.86
107.00
178.75%

Lazard Corporate Events

Shareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Lazard Shareholders Vote on Key Governance Proposals
Neutral
May 13, 2025

On May 8, 2025, Lazard held its Annual Meeting of shareholders where three proposals were considered. The election of directors saw Peter Harrison and Dan Schulman receiving significant votes, while the non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent accounting firm were also addressed. The outcomes of these votes reflect the shareholders’ stance on the company’s governance and financial oversight, potentially influencing Lazard’s operational strategies and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (LAZ) stock is a Hold with a $52.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lazard stock, see the LAZ 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: Jul 25, 2025