LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc Do?
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated provides local news and information, and advertising services in the United States. The company offers print and digital editions of daily, weekly, and monthly newspapers and publications; and web hosting and content management services. It also 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 publications; and operates a digital marketing agency. The company was founded in 1890 and is based in Davenport, Iowa. LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) is classified as a micro-cap stock in the Communication Services sector, specifically within the Printing And Publishing industry. The company is led by CEO Kevin D. Mowbray and employs approximately 4,360 people, headquartered in DAVENPORT, Iowa. With a market capitalization of $187M, LEE is one of the notable companies in the Communication Services sector.
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 47.0/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.LEE ranks #895 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Communication Services sector, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc ranks #20 of 134 stocks, placing it in the top quartile of its Communication Services peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
LEE Stock Price and 52-Week Range
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) currently trades at $8.45. The stock lost $0.40 (4.6%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for LEE is $11.21, which means the stock is currently trading -24.7% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $3.34, putting the stock 152.8% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 39K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is LEE Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) carries a value factor score of 50/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.34x, compared to 0.55x for the average Communication Services stock. On an enterprise value basis, LEE trades at 9.12x EV/EBITDA, versus 4.98x for the sector.
Overall, LEE's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is -44.2%, compared to the Communication Services sector average of 1.0%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at -5.9% versus the sector average of -0.0%.
On a margin basis, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc reports gross margins of 66.4%, compared to 56.4% for the sector. The operating margin is 0.4% (sector: 0.4%). Net profit margin stands at -6.3%, versus -0.9% for the average Communication Services stock. Revenue growth is running at -13.6% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.0% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
LEE Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc has a debt-to-equity ratio of -1193.0%, compared to the Communication Services sector average of 82.0%. The low leverage indicates a conservative balance sheet with significant financial flexibility. The current ratio is 0.74x, which may signal near-term liquidity tightness.
LEE has a beta of 0.70, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc is 37/100, suggesting elevated price swings that may be unsuitable for conservative portfolios.
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc reported revenue of $553M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.92. Net income for the quarter was $-35M. Operating income came in at $2M.
In Q4 2025, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc reported revenue of $130M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.92. Net income for the quarter was $-5M. Operating income came in at $5M.
In FY 2025, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc reported revenue of $562M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-6.20. Net income for the quarter was $-36M. Revenue grew -8.0% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $-5M.
In Q3 2025, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc reported revenue of $141M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.31. Net income for the quarter was $-2M. Revenue grew -6.2% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $5M.
Over the past 8 quarters, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $151M to $553M. Investors analyzing LEE stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
LEE Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Printing And Publishing industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Communication Services dividend stocks may want to explore other Communication Services stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
LEE Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) has a momentum factor score of 50/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 37/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 48/100 reflects moderate short selling activity.
LEE vs Competitors — Communication Services Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Communication Services sector, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) ranks #20 out of 134 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places LEE in the top quartile of all Communication Services stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR SA (TIGO) with a score of 61.6/100, TEGNA INC (TGNA) with a score of 49.6/100, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC (VZ) with a score of 54.2/100, DELUXE CORP (DLX) with a score of 53.8/100, and NEW YORK TIMES CO (NYT) with a score of 53.2/100.
Comparing LEE against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full LEE vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
LEE Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy LEE? — Investment Thesis Summary
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. High volatility (stability score 37/100) increases portfolio risk.
In summary, LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 47.0/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on LEE stock.
Related Resources for LEE Investors
Explore more research and tools: LEE vs S&P 500 comparison, top Communication Services stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare LEE head-to-head with peers: LEE vs TIGO, LEE vs TGNA, LEE vs VZ.