Fact based stock research
Lazard (NYSE:LAZ)
BMG540501027
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Lazard stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 30 (worse than 70% compared with investment alternatives), Lazard (Investment Banking & Brokerage, Bermuda) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Lazard are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 31 (worse than 69% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 11, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 87). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 30, is a hold recommendation based on Lazard's financial characteristics. As the company Lazard shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 31 (69% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 87% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 87). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 11 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for Lazard, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | Bermuda |
| Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Index | |
| Size class | Large |
19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Lazard
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 52 |
|
47 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 42 |
|
27 |
|
7 |
|
87 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 15 |
|
56 |
|
4 |
|
11 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
13 |
|
1 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 30 (worse than 70% compared with investment alternatives), Lazard (Investment Banking & Brokerage, Bermuda) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Lazard are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 31 (worse than 69% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 11, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 87). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 30, is a hold recommendation based on Lazard's financial characteristics. As the company Lazard shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 31 (69% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 87% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 87). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 11 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for Lazard, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 52 |
|
47 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 42 |
|
27 |
|
7 |
|
87 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 15 |
|
56 |
|
4 |
|
11 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 13 |
|
34 |
|
1 |
|
30 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 31 (worse than 69% compared with alternatives), Lazard shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for Lazard. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 50, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 50% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Lazard's revenue size. The same is valid for dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 53, which means that dividends are expected to be higher than for 53% of comparable investments. On the other hand, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is less favorable than for 97% of alternatives (only 3% of peers have an even higher ratio). The same is valid for the Price-to-Profit (or Price / Earnings, P/E) ratio, which is higher than for 74% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 31, is a hold recommendation based on Lazard's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a somewhat surprising picture, because it means that profits are low while dividends are high. One interpretation could be that profits are expected to increase, justifying the high dividend payments. But it could also mean that the company desperately keeps the high dividends to avoid a collapsing share price. This would be a rather dangerous constellation. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is especially important in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 76 |
|
58 |
|
60 |
|
50 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 57 |
|
41 |
|
25 |
|
26 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 1 |
|
17 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 73 |
|
74 |
|
72 |
|
53 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 52 |
|
47 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 87 (better than 87% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Lazard shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Lazard. Sales Growth has a rank of 68 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 68% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 98, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 93, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 7, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 93% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 87, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 68 |
|
21 |
|
66 |
|
68 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 89 |
|
46 |
|
1 |
|
98 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
45 |
|
14 |
|
7 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 34 |
|
29 |
|
19 |
|
93 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 42 |
|
27 |
|
7 |
|
87 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 11 (better than 11% compared with alternatives), the company Lazard has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Lazard is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Lazard. Liquidity is at 70, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 70% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 31, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 69% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 8, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 92% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 11 (worse than 89% compared with alternatives), Lazard has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 20 |
|
35 |
|
8 |
|
8 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 20 |
|
41 |
|
43 |
|
31 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 22 |
|
72 |
|
26 |
|
70 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 15 |
|
56 |
|
4 |
|
11 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
41 |
|
23 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
4 |
|
31 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
80 |
|
1 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
10 |
|
18 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Lazard from December 19, 2024.
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