Headlands Technologies LLC Takes Position in Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR)

Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 5,067 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $617,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rialto Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lamar Advertising during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Lamar Advertising by 58.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 293 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in Lamar Advertising by 46.6% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 450 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Lamar Advertising by 16.8% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 584 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Lamar Advertising by 14.7% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 701 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $85,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.78% of the company’s stock.

Lamar Advertising Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ LAMR opened at $115.94 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 32.84 and a beta of 1.53. Lamar Advertising has a 1-year low of $108.80 and a 1-year high of $139.88. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $121.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $126.68.

Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.74. Lamar Advertising had a net margin of 16.40% and a return on equity of 30.20%. The firm had revenue of $579.57 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $583.19 million. On average, research analysts expect that Lamar Advertising will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Lamar Advertising Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a $1.55 dividend. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.35%. This is a positive change from Lamar Advertising’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. Lamar Advertising’s dividend payout ratio is 175.64%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LAMR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Lamar Advertising from $129.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Citigroup upped their price objective on Lamar Advertising from $121.76 to $128.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $134.60.

About Lamar Advertising

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.