Tearsheet

Lee Enterprises (LEE)


Market Price (12/5/2025): $3.98 | Market Cap: $24.3 Mil
Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Publishing

Lee Enterprises (LEE)


Market Price (12/5/2025): $3.98
Market Cap: $24.3 Mil
Sector: Communication Services
Industry: Publishing

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -54%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -116%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -152%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 1205%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Media & Local Information. Themes include Local Digital News & Information, Digital Subscription Models, and Local Digital Advertising.
  Expensive valuation multiples
P/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 78x
2   Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -5.7%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -9.3%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -6.2%
3   Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -110%
0 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -54%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Media & Local Information. Themes include Local Digital News & Information, Digital Subscription Models, and Local Digital Advertising.
2 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -116%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -152%
3 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 1205%
4 Expensive valuation multiples
P/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 78x
5 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -5.7%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -9.3%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -6.2%
6 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -110%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

LEE Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback


Lee Enterprises (LEE) experienced several significant events in late 2024 and through 2025 that influenced its stock performance. These factors collectively highlight the challenges of transitioning from traditional print media to a digital-first model while managing financial obligations. 1. 1. Adjusted EBITDA Miss and Print Revenue Decline: Lee Enterprises reported missing its Adjusted EBITDA target for fiscal year 2024, finishing at $65.3 million against an updated guidance of $73-$78 million. This shortfall was primarily attributed to persistent print headwinds. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, print revenue declined by 14% year-over-year on a same-store basis, leading to an operating income loss of -$3.7 million, including restructuring and impairment charges. For fiscal year 2024, total print revenue decreased by 21% over the prior year. 2. 2. Net Loss and Increased Operating Expenses: Despite growth in digital revenue, the company reported a net loss of $9.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024. This loss was partly due to increased operating expenses and restructuring costs. Furthermore, Q4 2024 cash costs rose 4% year-over-year to $143.2 million, and operating expenses increased to $162.9 million, which limited quarterly margin expansion. 3.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
LEE Return-11%174%-46%-58%88%-74%-73%
Peers Return3%40%524%-1%-20%-21%458%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%17%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
LEE Win Rate42%58%33%33%33%30% 
Peers Win Rate28%23%33%47%35%45% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
LEE Max Drawdown-49%0%-55%-59%-2%-74% 
Peers Max Drawdown-35%-4%-18%-25%-28%-34% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: HHS, SOBR, TDAY, NWSA, NYT. See LEE Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/4/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventLEES&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-82.2%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven461.2%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-67.0%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven203.2%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven275 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-66.0%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven194.3%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven502 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-99.2%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven13051.9%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days1480 days

Compare to HHS, SOBR, TDAY, NWSA, NYT


In The Past

Lee Enterprises's stock fell -82.2% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/11/2022. A -82.2% loss requires a 461.2% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Lee Enterprises (LEE)

Better Bets than Lee Enterprises (LEE)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to LEE. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PINS_11302025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302025PINSPinterestMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
4.9%4.9%0.0%
TMUS_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025TMUST-Mobile USMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
0.0%0.0%-1.2%
Z_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ZZillowMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
6.8%6.8%0.0%
IRDM_11072025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11072025IRDMIridium CommunicationsDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
2.1%2.1%-5.6%
TTD_10032025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE10032025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-25.1%-25.1%-25.6%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PINS_11302025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302025PINSPinterestMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
4.9%4.9%0.0%
TMUS_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025TMUST-Mobile USMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
0.0%0.0%-1.2%
Z_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ZZillowMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
6.8%6.8%0.0%
IRDM_11072025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11072025IRDMIridium CommunicationsDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
2.1%2.1%-5.6%
TTD_10032025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE10032025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-25.1%-25.1%-25.6%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Lee Enterprises

Peers to compare with:

Financials

LEEHHSSOBRTDAYNWSANYTMedian
NameLee Ente.Harte-Ha.Sobr SafeUSA TodayNews New York. 
Mkt Price3.863.251.525.0625.6364.044.46
Mkt Cap0.00.00.0-14.510.40.0
Rev LTM58217502,3398,5002,7491,460
Op Inc LTM196-83396643226
FCF LTM-6-7-72858053711
FCF 3Y Avg-64-64650839025
CFO LTM1-5-78099357240
CFO 3Y Avg07-69192141949

