Insider Trading March 13, 2026

Lee Enterprises Director Acquires $780,624 in Stock Over Three Days

Director David Henry Hoffmann bought 83,400 shares in mid-March as company reports mixed first-quarter 2026 results

By Maya Rios LEE
Lee Enterprises Director Acquires $780,624 in Stock Over Three Days
LEE

Lee Enterprises director David Henry Hoffmann purchased 83,400 shares of the company's common stock across three transactions from March 11 to March 13, 2026, spending $780,624 at prices between $9.33 and $9.40 per share. The transactions, recorded on a Form 4 with the SEC and coded 'P', leave Hoffmann with more than 11.2 million shares directly and an additional indirect holding through a trust. The stock has advanced sharply year-to-date but faces recent short-term pressure; Lee's Q1 2026 results showed strong adjusted EBITDA growth but an EPS shortfall versus expectations.

Key Points

  • Director David Henry Hoffmann purchased 83,400 shares of Lee Enterprises between March 11 and March 13, 2026, across three transactions of 27,800 shares each; trades were coded "P."
  • Total consideration for the purchases was $780,624, with per-share prices ranging from $9.33 to $9.40; Hoffmann now directly owns 11,266,449 shares and indirectly owns 618,900 shares via a trust.
  • Lee's Q1 2026 results showed a 61% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA and a rise in digital revenue, but EPS of -$0.90 missed the expected -$0.69; the company set its 2026 annual meeting for April 6, 2026.

Insider purchases

According to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, David Henry Hoffmann, a director at Lee Enterprises (NASDAQ:LEE), bought a total of 83,400 shares of the company's common stock in three separate purchases executed between March 11 and March 13, 2026. Each day's acquisition consisted of 27,800 shares and was reported with transaction code "P."

Transaction specifics

The three trades were carried out at prices spanning $9.33 to $9.40 per share, producing an aggregate outlay of $780,624. The filing lists Hoffmann's direct ownership following the transactions at 11,266,449 shares, with an additional 618,900 shares held indirectly through a trust.

Market context

Lee's common stock was trading at $9.59 at the time of the report. The share price has risen 86% year-to-date and is up 109% over the past six months; however, it has fallen nearly 8% over the previous week. Separately, InvestingPro analysis cited in the filing indicates the stock currently appears overvalued relative to its Fair Value.

Recent corporate results and calendar items

Lee Enterprises released first-quarter 2026 financial results on February 10, 2026. The report highlighted a notable increase in digital revenue and a 61% year-over-year gain in adjusted EBITDA. Despite that operating improvement, the company's earnings per share missed expectations, reporting EPS of -$0.90 versus a projected -$0.69.

In governance matters, the Board of Directors has approved the date for Lee Enterprises' 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as April 6, 2026. The board noted that the meeting date is more than 30 days earlier than the prior year's meeting, creating a new deadline for shareholder proposals to be included in the 2026 proxy statement.


What the filing shows

The SEC Form 4 documents the three purchases and the change in Hoffmann's holdings, showing both direct and indirect ownership levels without additional commentary on intent. The transaction code "P" is used across the reported trades.

Disclosure

No additional disclosures are included in the company filing beyond the ownership and transaction details reported to the SEC.

Risks

  • Short-term price volatility - The stock has declined nearly 8% in the past week despite strong year-to-date gains, indicating recent market weakness that could affect holders in the media and broader equity markets.
  • Valuation concerns - InvestingPro analysis cited in the filing indicates the stock appears overvalued relative to its Fair Value, posing valuation risk for investors in media and publishing equities.
  • Earnings shortfall - First-quarter 2026 EPS missed expectations (reported -$0.90 vs. projected -$0.69), introducing uncertainty about near-term profitability and cash flow in the company's operating performance.

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