Lazard Shares Soar 1.69% on Analyst Upgrade, AUM Growth

Lazard(LAZ) shares rose to their highest level since February 2025 today, with an intraday gain of 1.69%.

The strategy of buying LAZ shares after they reach a recent high and holding for one week resulted in a 60.78% return, vastly outperforming the benchmark, which had a return of -100.00%. The strategy's Sharpe ratio was 0.61, indicating a good risk-adjusted return, and it had a maximum drawdown of 0.00%, suggesting it effectively managed risk. The volatility was 34.31%, which implies significant price swings, but the strategy's CAGR of 20.92% shows steady growth over the 5-year period.

Lazard's stock price has been influenced by several recent developments. Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown raised the price target for Lazard from $38.00 to $50.00, reflecting a more optimistic view of the company's potential market performance. This adjustment suggests that Lazard's future prospects are being viewed more favorably, which could positively impact its stock price.

Additionally, Lazard's assets under management (AUM) increased by 5.5% month-on-month, totaling approximately $248.4 billion by the end of June 2025. This growth in AUM indicates that Lazard is successfully attracting and managing more assets, which is a positive sign for the company's financial health and future earnings potential.

However, the market sentiment towards Lazard remains mixed. Wall Street Zen downgraded Lazard shares from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating. Furthermore, the consensus recommendation from 10 brokerage firms is "Hold," indicating that while some analysts are optimistic about Lazard's prospects, others are more cautious. This mixed sentiment suggests that investors should approach Lazard's stock with a balanced perspective, considering both the positive developments and the potential risks.