Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.02 EPS

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.02, Zacks reports. Lincoln Educational Services had a return on equity of 14.47% and a net margin of 3.99%. The business had revenue of $159.18 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $152.46 million. Lincoln Educational Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 0.740-0.830 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Lincoln Educational Services’ conference call:

• Third-quarter results showed strong growth: student starts rose 14.2%, revenue increased 12.6% to $159.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA grew 30.8% to $17.4 million. Ending student population was up 11% year over year.
• Lincoln raised its full-year revenue outlook to $600 million–$605 million and narrowed its student-start growth forecast to 10%–12%, while maintaining its adjusted EBITDA guidance of $76 million–$80 million. The EBITDA outlook includes approximately $10 million in new-campus losses.
• Marketing remains a challenge: cost per lead is about 20% higher than a year ago, and management expects cost per start to remain elevated in the near term. Executives cited changes in search and AI platforms as reasons the company is diversifying lead-generation channels.
• The company is expanding capacity through new and expanded campuses, including locations in Hicksville, Rowlett, Tempe, and Suitland. Management said the lower-cost “focus program” model for Suitland is expected to require about $10 million in investment and could generate $5 million in annual EBITDA when fully ramped.
• Lincoln repurchased about 871,000 shares for approximately $21 million during the quarter and expanded its buyback authorization, with more than $37 million of capacity remaining. It ended the quarter with $135.6 million in liquidity, while noting future repurchases will depend on market conditions and capital needs.

Lincoln Educational Services Price Performance

Shares of LINC traded up $0.78 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $22.78. 63,671 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 635,090. Lincoln Educational Services has a 12 month low of $17.11 and a 12 month high of $56.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The stock has a market cap of $722.52 million, a PE ratio of 31.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.85. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $22.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $35.55.

More Lincoln Educational Services News

Here are the key news stories impacting Lincoln Educational Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Lincoln reported Q3 adjusted earnings of $0.15 per share, above the $0.13 consensus, and revenue of $159.18 million versus estimates of $152.46 million. Student starts rose more than 14% and adjusted EBITDA grew nearly 31%, signaling improved enrollment and operating performance. Lincoln Educational Services Reports Strong Third Quarter Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $600 million–$605 million, above the $594 million analyst consensus, and forecast 10%–12% growth in student starts. Its EPS guidance of $0.74–$0.83 brackets the $0.77 consensus. Lincoln Educational raises 2026 revenue outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Rosenblatt Securities lowered its price target from $50 to $40 but maintained a Buy rating. The target reduction is a cautionary signal, while the retained rating indicates the analyst still sees upside. Rosenblatt Securities stock recommendations
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms publicized a securities class action and the November 10 lead-plaintiff deadline. The suit concerns investors who bought shares from May 11 to August 9 and alleges the company did not adequately disclose problems converting admissions into student starts. The litigation adds uncertainty, though the notices largely repeat the same case. Lincoln shareholder alert

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on LINC. Rosenblatt Securities cut their price target on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $50.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Lake Street Capital decreased their price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $55.00 to $50.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. B. Riley Financial dropped their target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $56.00 to $52.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. Finally, Barrington Research set a $50.00 target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lincoln Educational Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $48.33.

Lincoln Educational Services Company Profile

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, doing business primarily under the Lincoln Tech name, provides career-oriented postsecondary education and training in the United States. The company prepares students for employment in fields such as automotive technology, skilled trades, healthcare, information technology, culinary arts and cosmetology.

Lincoln Tech offers diploma, certificate and degree programs through campus-based and online or hybrid learning formats, depending on the program.