Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Hits New 1-Year Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• LINC hit a new 52-week low, trading as low as $17.35, well below its 50-day average of $23.07.
• Investors face legal uncertainty: a proposed securities class action alleges the company did not disclose that enrolled students were failing to convert to class attendance. The lead-plaintiff deadline is November 10; the allegations have not been proven.
• Despite the share-price decline, analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with a $50 average price target; four rate the stock Buy and two Hold.

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:LINC - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low on Friday. The stock traded as low as $17.35 and last traded at $17.4340, with a volume of 50,462 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $17.55.

Key Headlines Impacting Lincoln Educational Services

Here are the key news stories impacting Lincoln Educational Services this week:

• Neutral Sentiment: A Q3 2026 earnings preview was published, but the available report provides no new results or estimates that would change the investment outlook. Lincoln Educational Services Q3 2026 Earnings Preview
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms reminded investors that the lead-plaintiff deadline for the securities class action is November 10. The suit covers investors who bought LINC shares from May 11 through August 9, 2026, and alleges the company misled investors about student-start trends. These are allegations, not court findings. Hagens Berman deadline alert
• Negative Sentiment: The complaint reportedly centers on Lincoln raising its full-year student-start guidance in May while allegedly failing to disclose that enrolled students were not converting into class attendance. The company’s August 10 Q2 update disclosed slower student starts; the alert says the shares then fell 24.9%. The litigation adds legal and reputational risk, though today’s notices are deadline reminders rather than a new ruling or company disclosure. SueWallSt class action reminder

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LINC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Lake Street Capital dropped their price target on Lincoln Educational Services from $55.00 to $50.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Rosenblatt Securities reduced their price objective on Lincoln Educational Services from $60.00 to $50.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings cut Lincoln Educational Services from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Barrington Research set a $50.00 price objective on Lincoln Educational Services in a report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, B. Riley Financial lowered their target price on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $56.00 to $52.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $50.00.

Lincoln Educational Services Trading Down 1.0%

The business's 50 day simple moving average is $23.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The company has a market capitalization of $551.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.85.

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter. Lincoln Educational Services had a net margin of 3.99% and a return on equity of 14.47%. The business had revenue of $142.56 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $139.49 million. Lincoln Educational Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.740-0.830 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Lincoln Educational Services Corporation will post 0.77 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Lincoln Educational Services

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in Lincoln Educational Services during the second quarter worth $123,906,000. Nicholas Investment Partners LP purchased a new position in Lincoln Educational Services in the second quarter worth $26,544,000. Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC purchased a new position in Lincoln Educational Services in the second quarter worth $17,773,731. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Lincoln Educational Services in the second quarter valued at $10,007,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Lincoln Educational Services in the second quarter valued at $9,930,000. 72.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lincoln Educational Services Company Profile

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, doing business primarily under the Lincoln Tech name, provides career-oriented postsecondary education and training in the United States. The company prepares students for employment in fields such as automotive technology, skilled trades, healthcare, information technology, culinary arts and cosmetology.

Lincoln Tech offers diploma, certificate and degree programs through campus-based and online or hybrid learning formats, depending on the program.

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