Oppenheimer Cautious On Lazard (LAZ) After "Big Miss" in Q4
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Price: $44.64 -1.87%
Rating Summary:
8 Buy, 9 Hold, 3 Sell
Rating Trend:
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Today's Overall Ratings:
Up: 13 | Down: 14 | New: 11
Rating Summary:
8 Buy, 9 Hold, 3 Sell
Rating Trend:
Down
Today's Overall Ratings:
Up: 13 | Down: 14 | New: 11
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Oppenheimer lowered estimates and had some cautious commentary on Lazard (NYSE: LAZ) following yesterday's "big" Q4 miss. The firm said the Q4 results "strike us as perhaps the most disappointing earnings report that we have seen in the past three years."
The firm was not just concerned about the miss, but how they missed. Revenues were close, but compensation expense jumped to 72.3% versus rates of 59.1%, 58.3% and 56.4% during the first three quarters of the year. It will take a while before the Street regains confidence in management compensation guidance, the firm said.
"For a company with little capital risk or leverage, they have, for at least the coming 12 months, put a dark cloud of uncertainty over the underlying earnings power of their franchise," the analyst said.
The firm cut FY12 EPS estimates from $2.05 to $1.55.
For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Lazard click here. For more ratings news on Lazard click here.
Shares of Lazard are down 2.4 percent early Tuesday after falling 4 percent Monday after the Q4 report.
The firm was not just concerned about the miss, but how they missed. Revenues were close, but compensation expense jumped to 72.3% versus rates of 59.1%, 58.3% and 56.4% during the first three quarters of the year. It will take a while before the Street regains confidence in management compensation guidance, the firm said.
"For a company with little capital risk or leverage, they have, for at least the coming 12 months, put a dark cloud of uncertainty over the underlying earnings power of their franchise," the analyst said.
The firm cut FY12 EPS estimates from $2.05 to $1.55.
For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Lazard click here. For more ratings news on Lazard click here.
Shares of Lazard are down 2.4 percent early Tuesday after falling 4 percent Monday after the Q4 report.
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