Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Purchases 1,157,599 Shares of Lincoln National Corporation $LNC

Key Points

• Dimensional Fund Advisors increased its stake in Lincoln National by 25.3% in Q3, adding 1,157,599 shares to hold 5,730,727 shares (3.02% of the company) worth about $231.1 million.
• Lincoln beat expectations for the quarter with $2.21 EPS vs. $1.86 consensus and $4.89B revenue, and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.45 ($1.80 annualized) yielding 5.3%, payable May 1 with an April 10 record date.
• Analysts have an average rating of "Hold" with a $46.25 price target, while the stock trades near $34 (down 3.1%), reflecting a P/E of 6.41 and a market cap of $6.47 billion.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC - Free Report) by 25.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,730,727 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 1,157,599 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 3.02% of Lincoln National worth $231,121,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lincoln National during the first quarter worth approximately $241,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in shares of Lincoln National by 30.9% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 71,981 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,585,000 after acquiring an additional 16,991 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lincoln National by 316.9% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 59,115 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,123,000 after purchasing an additional 44,936 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lincoln National by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 623,322 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $22,383,000 after purchasing an additional 29,421 shares during the period. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth boosted its position in shares of Lincoln National by 39.1% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 19,530 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $701,000 after purchasing an additional 5,486 shares during the last quarter. 72.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Lincoln National

In related news, EVP Sean Woodroffe sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.46, for a total value of $344,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 206,159 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,104,239.14. This represents a 4.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP John Christopher Kennedy sold 3,519 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.15, for a total value of $155,363.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 118,985 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,253,187.75. This trade represents a 2.87% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 16,569 shares of company stock valued at $627,484. 0.51% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LNC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Lincoln National in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho started coverage on Lincoln National in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Lincoln National from $52.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Zacks Research cut Lincoln National from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, National Bank Financial set a $45.00 price target on shares of Lincoln National in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Lincoln National currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $46.25.

Lincoln National Stock Down 3.1%

Shares of Lincoln National stock opened at $34.03 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. The business has a 50-day moving average of $40.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.17. Lincoln National Corporation has a 1 year low of $27.58 and a 1 year high of $46.82.

Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The financial services provider reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.85 billion. Lincoln National had a return on equity of 18.52% and a net margin of 6.46%.Lincoln National's revenue for the quarter was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.91 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Lincoln National Corporation will post 7.69 EPS for the current year.

Lincoln National Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. Lincoln National's payout ratio is currently 33.90%.

About Lincoln National

Lincoln National Corporation, doing business as Lincoln Financial Group, is a diversified financial services holding company focused on providing retirement, insurance, and wealth management solutions in the United States and select international markets. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the company operates through several business segments, including Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance, and Group Protection. Its offerings are designed to help individuals, families, and institutions plan and prepare for their financial futures.

The Retirement Plan Services segment delivers recordkeeping, administrative services, and investment management for defined contribution and defined benefit plans.

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