Willis Investment Counsel Buys 6,194 Shares of Lamar Advertising Company $LAMR
by Danessa Lincoln · The Markets DailyWillis Investment Counsel increased its stake in shares of Lamar Advertising Company (NASDAQ:LAMR – Free Report) by 50.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,405 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after buying an additional 6,194 shares during the quarter. Willis Investment Counsel’s holdings in Lamar Advertising were worth $2,330,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Quent Capital LLC bought a new stake in Lamar Advertising during the third quarter worth $26,000. Alpine Bank Wealth Management bought a new stake in Lamar Advertising during the third quarter worth $27,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Lamar Advertising during the third quarter worth $33,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its holdings in Lamar Advertising by 151.0% during the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 251 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new stake in Lamar Advertising during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors own 93.78% of the company’s stock.
Lamar Advertising Stock Up 2.6%
Shares of NASDAQ:LAMR opened at $132.12 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $13.39 billion, a PE ratio of 22.90 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $131.49 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $127.84. Lamar Advertising Company has a 1 year low of $99.84 and a 1 year high of $139.76.
Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.18 by ($0.68). The firm had revenue of $595.93 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $592.70 million. Lamar Advertising had a return on equity of 58.58% and a net margin of 25.91%.Lamar Advertising has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.720-5.830 EPS. Analysts forecast that Lamar Advertising Company will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.
Lamar Advertising Increases Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th were paid a dividend of $1.60 per share. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 16th. This is a positive change from Lamar Advertising’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.55. Lamar Advertising’s dividend payout ratio is currently 110.92%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on LAMR shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Lamar Advertising from $121.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. UBS Group set a $150.00 price objective on Lamar Advertising in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded Lamar Advertising from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Lamar Advertising in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $140.00 price objective on Lamar Advertising in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $139.80.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Lamar Advertising
Insider Buying and Selling at Lamar Advertising
In other news, EVP Ross Lamar Reilly sold 5,969 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.65, for a total transaction of $767,911.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 15,850 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,039,102.50. This represents a 27.36% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 14.99% of the company’s stock.
About Lamar Advertising
Lamar Advertising Company (NASDAQ: LAMR) is one of North America’s largest outdoor advertising firms, specializing in out-of-home media solutions. Since its founding in 1902, the company has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to offer a broad portfolio of advertising products. Its core business centers on billboard advertising, encompassing traditional static billboards and a rapidly expanding network of digital displays. These assets enable advertisers to reach consumers with high-impact messaging along highways, in urban centers, and at high-traffic intersections.
In addition to highway billboards, Lamar offers a variety of supplemental out-of-home formats, including transit advertising on buses and shelters, and logo signage at travel plazas and gas stations.