Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Hits New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $24.20 and last traded at $23.37, with a volume of 562672 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $23.26.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on LINC shares. Lake Street Capital lifted their target price on Lincoln Educational Services from $21.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Barrington Research raised their price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. B. Riley restated a "buy" rating on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price objective on Lincoln Educational Services from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Northland Capmk upgraded Lincoln Educational Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $24.60.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $733.27 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 72.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.63. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $18.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.08. 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 - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $117.51 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $114.55 million. Lincoln Educational Services had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 10.60%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Lincoln Educational Services Co. will post 0.54 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Lincoln Educational Services news, Director James J. Burke, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.40, for a total transaction of $214,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 87,230 shares in the company, valued at $1,866,722. The trade was a 10.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Carlton Rose sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.63, for a total value of $708,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 15,295 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $361,420.85. This trade represents a 66.23% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 45,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,030,000. Company insiders own 13.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lincoln Educational Services

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 14,976 shares of the company's stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 643 shares during the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 39.6% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,731 shares of the company's stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 775 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 47,648 shares of the company's stock worth $756,000 after purchasing an additional 879 shares during the last quarter. Informed Momentum Co LLC increased its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Informed Momentum Co LLC now owns 48,920 shares of the company's stock worth $776,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 156.4% in the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,267 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,383 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.23% of the company's stock.

About Lincoln Educational Services

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.