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Lee Enterprises Incorporated (LEE)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
04/01/2025: LEE (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -5.32% | Avg. Invested days 26 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 103.77M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 20 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 20 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 19480 | Beta 1.07 | 52 Weeks Range 7.57 - 19.63 | Updated Date 03/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 7.57 - 19.63 | Updated Date 03/30/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -3.02 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin -2.88% | Operating Margin (TTM) 4.1% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 4.42% | Return on Equity (TTM) -146.22% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 15.11 | Enterprise Value 538924856 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.11 |
Enterprise Value 538924856 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.11 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.9 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 24.14 | Shares Outstanding 6190550 | Shares Floating 3575726 |
Shares Outstanding 6190550 | Shares Floating 3575726 | ||
Percent Insiders 36.39 | Percent Institutions 38.28 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating - | Target Price 20 | Buy - | Strong Buy - |
Buy - | Strong Buy - | ||
Hold - | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Lee Enterprises Incorporated

Company Overview
History and Background
Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890. It has grown through acquisitions and organic expansion, evolving from primarily print newspapers to a multi-platform media company.
Core Business Areas
- Local Media: Provides local news, information, and advertising services through daily newspapers, websites, and digital products.
- Digital Services: Offers digital marketing solutions to local businesses, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and website design.
- Printing and Distribution: Provides commercial printing and distribution services.
Leadership and Structure
Kevin Mowbray is the CEO. The company has a board of directors overseeing strategy and operations.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Local News & Information (Digital and Print): Provides local news, sports, and information through newspapers and websites. Revenue is primarily derived from subscriptions and advertising. Competitors include Gannett (GCI), McClatchy (MNI), and other local media outlets. Market share data is fragmented and varies by local market, but Lee is often a leading provider in its coverage areas.
- Digital Marketing Services: Offers digital marketing solutions, including SEO, social media management, and website development. Competitors include large digital marketing agencies and local marketing providers. Market share data is dispersed with many smaller players.
- Commercial Printing: Provides printing services for businesses. Competitors consist of regional printing companies. Market share data is not readily available.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The media industry is undergoing a digital transformation, facing challenges from declining print advertising revenue and increasing competition from online sources. Consolidation and diversification are key trends.
Positioning
Lee Enterprises focuses on local markets, aiming to be a leading provider of local news and information and digital marketing services. Its competitive advantage lies in its established presence and local knowledge.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for local advertising is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Lee Enterprises captures a small fraction, and is positioned to increase market share as the industry continues to evolve towards digital.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Established local presence
- Strong local brands
- Diversified revenue streams (print and digital)
- Experienced management team
- Proprietary digital marketing platform
Weaknesses
- High debt levels
- Declining print advertising revenue
- Competition from online news sources
- Slow pace of digital transformation
Opportunities
- Growth in digital advertising
- Acquisition of smaller local media companies
- Expansion of digital marketing services
- Partnerships with technology companies
Threats
- Continued decline in print advertising revenue
- Increased competition from online news sources
- Economic downturn
- Changes in consumer preferences
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- GCI
- MNI
Competitive Landscape
Lee competes in a fragmented market with larger companies like Gannett and many smaller local players. Its advantage lies in its established local presence.
Major Acquisitions
TownNews.com
- Year: 2005
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 41
- Strategic Rationale: TownNews.com is a content management system and digital services provider. The acquisition helped Lee Enterprises expand its digital capabilities and offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its local media partners.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historical growth has been challenged by the decline of print media, offset somewhat by digital growth.
Future Projections: Future projections are dependent on the company's ability to transition to digital revenue streams and manage its debt.
Recent Initiatives: Focus on digital transformation, cost reduction, and debt repayment.
Summary
Lee Enterprises is facing challenges from the decline of print media but is working to transition to digital revenue streams. High debt levels remain a concern. Focusing on cost management and strategic acquisitions might position them to navigate a complex industry landscape. Competition from online platforms is a major headwind.
Similar Companies
GCI

Gannett Co Inc


GCI

Gannett Co Inc
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company filings, Market research reports, Industry publications
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is not financial advice. Market conditions and company performance can change rapidly.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Lee Enterprises Incorporated
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Davenport, IA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1987-11-05 | President, CEO & Director Mr. Kevin D. Mowbray | ||
Sector Communication Services | Industry Publishing | Full time employees 2674 | Website https://lee.net |
Full time employees 2674 | Website https://lee.net |
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated provides local news and information, and advertising services in the United States. The company offers digital subscription platforms; daily, weekly, and monthly newspapers and niche publications; and web hosting and content management services. It provides advertising and marketing services, such as audience extension, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, web and mobile production, social media services, and reputation monitoring and management. In addition, the company offers integrated digital publishing and content management solutions for creating, distributing, and monetizing multimedia content for media publications, universities, television stations, and niche publications. Further, it provides commercial printing services; distributes third party products, as well as operates a digital marketing services agency. Lee Enterprises, Incorporated was founded in 1890 and is based in Davenport, Iowa.
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