Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC, an investment firm, has recently increased its holdings in shares of Lazard Ltd (NYSE:LAZ). According to their filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, Brandywine Global now owns 322,747 shares of Lazard’s stock, a 29.5% increase from the previous quarter. This additional purchase brings Brandywine Global’s ownership to a total of 0.29% of Lazard’s overall worth, which amounts to $10,686,000.
Lazard, a well-known asset manager, released its earnings results on July 27th. The company reported earnings per share of $0.24 for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ consensus estimates by $0.13. This positive outcome reflects Lazard’s ability to perform well in the market and meet or exceed industry expectations.
The return on equity for Lazard during this period was reported at 30.45%, indicating the company’s profitability and efficiency in managing its assets. However, it is important to note that the net margin stood at a relatively small figure of 0.07%. Despite this slight decline in profit margin compared to previous quarters, overall revenue for Lazard amounted to $620 million during the quarter.
It is interesting to observe that Lazard experienced an 8.3% decrease in revenue when compared year-over-year. While this decline may raise concerns among investors and market analysts alike regarding future performance and sustainability, it is crucial to look into other factors that may contribute to this fluctuation.
Analysts predict that Lazard Ltd will produce earnings per share of approximately $0.79 for the current fiscal year based on their research and analysis. However, it is essential to remember that projections are subject to change and can be influenced by various external factors such as market conditions and economic trends.
In conclusion, Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC has shown confidence in Lazard Ltd by increasing their holdings in the company’s shares. Despite a decline in revenue compared to the previous year, Lazard has managed to exceed analysts’ expectations and maintain a respectable return on equity. It will be interesting to follow the future performance of Lazard Ltd and see how it navigates through potential challenges and capitalizes on new opportunities in the market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The mentioned investment decisions should not be construed as financial advice. Please consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions based on this article.
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Growing Interest in Lazard Stock Signals Confidence from Institutional Investors
Lazard Ltd, a prestigious asset management firm, has recently gained attention from a number of institutional investors and hedge funds. These investors have made significant modifications to their holdings in the company, indicating a growing interest in Lazard’s stock.
One such investor is Norges Bank, which acquired a new stake in Lazard during the fourth quarter of last year. This stake was valued at approximately $29,191,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD also increased its stake in Lazard by 14.1% during the second quarter, now owning 3,750,853 shares valued at $121,565,000. Ariel Investments LLC followed suit by increasing its stake in Lazard by 5.4% during the first quarter and currently owns 8,560,437 shares valued at $295,335,000. State Street Corp joined the ranks of these institutional investors by increasing its stake in Lazard by 20.0% during the first quarter and now owning 1,847,754 shares valued at $63,748,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Lazard by an astonishing 2,424.0% during the first quarter and now owns 310,094 shares worth $10,267.
These investments from institutional investors highlight the confidence placed in Lazard as an asset manager within the industry.
At present day trading prices on Thursday September 14th, Lazard stock opened at $33.02 per share. The company’s stock has displayed a range of performance between its low point of $27.71 and high point of $43.44 over the past year.This remarkable fluctuation emphasizes strong market activity surrounding Lazard stock.
In terms of financial health indicators,Lazard holds a market capitalization of approximately $3.72 billion.The company’s price-to-earnings ratio stands at -1834%, reflecting negative earnings.Likewise, Lazard’s beta is 1.41, a measurement of the stock’s volatility compared to that of the broader market.
Investors took note of Lazard’s recent announcement regarding its quarterly dividend. The dividend was paid on August 18th to shareholders of record as of August 7th, with each shareholder receiving $0.50 per share. With an annualized dividend of $2.00, this represents a yield of 6.06%. Remarkably though,the dividend payout ratio (DPR) for Lazard currently stands at -1111.11%. This conflicting ratio warrants further analysis and raises questions about the company’s financial strategy.
Some investment analysts have recently expressed their opinions on Lazard’s stock and performance in the market.Wolfe Research upgraded their rating from “underperform” to a “peer perform” rating.Morgan Stanley also raised their rating from “equal weight” to “overweight,” while also increasing their price objective from $36.00 to $43.00.Another investment firm,UBS Group, increased their target price on Lazard from $32.00 to $37.00 and labeled it as “neutral.” StockNews.com began coverage on Lazard and issued a “hold” rating.Finally, Keefe,Bruyette & Woods upgraded their rating from “underperform” to “market perform” and adjusted the price target from $31.00 to $36.00.Four research analysts have currently rated the stock as “hold,” while two have given it a “buy” rating.Data analysis conducted by Bloomberg indicates that the current consensus among analysts is a “Hold” rating with a consensus price target of $42.25.
These ratings demonstrate contrasting viewpoints on Lazard’s stock performance and future prospects.It is advised for potential investors to conduct further research before making any investment decisions based on these ratings.
Overall, institutional investors have shown increased interest in Lazard and made significant modifications to their holdings in the company. These actions indicate a level of confidence in Lazard’s performance and potential growth. However, conflicting financial indicators and varying analyst opinions present a complex picture that warrants careful consideration before taking any investment action.
