Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Reaches New 1-Year High Following Earnings Beat

Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The company traded as high as $19.79 and last traded at $18.28, with a volume of 77297 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.09.

The company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.11. Lincoln Educational Services had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 10.60%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LINC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. B. Riley upped their target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $20.00 target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lincoln Educational Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $18.00.

Insider Activity at Lincoln Educational Services

In related news, major shareholder Juniper Investment Company, Ll sold 15,827 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.12, for a total transaction of $255,131.24. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 546,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,814,947.96. This represents a 2.81 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 137,116 shares of company stock valued at $2,244,600. 16.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Lincoln Educational Services

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 156.4% during the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,267 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,383 shares during the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 39.6% during the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,731 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 775 shares during the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $101,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $135,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD purchased a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $171,000. 72.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day moving average price is $16.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a current ratio of 1.57. The stock has a market cap of $583.94 million, a PE ratio of 57.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.41.

Lincoln Educational Services Company Profile

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides various career-oriented post-secondary education services to high school graduates and working adults in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Campus Operations and Transitional. It offers associate's degree, and diploma and certificate programs in automotive technology; skilled trades programs, including electrical, heating and air conditioning repair, welding, computerized numerical control, and electrical and electronic systems technology; health science programs comprising licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, dental assistant, medical assistant, medical administrative assistant, and claims examiner; hospitality service and information technology programs, such as culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, aesthetics, and computer systems support technicians.