Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) Fair Value 2026

LEE · Publishing ·

By CirclFi Research Team · Data from SEC EDGAR, FRED & GDELT

Quality Score

5.2 /10

32 fundamental signals · 1 models active

Value Trap Risk

WARN (48/100)

Quick Summary — As of 2026-08-27, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) trades at $8.26. QOC: 5.2/10. Value Trap Risk: 48/100 (WARN). 1/13 models active.

Key Facts

Ticker
LEE
Price
$8.26
Quality Score
5.2/10
Value Trap Risk
48/100
Models Active
1/13
Last Updated
Strength: PWERM suggests +110.2% upside with 32% confidence
Risk: Value Trap score of 48 suggests caution despite apparent undervaluation

What Fair Value Does Each Model Give LEE?

1 Intrinsic Value Models vs. Current Price ($8.26)

Core Models (Unlocked)
Model Fair Value Upside
Option-Based · Medium Conviction
 $17.36 +110.2%

All Models Active

All 1 models are displayed above.

What Is Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) Worth in 2026?

According to the CirclFi Deep Alpha Valuation Engine, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's intrinsic value is estimated at a median fair value of $17.36. At a current market price of $8.26, 1 of 1 active valuation models identify upside potential, projecting a median implied return of +110.2%.

What Do the Models Say About LEE?

1 of 13 models are currently active for LEE. All 1 active models suggest the stock trades below fair value. See which stocks rank higher →

How Does LEE Rank in Publishing?

Among 9 Publishing stocks, LEE ranks #8 by Quality of Company score. CirclFi's QOC score of 5.2/10 evaluates 32 fundamental signals. A score of 5.2 reflects mixed fundamentals.

The Publishing sector introduces analytical considerations specific to telecom operator businesses. For Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, metrics like capital intensity ratio provide important context that general-purpose valuation models may underweight.

Is LEE a Value Trap?

CirclFi's Value Trap algorithm assigns LEE a score of 48/100 (WARN). This is a warning signal. Additional research into recent 10-Q filings is recommended. The score cross-references apparent undervaluation against fundamental deterioration signals. Browse lowest value-trap stocks →

Multi-Model Methodology

1 of 13 models are active for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. Limited activation may indicate insufficient history. Each model applies a fundamentally different valuation philosophy. See the complete methodology →

According to the CirclFi Quality of Company (QOC) framework, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated earns a quality score of 5.2/10. This mixed rating reflects the company's standing across 32 fundamental signals spanning profitability, growth consistency, balance sheet strength, and capital allocation efficiency. Our Value Trap detector shows moderate caution signals worth monitoring.

CirclFi runs 13 independent models for each stock. Browse all stocks with 13-model coverage →

Data Sources & Confidence

Every LEE valuation is built from SEC EDGAR XBRL filings — 700+ standardized financial tags. Macroeconomic context from FRED calibrates discount rates, while GDELT news sentiment feeds into our Sentiment SOTP model. All pipelines run daily. Read the complete data methodology →

Across LEE's 1 active models, average confidence is 32%. Lower confidence may reflect limited history or high volatility.

CirclFi's output is a research starting point, not a buy/sell signal. All data updates daily. Read the full methodology →

This analysis is produced by the CirclFi Valuation Engine using quantitative models applied to SEC EDGAR filings, public market feeds, and FRED macroeconomic indicators. It is not financial advice.

Read the full investment analysis: Should You Buy Lee Enterprises, Incorporated Stock in 2026? →

Bull case, bear case, risk factors & peer comparison — updated daily

Which Similar Publishing Stocks Should You Also Analyze?

8 related Publishing stocks with 13-model coverage

NYTThe New York Times CompanyQOC 9.4WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.QOC 8.0WLYJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.QOC 8.0SCHLScholastic CorporationQOC 7.8EDUCEducational Development CorporationQOC 7.5PSOPearson plcQOC 7.4TDAYUSA TODAY Co., Inc.QOC 6.1TNMGTNL MediageneQOC 2.4

Read investment analysis: NYT · WLYB · WLY · SCHL · EDUC · PSO · TDAY · TNMG

Which Other Stocks Have a Similar Quality Score to LEE?

7 companies across all industries closest to LEE’s Quality of Company score of 5.2/10.

ELUTElutia Inc.QOC 5.2CTSOCytosorbents CorporationQOC 5.2CBUSCibus, Inc.QOC 5.2NAASNaaS Technology Inc.QOC 5.2GRHIGold Rock Holdings, Inc.QOC 5.2DAICCID HoldCo, Inc.QOC 5.2NVDANVIDIA CorporationQOC 10.0

Read investment analysis: ELUT · CTSO · CBUS · NAAS · GRHI · DAIC · NVDA

What Else Do Investors Ask About Lee Enterprises, Incorporated’s Valuation?

What is Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's intrinsic value in 2026?

CirclFi does not yet have enough active models to publish a median fair value for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). The Quality of Company score is 5.2/10 across 32 fundamental signals. All models use SEC EDGAR filings updated daily. See our methodology page for how each model works.

Is LEE overvalued or undervalued right now?

At $8.26, 1 of 1 active models suggest LEE may be undervalued, while 0 indicate potential overvaluation. The assessment depends on which methodology best fits Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's business model in Publishing.

What does a Quality of Company score of 5.2 mean for LEE?

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's QOC of 5.2/10 reflects 32 fundamental signals: profitability margins, revenue growth consistency, balance sheet leverage, free cash flow generation, and capital allocation efficiency. Scores between 5-7 reflect moderate fundamentals with areas for improvement.

How many valuation models does CirclFi run on LEE?

CirclFi analyzes LEE with 13 institutional-grade models daily: Bayesian DCF (Monte Carlo + jump-diffusion), EPV (Greenwald zero-growth), EROIC Spread (McKinsey reinvestment), First Chicago (3-scenario), Markov DDM (regime-switching), ML-RIV (machine learning residual income), Dynamic NAV (asset-based), PWERM (option-theoretic), Regime Cross-Sectional (relative), Sentiment SOTP (hybrid), CUCE Ensemble (meta-model), FTNN Topology (neural network), and RCMH-DCF (conditional regime). Currently 1 of 13 are active for this stock. Read the full methodology →

Is LEE a value trap in 2026?

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's Value Trap score is 48/100 (WARN). This elevated score suggests the stock may look undervalued but faces deteriorating fundamentals — declining margins, rising debt, or shrinking revenue could make the apparent discount deceptive. Browse our ranked stock lists to compare value-trap scores across industries. Browse stocks by value-trap risk →

Cite this analysis — “CirclFi assigns Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) a Quality of Company score of 5.2/10 across 32 fundamental signals as of 2026-08-27.” Source: circlfi.com/stock/LEE/ · Methodology
Primary sources for this LEE valuation
  • Financial statements: Lee Enterprises, Incorporated 10-K and 10-Q filings on SEC EDGAR (CIK 0000058361) — 700+ standardized XBRL tags, published by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Discount-rate inputs: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — risk-free rates, VIX, yield curve, inflation.
  • News sentiment: The GDELT Project — global media tone, input to the Sentiment SOTP model.
  • Model definitions: CirclFi methodology — the published specification for all 13 models, including the academic sources each one implements.

Market data for LEE as of ; valuations recomputed .