greeksoup/ stock research

Lazard, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 1 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue up 17%, adjusted up 5%: Net revenue was $757 million, up 17% year over year. Adjusted net revenue was $673 million, up 5%, as the adjusted basis excludes certain items. Source
  • GAAP EPS rose, adjusted EPS fell: Diluted EPS was $0.91 on a U.S. GAAP basis, up 63% from $0.56. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.42, down 25% from $0.56 a year earlier. Source
  • Advisory net revenue fell 2%: Financial Advisory net revenue was $360 million, down 2%. Adjusted net revenue was $356 million, down 4%, both against the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted asset management revenue up 17%: Adjusted net revenue was $309 million, up 17%. Adjusted management fees were $296 million, up 25%, and incentive fees were $11 million against $9 million. Source
  • Adjusted compensation ratio rose: Adjusted compensation and benefits were $471 million, against $421 million a year earlier. The ratio rose to 69.9% from 65.5%. Source
  • Returned $174 million to shareholders: Returns comprised $47 million of dividends and $125 million in satisfaction of employee tax obligations on equity vesting, in lieu of share issuances. Source

“The acquisition of Campbell Lutyens is a meaningful step in Lazard’s long‑term strategy to build a more productive, resilient, and growth‑oriented firm,”

Peter R. Orszag, CEO and Chairman of Lazard

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Campbell Lutyens combined revenue Source2027approximately $500 millionNew
Adjusted compensation ratio target SourceLazard 2030 vision, timing dependent on market conditions60% or belowKept
Adjusted non-compensation ratio target SourceLazard 2030 vision, timing dependent on market conditionsbetween 16% to 20%Kept
Quarterly dividend SourceQuarter payable May 22, 2026$0.50 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Lazard entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Campbell Lutyens on April 30, 2026. Source
  • New: Other revenue is now shown separately from management fees, and prior periods were recast to match. Source
  • New: Share-based incentive and certain deferred compensation expense is now recognized under a changed accounting principle, with the cumulative effect reflected at December 31, 2025. Source
  • New: U.S. GAAP net revenue includes a non-cash gain on the sale and deconsolidation of the Edgewater management vehicles. Source

Results overview

  • Net revenue up 17%, adjusted up 5%: Net revenue was $757 million, up 17% year over year. Adjusted net revenue was $673 million, up 5%, as the adjusted basis excludes certain items. Source
  • GAAP EPS rose, adjusted EPS fell: Diluted EPS was $0.91 on a U.S. GAAP basis, up 63% from $0.56. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.42, down 25% from $0.56 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin narrowed: Adjusted operating income was $53.7 million, an adjusted operating margin of 8.0%, against 11.5% in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Financial Advisory

  • Advisory net revenue fell 2%: Financial Advisory net revenue was $360 million, down 2%. Adjusted net revenue was $356 million, down 4%, both against the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Large deals among client highlights: Highlighted client work included Keurig Dr. Pepper’s $23 billion acquisition of JDE Peet’s, Biogen’s $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis and Zurich’s £8.2 billion offer for Beazley. Source
  • Restructuring mandates on debtor side: Restructuring and liability management work includes debtor roles for First Brands Group, Pine Gate Renewables, Videndum and Xerox Holdings. Source

“While M&A revenue was affected by the timing of transactions, our outlook is optimistic, and the 28 new Managing Directors added to our Financial Advisory platform over the past year position us well for the future.”

Peter R. Orszag, CEO and Chairman of Lazard

Asset Management

  • Adjusted asset management revenue up 17%: Adjusted net revenue was $309 million, up 17%. Adjusted management fees were $296 million, up 25%, and incentive fees were $11 million against $9 million. Source
  • Average AUM up 15% year over year: Average AUM was $266 billion, up 15% year over year and 2% above the fourth quarter of 2025. Ending AUM was $259 billion, up 14%. Source
  • Inflows offset by currency and divestitures: Sequentially, net inflows of $9 billion and market appreciation of $0.4 billion were offset by $3 billion of foreign exchange depreciation and $1.5 billion of divestitures. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted compensation ratio rose: Adjusted compensation and benefits were $471 million, against $421 million a year earlier. The ratio rose to 69.9% from 65.5%. Source
  • Non-compensation ratio improved: Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $149 million, up 1%. The adjusted non-compensation ratio fell to 22.1% from 23.0%. Source
  • Executive departure costs excluded: Adjusted results exclude $16.7 million of expenses for the departure of certain executive officers, and $2.4 million of expenses related to the Transaction. Source
  • Tax benefit tied to share awards: The income tax benefit was $11 million on a U.S. GAAP basis and $16 million adjusted. Management linked it to discrete benefits on share-based awards that vested in the quarter. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $174 million to shareholders: Returns comprised $47 million of dividends and $125 million in satisfaction of employee tax obligations on equity vesting, in lieu of share issuances. Source
  • Repurchase authorization about $107 million: The remaining total share repurchase authorization was approximately $107 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Cash lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,021 million at March 31, 2026, against $1,469 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Client demand and strategy

  • Clients seek contextual alpha: Management said clients seek independent, differentiated advice and investment solutions grounded in contextual alpha that Lazard provides. Source
  • Private capital and capital solutions practices: Management described its Private Capital Advisory and Capital Solutions practices as providing tailored advice and access to a broad universe of capital providers. Source
  • Sovereign advisory practice remains active: The sovereign advisory practice continues to advise governments and sovereign entities across developed and emerging markets. Source

Coming up, as management said on 1 May 2026

  • Campbell Lutyens closing expected: Management expects the Campbell Lutyens transaction to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Source
  • Dividend payment date: The $0.50 quarterly dividend is payable May 22, 2026 to holders of record on May 11, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ending AUM Source$259,187 million ($259 billion)
Average AUM Source$265,520 million ($266 billion)
Net flows Source$9,005 million ($9 billion)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Foreign exchange depreciation reduced AUM by $3 billion in the quarter, alongside $1.5 billion of divestitures. Source
  • Operational: Management said it balances current talent-market conditions against long-term shareholder value when managing the compensation ratio. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing of the Campbell Lutyens acquisition depends on regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said Financial Advisory exceeded its Lazard 2030 growth goal for 2025, with 28 net Managing Director additions. 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.