Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for LECO Earnings

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for shares of Lincoln Electric in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, April 1st. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings of $2.65 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.63. The consensus estimate for Lincoln Electric’s current full-year earnings is $9.36 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Lincoln Electric’s Q2 2027 earnings at $2.96 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.92 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.93 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $11.39 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.73 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $11.84 EPS.

LECO has been the subject of a number of other reports. Roth Mkm reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $297.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Lincoln Electric in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. KeyCorp raised their target price on Lincoln Electric from $280.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird set a $330.00 target price on Lincoln Electric in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Lincoln Electric from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Lincoln Electric from $240.00 to $247.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lincoln Electric has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $296.29.

Lincoln Electric Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NASDAQ LECO opened at $249.76 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The business’s 50 day moving average is $271.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $250.63. Lincoln Electric has a 52-week low of $161.11 and a 52-week high of $310.00. The firm has a market cap of $13.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.80, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.28.

Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.12. Lincoln Electric had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 39.35%. The firm had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.57 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis.

Lincoln Electric Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Lincoln Electric’s payout ratio is presently 33.91%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lincoln Electric

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Lincoln Electric by 3.9% during the second quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,156 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $240,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Lincoln Electric by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 1,832 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $439,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. lifted its stake in Lincoln Electric by 2.8% in the third quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. now owns 1,692 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $399,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Profund Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Lincoln Electric by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 1,264 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $298,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Lincoln Electric by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,752 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $363,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.61% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Lincoln Electric

Here are the key news stories impacting Lincoln Electric this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple quarterly and full‑year EPS forecasts (including FY2027 and FY2028) — small upward lifts to Q3/2026, Q2–Q4/2027 and FY2027–FY2028 estimates suggest stronger future earnings expectations, which supports the stock. (Zacks Research release)
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley published a bullish outlook forecasting strong price appreciation, which can attract buyers and lend conviction to the upside case for LECO. Morgan Stanley Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Lincoln Electric
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays trimmed its price target from $310 to $280 but maintained an Overweight rating — the cut reduces upside from prior estmates but the retained positive rating tempers the negative signal. Barclays lowers price target on Lincoln Electric
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies downgraded LECO from Buy to Hold and cut its target (reported reductions from $350 to $280), arguing that an industrial recovery is largely priced in — that downgrade and rationale are the clearest near‑term headwind pressuring the stock. Wall Street Cuts Lincoln Electric as Industrial Recovery Already Priced In

About Lincoln Electric

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: LECO) is a global manufacturer and distributor of welding products, robotic welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment, and surface treatment systems. The company’s portfolio encompasses welding consumables such as electrodes and wires, as well as power sources, torches, and automated welding cells. Lincoln Electric also offers software solutions and training services designed to optimize productivity and quality in fabrication and manufacturing operations.

Founded in 1895 by John C.