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Lazard, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 11% in quarter: Net revenue was $907 million, up 11% from $817 million a year earlier and up from $748 million in the third quarter. Adjusted net revenue was $892 million, up 10%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted net income rose 9%: Full-year adjusted net income was $266 million, or $2.44 per diluted share, against $244 million and $2.34 a year earlier. U.S. GAAP net income was $237 million, or $2.17 per diluted share, against $2.68. Source
  • Asset Management revenue rose 18%: Asset Management adjusted net revenue was $339 million, up 18% from $287 million. GAAP net revenue was $367 million, also up 18%. Source
  • Adjusted compensation ratio held at 65.5%: The adjusted compensation ratio was 65.5% in the fourth quarter, against 65.6% a year earlier. For the full year it was 65.5%, against 65.9%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 16.7%: Adjusted operating income was $149 million, up 18% from $126 million and up 47% from the third quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 16.7%, against 15.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year AUM driven by markets: AUM rose from $226 billion to $254 billion over 2025. Market appreciation of $35.0 billion and currency gains of $11.1 billion offset net outflows of $18.1 billion. Source
  • Tracy Farr named chief financial officer: Lazard announced Tracy Farr's appointment as Chief Financial Officer alongside the fourth-quarter results. Source

“2025 demonstrates our ongoing focus on executing our Lazard 2030 long-term growth strategy, with record revenue in Financial Advisory and record gross inflows in Asset Management,”

Peter R. Orszag, CEO and Chairman of Lazard

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted compensation ratio SourceLazard 2030 long-term strategy, timing dependent on market conditions60% or belowKept
Adjusted non-compensation ratio SourceLazard 2030 long-term strategy, timing dependent on market conditions16% to 20%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Tracy Farr named Chief Financial Officer Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue rose 11% in quarter: Net revenue was $907 million, up 11% from $817 million a year earlier and up from $748 million in the third quarter. Adjusted net revenue was $892 million, up 10%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted net income rose 9%: Full-year adjusted net income was $266 million, or $2.44 per diluted share, against $244 million and $2.34 a year earlier. U.S. GAAP net income was $237 million, or $2.17 per diluted share, against $2.68. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP profit fell 42%: U.S. GAAP net income was $50 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, down from $86 million and $0.80. Adjusted net income was $89 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, against $85 million and $0.78. Source
  • Full-year net revenue rose 2%: Full-year net revenue was $3,099 million, up 2% from $3,052 million. Adjusted net revenue was $3,030 million, up 5% from $2,890 million. Source

Segment results

  • Financial Advisory revenue rose 7% adjusted: Financial Advisory net revenue was $542 million, up 4%, and adjusted net revenue was also $542 million, up 7%. Adjusted Financial Advisory revenue was $422 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Financial Advisory full-year revenue rose: Full-year Financial Advisory net revenue was $1,834 million, up 4%, and adjusted net revenue was $1,825 million, up 5%. The release headline describes full-year adjusted Financial Advisory revenue as a record. Source
  • Asset Management revenue rose 18%: Asset Management adjusted net revenue was $339 million, up 18% from $287 million. GAAP net revenue was $367 million, also up 18%. Source
  • Management fees rose 17%, incentive fees higher: Adjusted management fees and other revenue were $301 million, up 17% from a year earlier and 6% from the third quarter. Adjusted incentive fees were $37 million, against $29 million a year earlier. Source
  • Asset Management full-year revenue rose 6%: Full-year Asset Management net revenue was $1,275 million, up 7%, and adjusted net revenue was $1,166 million, up 6%. Adjusted incentive fees for the year were $59 million, against $43 million. Source

“Efforts to transform both businesses over the past two years are gaining traction and delivering results.”

Peter R. Orszag, CEO and Chairman of Lazard

Client and deal activity

  • Large M&A mandates across sectors: Listed Financial Advisory clients include Mars on Kellanova's $35.9 billion acquisition, Constellation Energy on its $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine, and AkzoNobel on its $25.0 billion combination with Axalta. Source
  • Private capital and continuation funds: Private equity work includes advising CVC Capital Partners on multiple engagements and Odyssey Investment Partners on a continuation fund. Capital structure work includes Lighthouse, NeXtwind and Ørsted. Source
  • Restructuring and sovereign mandates continue: Restructuring roles include debtor work for First Brands Group and Superior Industries and creditor work for Modivcare and Saks Global. The sovereign advisory practice remains active for governments. Source

