Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC) Reaches a New 52-Week High Following Earnings Report

Lincoln National Co. (NYSE:LNC) saw its shares soar to a new 52-week high on Friday after the company released an earnings report that exceeded expectations. The stock peaked at $37.15 during the trading session, ultimately closing at $36.83. This represents a notable increase from its previous close of $35.77, with a trading volume of 1,220,737 shares.

The financial services company reported earnings of $1.91 per share (EPS) for the recent quarter, outperforming analysts' expectations, which had been set at $1.87. This exceeds the forecast by $0.04. Furthermore, Lincoln National achieved a return on equity of 18.15% and a net profit margin of 2.51%, showcasing its solid financial performance.

Dividends Declared by Lincoln National

In addition to its earnings success, Lincoln National recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, which was paid on Monday, February 3rd. The dividend was awarded to all investors on record as of January 10th. This quarterly dividend translates to an annualized total of $1.80 per share, amounting to a yield of 4.89%. The ex-dividend date was also set for January 10th. Notably, Lincoln National's payout ratio stands at a high 128.57%, indicating a considerable commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Analyst Ratings for Lincoln National

Several research firms have recently updated their ratings for Lincoln National. StockNews.com upgraded the stock from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating on November 7th. In another evaluation, TD Cowen raised their price target for Lincoln National from $34.00 to $37.00 while maintaining a "hold" rating. Barclays, however, lowered its price target from $38.00 to $36.00 and maintained an "equal weight" rating. Additionally, Wells Fargo reduced its target from $29.00 to $28.00, also assigning an "equal weight" rating. Currently, one analyst rates the stock as a sell, nine give it a hold, and one analyst has issued a buy rating. The consensus rating is "Hold" with a target price of $33.40 according to MarketBeat.com.

Institutional Investment Activity

Recent changes in institutional investments show a fluctuating interest in Lincoln National. Blue Trust Inc. significantly increased its stake by 535.5% in the third quarter, thus owning 1,074 shares valued at $33,000. Similarly, Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in the company by 95.3%, owning 1,086 shares worth approximately $34,000 after adding an additional 530 shares recently. In the fourth quarter, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. entered a new position valued at around $36,000. Other notable investments came from Eastern Bank and Meeder Asset Management Inc., with new stakes valued at approximately $40,000 and $48,000, respectively. Presently, about 72.81% of Lincoln National's stock is held by hedge funds and institutional investors.

Lincoln National Stock Performance

In the trading session, Lincoln National's shares increased by 2.9%. The company exhibits a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Its debt-to-equity ratio is recorded at 0.73, and the market capitalization stands at $6.27 billion. With a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 26.29 and a P/E/G ratio of 0.27, the stock reflects its current earning power compared to its growth potential. Over the past 50 days, the stock has maintained a simple moving average of $32.91 and a 200-day average of $32.45.

Overview of Lincoln National

Lincoln National Corporation operates various insurance and retirement services in the United States through its subsidiaries. Its operations are categorized into four segments: Life Insurance, Annuities, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services. The Life Insurance segment offers a variety of life insurance products, including term, universal, indexed universal, and variable universal life insurance options, along with riders for critical illness and long-term care.

Lincoln, Earnings, High