Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) Shares Cross Above Fifty Day Moving Average After Analyst Downgrade

Key Points

• Lincoln Educational Services shares moved above their 50-day average, trading as high as $23.68 and last at $23.00. Rosenblatt raised its price target from $45 to $60 and maintained a Buy rating; analysts’ average target is $48, with an overall Moderate Buy consensus.
• The company beat third-quarter expectations, reporting EPS of $0.15 versus $0.13 expected and revenue of $159.18 million versus $152.46 million. It also raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $600 million–$605 million.
• Investor sentiment faces potential headwinds from a securities class action alleging investors were not adequately informed about admissions and student-start issues; the claims are allegations.

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:LINC - Get Free Report)'s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday after Rosenblatt Securities raised their price target on the stock from $45.00 to $60.00. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $22.80 and traded as high as $23.68. Rosenblatt Securities currently has a buy rating on the stock. Lincoln Educational Services shares last traded at $23.00, with a volume of 1,196,394 shares trading hands.

A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on LINC. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Lake Street Capital reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. Northland Securities set a $50.00 price target on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research note on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Griffin Securities set a $38.00 price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Lincoln Educational Services has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $48.00.

Key Lincoln Educational Services News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 results beat expectations: EPS was $0.15 versus a $0.13 consensus, and revenue was $159.18 million versus $152.46 million expected. Student starts rose more than 14%, while adjusted EBITDA grew nearly 31%, supporting investor optimism about an enrollment rebound. Lincoln Educational Services Reports Strong Third Quarter Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Lincoln raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $600 million–$605 million, above the roughly $594 million consensus. Its EPS forecast of $0.74–$0.83 brackets the $0.77 consensus. Lincoln Educational raises 2026 revenue outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: B. Riley and Rosenblatt kept Buy ratings but lowered their price targets to $50 from $52 and $40 from $50, respectively. The positive ratings are tempered by the target cuts. B. Riley Adjusts Price Target
• Neutral Sentiment: Lincoln’s Houston campus received recognition for design and construction—favorable publicity, though likely a limited near-term financial catalyst. Houston Campus Recognized
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms publicized a securities class action and the lead-plaintiff deadline for investors who bought shares from May 11 to August 9, 2026. The suit alleges investors were not adequately informed about admissions and student-start issues; the claims are allegations, but the litigation may weigh on sentiment. Hagens Berman Lead Plaintiff Deadline Alert

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lincoln Educational Services

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Lincoln Educational Services in the second quarter valued at about $123,906,000. Royce & Associates LP boosted its stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 107.7% during the 3rd quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 935,474 shares of the company's stock worth $20,459,000 after acquiring an additional 485,103 shares in the last quarter. Nicholas Investment Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,544,000. Pillsbury Lake Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $17,773,731. Finally, Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $10,007,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.23% of the company's stock.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Up 4.5%

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $22.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $729.56 million, a PE ratio of 30.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 9th. The company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.02. Lincoln Educational Services had a return on equity of 13.61% and a net margin of 4.03%. The company had revenue of $159.18 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $152.46 million. Lincoln Educational Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.740-0.830 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Lincoln Educational Services Corporation will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Lincoln Educational Services Company Profile

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation operates career-focused postsecondary schools in the United States under brands including Lincoln Technical Institute and Lincoln College of Technology. Founded in 1946, the company provides students with career training through campus-based and online programs. Its programs include training in automotive technology, skilled trades such as HVAC and electrical work, health sciences, information technology, and other career fields. Offerings include diploma and degree programs designed to prepare students for jobs requiring specialized technical skills.

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