NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazard, Inc. (NYSE: LAZ) today announced that its Board of Directors has voted to declare a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share on its outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on February 20, 2026, to stockholders of record on February 9, 2026. About Lazard Founded in 1848, Lazard is the preeminent financial advisory and asset management firm, with operations in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Lazard provides advice ...

Core Viewpoint - Lazard, Inc. will announce its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on January 29, 2026, with a press release available on its website [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be disclosed in a press release on January 29, 2026 [1] - A conference call to discuss the financial results will be held at 8:00 a.m. ET on the same day [2] - A replay of the conference call will be accessible by 10:00 a.m. ET on January 29, 2026 [3] Group 2: Company Overview - Lazard is a leading financial advisory and asset management firm, established in 1848 [4] - The company operates globally, providing services in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, restructuring, and asset management [4] - Lazard is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LAZ [4]

Core Insights - Lazard, Inc. has announced the appointments of Bill Young, Jean Greene, and Paolo Battaglia as Managing Directors in its Global Industrials Group, enhancing its leadership team [1] Company Developments - The new Managing Directors will be based in New York, contributing to Lazard's strong presence in the global Industrials sector [1] - These appointments are aimed at strengthening Lazard's market-leading global Industrials franchise, which provides advisory services across various sectors including diversified industrials, building products, chemicals, paper & packaging, and transportation [1]

Core Insights - Lazard Ltd reported strong financial performance for Q3 2025, exceeding market expectations in both earnings and revenue [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Earnings Per Share (EPS) for Q3 2025 was $0.56, surpassing the estimated EPS of $0.44 and showing a significant increase from $0.38 in the previous year [2][6] - Revenue for the quarter reached $748.08 million, exceeding the estimated $726.25 million and marking a 12.2% increase from $645.91 million in the same period last year [3][6] Market Valuation - The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 15.04, indicating how the market values its earnings [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is about 1.46, reflecting investor willingness to pay per dollar of sales [4] - The enterprise value to sales ratio stands at 1.31, showing total valuation relative to revenue [4] Financial Stability - Lazard's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.70, indicating a balanced approach to financing its assets [5] - The current ratio of 1.89 suggests a strong ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets [5] - An earnings yield of 6.65% provides a comprehensive view of Lazard's financial position and potential for investors [5]

Core Insights - Lazard Ltd is set to release its quarterly earnings on October 23, 2025, with an estimated EPS of $0.44 and revenue of $726.25 million, reflecting a year-over-year EPS increase of 7.9% and revenue growth of 8% [1][5] Earnings Estimates - Analysts have revised the consensus EPS estimate downwards by 1.8% over the past 30 days, which may affect investor sentiment [1][5] Market Reaction - The market's response to earnings estimate revisions is significant; if Lazard's actual earnings exceed expectations, the stock may experience an upward trend, while disappointing earnings could lead to a decline [2] Financial Metrics - Lazard's financial metrics include a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.67, a price-to-sales ratio of 1.52, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of 1.37, indicating how the market values its earnings and sales [3] Financial Health - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.89, suggesting a balanced approach to financing and the ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets [4]

Core Insights - Lazard, Inc. has appointed Retired Four-Star U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla as Senior Advisor in its Geopolitical Advisory group, effective immediately [1] Company Summary - Lazard, Inc. is recognized as a leading global financial advisory and asset management firm [1] - The addition of General Kurilla is aimed at enhancing the firm's expertise in strategic command, particularly in complex environments such as the Middle East and Central Asia [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 21% to $49.4 million, exceeding guidance of 15-20% [6][8] - Underlying EBITDA margin decreased slightly to 24% from 25% in the previous year, while underlying EBITDA rose by 17% [8][25] - Reported EBITDA surged by 39% to $10.6 million, and reported EPS increased by 37% to $1.87 per share [8][20] - Net profit after tax and amortization grew by 42% to $5.9 million, with net profit after tax up 59% [8][20] - Total dividends for the year increased by 4% to $1.66 per share, with a final dividend up 5% to $0.89 per share [9][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wealth segment revenue grew by 38%, while business segment revenue increased by 7% [20][22] - Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) revenue rose by 19%, recovering from a decline in the previous year [22] - Accounting division revenue increased by 11%, while capital revenue remained flat [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Funds under management increased by 58%, partly due to the Lincoln acquisition, adding $600 million [9][10] - The number of high net worth investors grew by 3,300, significantly expanding the client base [10][16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to achieve $100 million in revenue by FY 2028 to FY 2030, with a focus on both organic and acquisition-driven growth [34][63] - Emphasis on technology integration, including a full technology review and implementation of a group-wide CRM system [14][60] - The strategy includes deep integration of acquired businesses to enhance service offerings and client engagement [64][70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving growth targets, citing a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities and a favorable operating environment [34][47] - The company is focused on addressing working capital issues, with a goal to reduce excess tied-up capital [28][72] - Management highlighted the importance of a balanced approach to capital allocation, ensuring continued dividend payments while pursuing growth [57][72] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a modest debt level at 1.3 times underlying EBITDA, indicating strong financial health [8][27] - A significant focus on intergenerational wealth transfer and alternative asset management as key growth areas [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: How confident is the company in achieving the $100 million revenue target? - Management expressed strong confidence based on past performance and current growth trajectory, with organic growth settling between 6-10% and two-thirds of growth expected from acquisitions [34][36] Question: Can you provide a breakdown of organic and inorganic growth? - Revenue growth was 21%, with approximately 7% from organic growth and 14% from acquisitions, including a two-month contribution from Lincoln indicators [37][39] Question: What were the key drivers behind the reported EBITDA increase? - The reduction in non-recurring items significantly contributed to the improvement, with non-recurring costs halving compared to the previous year [41][44] Question: How are the recent acquisitions performing? - Acquisitions are performing well, with strong integration and cross-referrals contributing to overall business growth [45][46] Question: What is the outlook for FY '26? - Guidance will be provided at the AGM, but management anticipates continued growth and opportunities in the market [47][48] Question: How does the company plan to fund future acquisitions? - The company has a Westpac facility in place and typically issues 20-50% of acquisition consideration in shares, maintaining a business owner mindset [54][55] Question: How does the company view AI's impact on revenue streams? - AI is seen as both an opportunity and a challenge, with a focus on enhancing client service through technology while maintaining a human touch [59][61]