Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC)’s share price gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $16.00, but opened at $16.33. Lincoln Educational Services shares last traded at $16.36, with a volume of 17,014 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on LINC. B. Riley began coverage on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research note on Friday. They set a “buy” rating and a $23.00 target price for the company. Rosenblatt Securities increased their target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $22.00 price target on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.00.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $507.38 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.61. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $16.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a current ratio of 1.57.

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 24th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $119.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $110.50 million. Lincoln Educational Services had a return on equity of 10.60% and a net margin of 2.33%. Sell-side analysts predict that Lincoln Educational Services Co. will post 0.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lincoln Educational Services

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Lincoln Educational Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $288,000. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in Lincoln Educational Services by 259.0% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 34,220 shares of the company’s stock valued at $408,000 after purchasing an additional 24,688 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Lincoln Educational Services by 248.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 39,646 shares of the company’s stock valued at $473,000 after purchasing an additional 28,275 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. boosted its stake in Lincoln Educational Services by 24.5% in the fourth quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 84,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,343,000 after purchasing an additional 16,693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 3.5% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 74,935 shares of the company’s stock worth $895,000 after purchasing an additional 2,545 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.23% of the company’s stock.

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.