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Upturn AI SWOT - About
LEE 
Lee Enterprises Incorporated (LEE)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/14/2025: LEE (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
0 Analysts rated it
Very few follow this stock; limited insights, higher-risk early investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 11.16% | Avg. Invested days 28 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 08/14/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 39.06M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 20 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 20 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 0.77 | 52 Weeks Range 5.83 - 19.63 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 5.83 - 19.63 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -7.28 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin -7.38% | Operating Margin (TTM) 0.72% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 1.08% | Return on Equity (TTM) -146.22% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 15.11 | Enterprise Value 520200001 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07 |
Enterprise Value 520200001 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.88 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 25.23 | Shares Outstanding 6220060 | Shares Floating 3405796 |
Shares Outstanding 6220060 | Shares Floating 3405796 | ||
Percent Insiders 33.96 | Percent Institutions 39.83 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Lee Enterprises Incorporated
Company Overview
History and Background
Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890 by James W. Lee in Davenport, Iowa. It has grown through acquisitions to become a major newspaper publisher in the United States, focusing on local news and information.
Core Business Areas
- Publishing: Lee Enterprises publishes daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, and niche publications. These publications deliver local news, advertising, and information to communities.
- Digital Services: The company offers digital marketing services, including SEO, social media management, and website design, to businesses. This segment has become increasingly important.
- Printing and Distribution: Lee Enterprises provides commercial printing and distribution services to other businesses.
Leadership and Structure
Kevin Mowbray serves as the CEO of Lee Enterprises. The company operates with a decentralized structure, allowing local publishers to manage their operations while adhering to corporate guidelines.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Local Newspapers: Lee Enterprises' core product is local newspapers, providing news, information, and advertising. Market share varies significantly by region. Competitors include Gannett, McClatchy, and local independent news sources. Revenue is declining year over year.
- Digital Marketing Services: Digital marketing services provided to local businesses. The market is highly competitive, with numerous local and national providers. Competitors include large digital agencies and smaller local marketing firms. This segment is growing.
- The Local IQ: A suite of digital tools and services to help local businesses with advertising and marketing, including SEO, social media and programmatic. Competitors include Google, Facebook and various marketing technology platforms. Revenue is growing.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The newspaper industry is facing significant challenges due to declining print advertising revenue and increasing competition from online sources. Digital transformation and diversification are crucial for survival.
Positioning
Lee Enterprises is positioned as a provider of local news and information, with a focus on adapting to the digital age through online subscriptions and digital services.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The estimated TAM for local media and digital marketing services is large, potentially in the billions of dollars annually. Lee Enterprises is positioned to capture a share of this market through its existing local presence and digital transformation efforts.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Established local presence
- Strong local news brands
- Diversification into digital services
- Large subscriber base
Weaknesses
- High debt levels
- Declining print advertising revenue
- Slow digital transformation
- Legacy cost structure
Opportunities
- Growth in digital subscriptions
- Expansion of digital marketing services
- Strategic acquisitions
- Partnerships with other media companies
Threats
- Competition from online news sources
- Declining print readership
- Economic downturn
- Increasing costs of newsprint
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- GCI
- MCH
- DNN
Competitive Landscape
Lee Enterprises competes in a challenging media landscape. It has advantages in its local presence and brand recognition, but it faces disadvantages in its high debt load and legacy cost structure.
Major Acquisitions
BH Media Group
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 140
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded Lee Enterprises' footprint and scale in the newspaper industry. Increased its presence in key markets.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Lee Enterprises' historical growth has been challenged by the decline in print media. The company is focused on digital transformation to drive future growth.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates for future growth are available from financial research providers. These projections typically depend on the company's ability to successfully transition to digital business models.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include investments in digital marketing services, efforts to grow digital subscriptions, and strategic acquisitions to expand the company's footprint.
Summary
Lee Enterprises faces challenges due to declining print revenue but is actively working on digital transformation. Its established local presence and digital marketing services offer potential for growth. However, its high debt and competition are significant headwinds. The company's success hinges on its ability to successfully transition to a digital-first business model and manage its debt effectively.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Lee Enterprises' SEC Filings
- Financial News Articles
- Industry Reports
- Company Website
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is not financial advice. Investment decisions should be made after consulting with a qualified financial advisor.
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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