Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund Common Stock (LGI)

FairStock Score: 54/100 — MIXED

Key Financials

Strengths

• Solid return on equity of 14.3% above cost of capital
• Conservative balance sheet with debt-to-equity of just 0.10, providing financial flexibility
• Altman Z-Score of 5.5 confirms minimal bankruptcy risk and strong solvency
• Attractive 10.2% dividend yield providing steady income returns

Concerns

• Weak Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 suggests deteriorating financial quality across multiple dimensions

AI Analysis

Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund Common Stock is a micro-cap financial services company valued at $227 million. Revenue stands at $5 million. From a quality standpoint, Lazard shows weak Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 signaling deteriorating fundamentals and Altman Z-Score of 5.5 confirms fortress-level solvency. On valuation, the stock is deeply undervalued on a P/E basis at 6.8x, with offers a 46% margin of safety vs Graham Number of $33. The 10.2% dividend yield adds an income component for patient holders. Our composite FairStock Score of 54/100 reflects mixed fundamentals overall. This combination of reasonable valuation, solid returns, and conservative leverage makes it worth a closer look for value-oriented portfolios.

Bull Case

The market underappreciates Lazard's consistent 14% ROE at just 7x earnings—a re-rating toward sector peers could unlock 30-50% upside. Operational leverage in the business model means incremental revenue growth could disproportionately boost bottom-line profitability.

Bear Case

Macro headwinds or sector-specific disruption could pressure margins, particularly if competitive intensity increases in the financial services space. Regulatory changes, input cost inflation, or demand normalization represent underappreciated risks that could materially impact forward estimates.

Data from SEC filings. AI analysis is for educational purposes only — not investment advice. Scoring methodology · Disclaimer