Lazard, Inc. (NYSE:LAZ) has reported a significant sale of shares by Executive Chairman Kenneth M. Jacobs, according to the company's latest SEC filings. Jacobs sold a total of $9,093,609 worth of common stock, with transaction prices ranging between $47.9 and $49.25.
The sales occurred over two days, with multiple transactions taking place on September 3 and 4, 2024. On the first day, Jacobs sold shares at weighted average prices that varied from $47.66 to $48.56 and from $49.08 to $49.54. On the following day, he continued selling at average prices between $48.06 and $48.98.
The transactions were executed under a pre-arranged trading plan, known as Rule 10b5-1, which Jacobs had adopted on March 1, 2024. This allows company insiders to sell shares at predetermined times to avoid accusations of insider trading.
According to the filing, the shares sold on September 3 included two separate sales of 85,740 and 2,030 shares at average prices of $48.05 and $49.25, respectively. Additionally, Jacobs sold 69,701 shares indirectly through a trust, with the same average price of $48.05. Another set of 2,030 shares was also sold indirectly at an average price of $49.25. On September 4, Jacobs sold 700 shares at an average price of $47.90 and 28,803 shares at an average price of $48.30.
Following these transactions, Jacobs still holds a substantial number of Lazard shares directly and indirectly through a trust. The reported sales represent a portion of his holdings, indicating a rebalancing rather than a complete exit from his position in the company.
Investors often monitor insider sales for signals about executives' confidence in their company's prospects. However, sales under a Rule 10b5-1 plan are scheduled in advance, which can make it difficult to draw direct conclusions from these transactions alone.
In other recent news, Lazard Ltd has reported robust financial results for the first half of 2024. The company's adjusted net revenue saw a significant rise of 25%, reaching $1.4 billion. This increase is attributed to a record performance in its Financial Advisory division and solid results in Asset Management. The Financial Advisory division achieved a record $855 million in adjusted net revenue, while Asset Management reported $541 million.
In a strategic move, Lazard has also bolstered its private equity dealmaking capabilities by recruiting Courtney Haydon from Guggenheim Securities. This is part of Lazard's larger initiative to attract more business from private equity firms. The hiring comes at a time when deal activity with financial sponsors is experiencing a resurgence.
In terms of analyst coverage, Lazard received an optimistic update from a financial analyst at Argus, who raised the firm's price target to $54 from the previous figure of $46. This revision came after Lazard reported a significant increase in earnings per share to $0.52, up from $0.24 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Lazard's strategic expansions and successful execution of its long-term growth strategy have positioned the company for further improvements. The firm is broadening its activities in private capital, asset management, and market share capture. Additionally, it has formed a new partnership, Lazard Elaia Capital, to invest in European technology companies. These recent developments are expected to drive further growth.
InvestingPro Insights
As Lazard, Inc. (NYSE:LAZ) navigates through another fiscal period, recent data from InvestingPro provides a snapshot of the company's financial health and market performance. With a market capitalization of $4.34 billion and a Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio standing at 28.88, Lazard appears to be maintaining a solid position in the market. The adjusted P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 is slightly lower at 21.79, which may suggest a more favorable earnings perspective relative to the company's share price.
Lazard's commitment to shareholder returns is evident through its consistent dividend payments over the past 20 years, a testament to its financial stability and investor-friendly approach. Additionally, Lazard has been experiencing positive revenue growth, with a 5.74% increase in the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, and a 6.14% quarterly revenue growth in Q2 2024. This steady growth trajectory could be reassuring to investors looking for sustained performance.
InvestingPro Tips for Lazard highlight that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, which aligns with the company's positive revenue trends. However, it's worth noting that 7 analysts have revised their earnings estimates downwards for the upcoming period, indicating potential headwinds or more conservative expectations. For more detailed analysis and additional InvestingPro Tips, interested readers can explore the full set of insights available on the InvestingPro platform, which includes numerous other tips for Lazard.
With the executive chairman's recent share sales, investors may be curious about the company's valuation and future prospects. Lazard's strong return over the last month (13.24%), three months (23.96%), and last year (51.77%) could be indicative of the market's favorable view of the company's performance and strategy. Moreover, with a dividend yield of 4.15% as of the last dividend ex-date on August 5, 2024, Lazard continues to be an attractive option for income-focused investors.
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