Algert Global LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR)

Algert Global LLC boosted its position in shares of Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR - Free Report) by 7.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 77,566 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after acquiring an additional 5,656 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC owned 0.08% of Lamar Advertising worth $9,443,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of LAMR. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Lamar Advertising during the 3rd quarter valued at $323,000. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Lamar Advertising by 39.8% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 51,503 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $7,017,000 after buying an additional 14,672 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Lamar Advertising by 6.5% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,497,702 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $200,093,000 after buying an additional 90,933 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in Lamar Advertising by 46.6% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 450 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lamar Advertising by 31.2% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 761 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.78% of the company's stock.

Lamar Advertising Price Performance

NASDAQ LAMR traded down $0.46 on Friday, reaching $114.81. 936,623 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 505,770. The stock has a market cap of $11.76 billion, a PE ratio of 32.52 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.56. Lamar Advertising has a 12 month low of $99.84 and a 12 month high of $139.88. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $112.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $122.22.

Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $505.43 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $509.72 million. Lamar Advertising had a net margin of 16.40% and a return on equity of 30.20%. As a group, research analysts predict that Lamar Advertising will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Lamar Advertising Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $1.55 dividend. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.40%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Lamar Advertising's previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. Lamar Advertising's payout ratio is 175.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LAMR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Lamar Advertising from $129.00 to $126.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Lamar Advertising from $121.76 to $128.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Lamar Advertising from $135.00 to $125.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $132.60.

Lamar Advertising Profile

Lamar Advertising Company operates as an outdoor advertising company in the United States and Canada. The company owns and operates billboards, logo signs, and transit advertising displays, as well as rents space for advertising on billboards, buses, shelters, benches, logo plates, and in airport terminals.