LEE - Lee Enterprises, Inc... Stock Analysis | Stock Taper
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Lee Enterprises, Incorporated

LEE

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated NASDAQ
$8.69 0.12% (+0.01)

Market Cap $53.00 M
52w High $11.21
52w Low $3.34
Dividend Yield 20.49%
Frequency Quarterly
P/E -2.01
Volume 65.36K
Outstanding Shares 6.10M

Income Statement

Period Revenue Operating Expense Net Income Net Profit Margin Earnings Per Share EBITDA
Q1-2026 $130.06M $68.81M $-5.61M -4.31% $-0.92 $9.63M
Q4-2025 $139.1M $71.25M $-6.42M -4.61% $-1.05 $2.31M
Q3-2025 $141.29M $85.93M $-1.92M -1.36% $-0.31 $9.49M
Q2-2025 $137.38M $82.11M $-12.51M -9.11% $-1.85 $1.33M
Q1-2025 $144.56M $144.3M $-16.75M -11.59% $-2.8 $3.57M

What's going well?

The company managed to shrink its net loss compared to last quarter. Operating profit, while down, remained positive. Share count is stable, so dilution isn't hurting shareholders.

What's concerning?

Revenue is dropping, margins are getting squeezed, and the company is still losing money. High interest costs and heavy overhead are weighing on profits, and expenses aren't falling fast enough to match lower sales.

Balance Statement

Period Cash & Short-term Total Assets Total Liabilities Total Equity
Q1-2026 $12.63M $592.56M $639M $-48.74M
Q4-2025 $9.99M $601.73M $642.69M $-43.31M
Q3-2025 $14.13M $622.65M $660.85M $-40.5M
Q2-2025 $4.66M $623.93M $660.03M $-38.92M
Q1-2025 $6.12M $632.97M $657.14M $-26.65M

What's financially strong about this company?

Receivables are being collected a bit faster, and cash increased slightly. Most debt is long-term, so there’s some breathing room before big repayments are due.

What are the financial risks or weaknesses?

The company owes more than it owns, has very little cash, and is heavily reliant on debt. Most assets are intangible, and payables are rising, showing cash strain.

Cash Flow Statement

Period Net Income Cash From Operations Cash From Investing Cash From Financing Net Change Free Cash Flow
Q1-2026 $-5.13M $4.47M $-755K $-1.08M $2.64M $3.71M
Q4-2025 $-5.83M $-6.31M $2.58M $-406K $-4.14M $-4.31M
Q3-2025 $-1.68M $8.89M $1.94M $-1.37M $9.46M $8.28M
Q2-2025 $-12.02M $-790K $-668K $0 $-1.46M $-2.16M
Q1-2025 $-16.22M $-7.34M $3.86M $0 $-3.48M $-8.89M

What's strong about this company's cash flow?

LEE turned a big corner this quarter, generating positive operating and free cash flow after a tough prior quarter. The business is now self-funding and not relying on outside money, with a growing cash balance.

What are the cash flow concerns?

The improvement relies heavily on stretching payables, which is a short-term fix and can't be repeated every quarter. Underlying net losses continue, and working capital swings make cash flow unpredictable.

Revenue by Products

Product Q2-2025Q3-2025Q4-2025Q1-2026
Advertising and Marketing Services
Advertising and Marketing Services
$60.00M $70.00M $60.00M $60.00M
Product and Service Other
Product and Service Other
$10.00M $10.00M $10.00M $10.00M
Subscription and Circulation
Subscription and Circulation
$60.00M $60.00M $70.00M $60.00M

Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary

Read Call Summary

5-Year Trend Analysis

A comprehensive look at Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's financial evolution and strategic trajectory over the past five years.

+ Strengths

Key positives include a long-established presence in many local markets, strong brand recognition in those communities, and deep relationships with local advertisers. The company has moved beyond being just a traditional publisher by building BLOX Digital and Amplified Digital, giving it real technology and digital marketing capabilities. It has demonstrated some discipline in reducing debt and overhead costs and has a clear strategic focus on digital subscriptions, SaaS solutions, and data-driven marketing.

! Risks

Major risks center on financial fragility and industry headwinds. Revenue and margins have been falling consistently, with the business now recording net losses and negative equity. Cash generation has weakened to the point where operations no longer reliably fund the business, and liquidity is tight. Structural decline in print, intense competition for digital ad dollars, and the need for ongoing technology investment all add pressure. These factors collectively raise concerns about solvency and the ability to sustain the transformation if performance does not improve.

Outlook

The outlook is best described as a high-stakes turnaround in a challenged industry. On one hand, the digital initiatives, AI partnerships, and growing digital-only and agency revenues show a plausible path toward a more modern, diversified media and technology company. On the other hand, the current financial trajectory—shrinking revenue, eroding margins, negative free cash flow, and a weakened balance sheet—suggests limited time and flexibility to execute. Future results will largely hinge on how quickly and profitably the digital businesses can grow relative to the ongoing decline in legacy print operations, a process that carries significant uncertainty.