Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:LINC) Short Interest Up 20.1% in April

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:LINC) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,850,537 shares, an increase of 20.1% from the March 31st total of 1,540,974 shares. Currently, 6.7% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 368,849 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.0 days.

Insider Transactions at Lincoln Educational Services

In other Lincoln Educational Services news, Director Sylvia Jean Young sold 7,959 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.81, for a total transaction of $285,011.79. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 12,697 shares in the company, valued at $454,679.57. This represents a 38.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael A. Plater sold 17,256 shares of Lincoln Educational Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.73, for a total transaction of $616,556.88. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 17,568 shares in the company, valued at approximately $627,704.64. This trade represents a 49.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 458,665 shares of company stock valued at $16,061,744. Insiders own 12.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lincoln Educational Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LINC. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Lincoln Educational Services during the 1st quarter worth $213,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in Lincoln Educational Services by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 15,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $248,000 after acquiring an additional 681 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Lincoln Educational Services by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 47,648 shares of the company’s stock worth $756,000 after acquiring an additional 879 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in Lincoln Educational Services during the 1st quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc lifted its position in Lincoln Educational Services by 156.1% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,740 shares of the company’s stock worth $132,000 after acquiring an additional 3,499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.23% of the company’s stock.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of Lincoln Educational Services stock traded down $0.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $40.93. 237,384 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 330,756. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market cap of $1.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.97, a PEG ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $38.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.87. Lincoln Educational Services has a twelve month low of $17.29 and a twelve month high of $42.85.

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.42 by $0.08. Lincoln Educational Services had a net margin of 3.86% and a return on equity of 15.24%. The company had revenue of $142.87 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $131.70 million. Lincoln Educational Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.640-0.740 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Lincoln Educational Services will post 0.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LINC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price target on Lincoln Educational Services from $39.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Griffin Securities set a $38.00 target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Lincoln Educational Services from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $43.67.

About Lincoln Educational Services

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation is a publicly traded provider of career-focused post-secondary vocational education in the United States. Operating under the Lincoln Tech and Lincoln Culinary Institute brands, the company delivers hands-on technical instruction across high-growth industries. Its mission centers on equipping students with practical skills and industry credentials designed to meet employer needs.

The company’s program offerings span automotive technology, skilled trades, health sciences, information technology, culinary arts and public safety.