Growth & Margins

LEEHHSSOBRTDAYNWSANYTMedian
NameLee Ente.Harte-Ha.Sobr SafeUSA TodayNews New York. 
Rev Chg LTM-5.7%-6.5%73.2%-8.6%2.2%8.4%-1.7%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-9.3%-4.1%1,315.8%-8.4%-5.6%7.2%-4.9%
Rev Chg Q-6.2%-14.2%92.3%-8.4%2.3%9.5%-1.9%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-1.6%-3.5%19.9%-2.2%0.6%2.3%-0.5%
Op Mgn LTM3.3%3.2%-2,691.4%1.4%11.4%15.7%3.3%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg5.4%4.4%-5,586.9%2.8%10.0%13.5%4.9%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.6%-0.8%459.4%-0.3%0.1%0.6%0.3%
CFO/Rev LTM0.1%-2.6%-2,251.4%3.4%11.7%20.8%1.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg0.0%3.3%-3,740.5%3.6%11.1%16.1%3.5%
FCF/Rev LTM-1.0%-4.3%-2,251.4%1.2%6.8%19.5%0.1%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-1.0%1.7%-3,740.5%1.8%6.1%15.0%1.7%

Valuation

LEEHHSSOBRTDAYNWSANYTMedian
NameLee Ente.Harte-Ha.Sobr SafeUSA TodayNews New York. 
Mkt Cap0.00.00.0-14.510.40.0
P/S0.10.214.5-2.03.42.0
P/EBIT-10.66.9-0.6-16.821.26.9
P/E-0.9-9.7-0.6-14.827.7-0.6
P/CFO77.6-6.4-0.6-17.516.416.4
Total Yield-105.5%-10.3%-180.3%-7.9%4.7%-10.3%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.0%0.0%-1.1%1.1%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-11.1%7.6%-677.0%-3.4%4.5%3.4%
D/E12.40.80.0-0.20.00.2
Net D/E12.10.6-1.9-0.0-0.10.0

Returns

LEEHHSSOBRTDAYNWSANYTMedian
NameLee Ente.Harte-Ha.Sobr SafeUSA TodayNews New York. 
1M Rtn-4.7%11.3%-50.8%--0.7%10.9%-0.7%
3M Rtn-1.0%-12.8%-53.8%--12.5%8.5%-12.5%
6M Rtn-42.6%-26.8%-57.3%--7.7%15.6%-26.8%
12M Rtn-76.3%-43.7%-97.3%--12.9%18.8%-43.7%
3Y Rtn-78.3%-69.8%-99.9%-40.5%89.1%-69.8%
1M Excs Rtn-6.0%10.0%-52.1%--1.9%9.6%-1.9%
3M Excs Rtn-11.4%-17.2%-58.3%--18.7%3.1%-17.2%
6M Excs Rtn-58.1%-42.3%-72.8%--23.1%0.2%-42.3%
12M Excs Rtn-90.2%-54.9%-110.6%--25.7%6.3%-54.9%
3Y Excs Rtn-151.8%-141.1%-173.1%--31.5%15.1%-141.1%

Financials

Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity422,502
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025549.4%
Average Daily Volume114,460
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.69
Basic Shares Quantity6,112,000
Short % of Basic Shares6.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
6302025808202510-Q 6/29/2025
3312025509202510-Q 3/30/2025
12312024207202510-Q 12/29/2024
93020241213202410-K 9/29/2024
6302024802202410-Q 6/23/2024
3312024503202410-Q 3/24/2024
12312023202202410-Q 12/24/2023
93020231208202310-K 9/24/2023
6302023804202310-Q 6/25/2023
3312023504202310-Q 3/26/2023
12312022302202310-Q 12/25/2022
9302022227202310-K 9/25/2022
6302022804202210-Q 6/26/2022
3312022506202210-Q 3/27/2022
12312021204202210-Q 12/26/2021
93020211210202110-K 9/26/2021