Lee Enterprises (LEE)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $3.98 | Market Cap: $24.3 MilSector: Communication Services | Industry: Publishing
Lee Enterprises (LEE)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $3.98Market Cap: $24.3 MilSector: Communication ServicesIndustry: 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
| Valuation becoming less expensiveP/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -54% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -116%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -152% | Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 1205% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Digital Media & Local Information. Themes include Local Digital News & Information, Digital Subscription Models, and Local Digital Advertising. | Expensive valuation multiplesP/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 78x | |
| Weak revenue growthRev 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% | ||
| Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -110% |
| Valuation becoming less expensiveP/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -54% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Digital Media & Local Information. Themes include Local Digital News & Information, Digital Subscription Models, and Local Digital Advertising. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -116%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -152% |
| Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 1205% |
| Expensive valuation multiplesP/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 78x |
| Weak revenue growthRev 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% |
| Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity 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.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| LEE Return | -11% | 174% | -46% | -58% | 88% | -74% | -73% |
| Peers Return | 3% | 40% | 524% | -1% | -20% | -21% | 458% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 17% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| LEE Win Rate | 42% | 58% | 33% | 33% | 33% | 30% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 28% | 23% | 33% | 47% | 35% | 45% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 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
| Event | LEE | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -82.2% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 461.2% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -67.0% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 203.2% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 275 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -66.0% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 194.3% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 502 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -99.2% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 13051.9% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 1480 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.
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Latest Trefis Analyses
| Title | |
|---|---|
| ARTICLES |
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to LEE. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 4.9% | 4.9% | 0.0% | |
| 11212025 | TMUS | T-Mobile US | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | Z | Zillow | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 6.8% | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | IRDM | Iridium Communications | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 2.1% | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -25.1% | -25.1% | -25.6% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 4.9% | 4.9% | 0.0% | |
| 11212025 | TMUS | T-Mobile US | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | Z | Zillow | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 6.8% | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | IRDM | Iridium Communications | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 2.1% | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -25.1% | -25.1% | -25.6% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Lee Enterprises
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 4.46 |
| Mkt Cap | 0.0 |
| Rev LTM | 1,460 |
| Op Inc LTM | 26 |
| FCF LTM | 11 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 25 |
| CFO LTM | 40 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 49 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | -1.7% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | -4.9% |
| Rev Chg Q | -1.9% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | -0.5% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 3.3% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 4.9% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | 0.3% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 1.8% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 3.5% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 0.1% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 1.7% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 0.0 |
| P/S | 2.0 |
| P/EBIT | 6.9 |
| P/E | -0.6 |
| P/CFO | 16.4 |
| Total Yield | -10.3% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.0% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 3.4% |
| D/E | 0.2 |
| Net D/E | 0.0 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -0.7% |
| 3M Rtn | -12.5% |
| 6M Rtn | -26.8% |
| 12M Rtn | -43.7% |
| 3Y Rtn | -69.8% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | -1.9% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -17.2% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -42.3% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -54.9% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -141.1% |
Comparison Analyses
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 6302025 | 8082025 | 10-Q 6/29/2025 |
| 3312025 | 5092025 | 10-Q 3/30/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2072025 | 10-Q 12/29/2024 |
| 9302024 | 12132024 | 10-K 9/29/2024 |
| 6302024 | 8022024 | 10-Q 6/23/2024 |
| 3312024 | 5032024 | 10-Q 3/24/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2022024 | 10-Q 12/24/2023 |
| 9302023 | 12082023 | 10-K 9/24/2023 |
| 6302023 | 8042023 | 10-Q 6/25/2023 |
| 3312023 | 5042023 | 10-Q 3/26/2023 |
| 12312022 | 3022023 | 10-Q 12/25/2022 |
| 9302022 | 2272023 | 10-K 9/25/2022 |
| 6302022 | 8042022 | 10-Q 6/26/2022 |
| 3312022 | 5062022 | 10-Q 3/27/2022 |
| 12312021 | 2042022 | 10-Q 12/26/2021 |
| 9302021 | 12102021 | 10-K 9/26/2021 |
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