Costs and expense ratios

  • Adjusted compensation ratio held at 65.5%: The adjusted compensation ratio was 65.5% in the fourth quarter, against 65.6% a year earlier. For the full year it was 65.5%, against 65.9%. Source
  • Adjusted non-compensation expenses rose 3%: Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $159 million, up 3% from a year earlier, against adjusted net revenue growth of 10%. Source
  • Full-year non-compensation ratio rose: U.S. GAAP non-compensation expenses were $705 million, up 5% from $670 million. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $613 million, up 7%. Source
  • GAAP compensation included transition expense: U.S. GAAP compensation and benefits were $638 million, against $534 million a year earlier. The reconciliation includes $44.0 million of senior management transition expense, against $6.1 million in the third quarter. Source

Margins and tax rate

  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 16.7%: Adjusted operating income was $149 million, up 18% from $126 million and up 47% from the third quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 16.7%, against 15.5% a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP operating income fell 21%: U.S. GAAP operating income was $85 million, down 21% from $107 million a year earlier and down 11% from the third quarter. Full-year GAAP operating income was $328 million, against $386 million. Source
  • Quarterly tax rates diverged by basis: The quarterly effective tax rate was 36.2% on a U.S. GAAP basis and 29.5% on an adjusted basis. Full-year effective tax rates were 23.4% on a U.S. GAAP basis and 22.7% adjusted, against 24.4% adjusted a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted margin 14.3%: Full-year adjusted operating income was $432 million, up 5%, with adjusted operating margin of 14.3%, against 14.2% a year earlier. Source

Assets under management and flows

  • Full-year AUM driven by markets: AUM rose from $226 billion to $254 billion over 2025. Market appreciation of $35.0 billion and currency gains of $11.1 billion offset net outflows of $18.1 billion. Source
  • Inflows excluding one relationship were $8.4B: Excluding one large U.S. sub-advised relationship, full-year net inflows were $8.4 billion. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net outflows of $19.7B: Fourth-quarter net flows were negative $19.7 billion, against positive $4.6 billion in the third quarter. Market and currency appreciation added $9.5 billion. Source
  • Local equity AUM declined in quarter: Local equity AUM fell to $37.0 billion from $52.4 billion at September 30, 2025, a 29.5% drop, while Global and Emerging Markets equity rose. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter returns totaled $98 million: Returns comprised $47 million of dividends, $50 million of repurchases and $0.4 million of employee tax settlements. The company repurchased 1.0 million shares at an average $49.12. Source
  • Full-year repurchases of 1.9 million shares: For 2025, returns totaled $393 million: $187 million of dividends, $91 million of repurchases and $115 million of employee tax settlements. Source
  • Repurchase authorization about $109 million: Remaining repurchase authorization was about $109 million at December 31, 2025, against about $159 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Cash and equivalents reached $1.47 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,469 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,172 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Contextual alpha framing of client work: Management cites client demand for contextual alpha, described as combining business decision-making with broader macroeconomic and geopolitical perspective. Source
  • Dual-business transformation gaining traction: Management said efforts to transform both businesses over the past two years are gaining traction and delivering results. Source

People and leadership

  • Tracy Farr named chief financial officer: Lazard announced Tracy Farr's appointment as Chief Financial Officer alongside the fourth-quarter results. Source
  • Transition expense tied to executive departures: Management attributes the fourth-quarter transition expense to the departure of certain executive officers. The third quarter related to an upcoming departure of one executive officer. Source
  • Managing Director hiring and productivity: The company hired 21 Managing Directors during 2025 and reported Financial Advisory revenue per Managing Director of $8.9 million, calculated on adjusted net revenue. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 January 2026

  • Quarterly dividend declared: The $0.50 per share dividend is payable February 20, 2026, to holders of record on February 9, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ending AUM Source$254 billion
Average AUM, fourth quarter Source$261 billion
Managing Directors hired Source21 during 2025
Revenue per Managing Director Source$8.9 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited the market for talent as a cost factor it balances against long-term shareholder value in managing compensation expense. Source
  • External: Management said timing of the 60% compensation ratio goal depends on market conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management states Financial Advisory is ahead of its 2030 targets. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said Chris Hogbin would join as Asset Management CEO later in 2025; the fourth-quarter release does not restate this.
  • Not stated: Management said it is focused on executing the Lazard 2030 strategy, with the release citing results to date. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.