Lakeland Financial (LKFN) Competitors

Lakeland Financial logo
$62.68 +1.04 (+1.69%)
Closing price 06/26/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$62.70 +0.02 (+0.04%)
As of 06/26/2026 04:31 PM Eastern
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LKFN vs. BUSE, FFBC, FRME, GABC, and NWBI

Should you buy Lakeland Financial stock or one of its competitors? MarketBeat compares Lakeland Financial with other companies and stocks that may be similar based on industry, sector, market capitalization, business model, investor interest, or shared news coverage. Companies and stocks commonly compared with Lakeland Financial include First Busey (BUSE), First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC), First Merchants (FRME), German American Bancorp (GABC), and Northwest Bancshares (NWBI). These companies are all part of the "finance" sector.

How does Lakeland Financial compare to First Busey?

Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ:LKFN) and First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, risk, earnings, media sentiment and dividends.

In the previous week, First Busey had 5 more articles in the media than Lakeland Financial. MarketBeat recorded 6 mentions for First Busey and 1 mentions for Lakeland Financial. Lakeland Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.44 beat First Busey's score of 0.73 indicating that Lakeland Financial is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Lakeland Financial Positive
First Busey Positive

Lakeland Financial presently has a consensus price target of $66.50, indicating a potential upside of 6.09%. First Busey has a consensus price target of $27.83, indicating a potential downside of 6.60%. Given Lakeland Financial's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Lakeland Financial is more favorable than First Busey.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Lakeland Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25
First Busey
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.57

Lakeland Financial has a net margin of 25.81% compared to First Busey's net margin of 19.16%. Lakeland Financial's return on equity of 14.79% beat First Busey's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Lakeland Financial25.81% 14.79% 1.57%
First Busey 19.16%10.19%1.36%

Lakeland Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Busey pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. Lakeland Financial pays out 48.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Busey pays out 46.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Lakeland Financial has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years and First Busey has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years. First Busey is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Lakeland Financial has a beta of 0.73, suggesting that its share price is 27% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Busey has a beta of 0.72, suggesting that its share price is 28% less volatile than the broader market.

First Busey has higher revenue and earnings than Lakeland Financial. First Busey is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lakeland Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Lakeland Financial$421.71M3.70$103.36M$4.2714.68
First Busey$790.86M3.19$135.26M$2.2513.24

81.2% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 56.5% of First Busey shares are held by institutional investors. 3.0% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.8% of First Busey shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Lakeland Financial beats First Busey on 11 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Lakeland Financial compare to First Financial Bancorp.?

First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) and Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ:LKFN) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, media sentiment, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.2% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by institutional investors. 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.0% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its share price is 7% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Lakeland Financial has a beta of 0.73, meaning that its share price is 27% less volatile than the broader market.

First Financial Bancorp. currently has a consensus price target of $33.00, indicating a potential downside of 2.31%. Lakeland Financial has a consensus price target of $66.50, indicating a potential upside of 6.09%. Given Lakeland Financial's higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Lakeland Financial is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50
Lakeland Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25

First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Lakeland Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Lakeland Financial pays out 48.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Financial Bancorp. has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Lakeland Financial has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years. Lakeland Financial is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

In the previous week, First Financial Bancorp. had 2 more articles in the media than Lakeland Financial. MarketBeat recorded 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp. and 1 mentions for Lakeland Financial. Lakeland Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.44 beat First Financial Bancorp.'s score of 1.14 indicating that Lakeland Financial is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
First Financial Bancorp. Positive
Lakeland Financial Positive

First Financial Bancorp. has higher revenue and earnings than Lakeland Financial. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lakeland Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.81$255.60M$2.8311.94
Lakeland Financial$421.71M3.70$103.36M$4.2714.68

Lakeland Financial has a net margin of 25.81% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.92%. Lakeland Financial's return on equity of 14.79% beat First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Financial Bancorp.20.92% 11.09% 1.49%
Lakeland Financial 25.81%14.79%1.57%

Summary

Lakeland Financial beats First Financial Bancorp. on 12 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Lakeland Financial compare to First Merchants?

First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) and Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ:LKFN) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their media sentiment, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and profitability.

Lakeland Financial has a net margin of 25.81% compared to First Merchants' net margin of 18.87%. Lakeland Financial's return on equity of 14.79% beat First Merchants' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Merchants18.87% 9.58% 1.21%
Lakeland Financial 25.81%14.79%1.57%

In the previous week, First Merchants had 5 more articles in the media than Lakeland Financial. MarketBeat recorded 6 mentions for First Merchants and 1 mentions for Lakeland Financial. Lakeland Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.44 beat First Merchants' score of 0.87 indicating that Lakeland Financial is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
First Merchants Positive
Lakeland Financial Positive

First Merchants currently has a consensus price target of $49.00, suggesting a potential upside of 12.18%. Lakeland Financial has a consensus price target of $66.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.09%. Given First Merchants' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe First Merchants is more favorable than Lakeland Financial.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Merchants
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33
Lakeland Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25

First Merchants pays an annual dividend of $1.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. Lakeland Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Merchants pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Lakeland Financial pays out 48.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Merchants has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years and Lakeland Financial has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years. First Merchants is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

73.9% of First Merchants shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.2% of Lakeland Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.8% of First Merchants shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.0% of Lakeland Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

First Merchants has higher revenue and earnings than Lakeland Financial. First Merchants is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lakeland Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Merchants$1.05B2.62$226M$3.4012.85
Lakeland Financial$421.71M3.70$103.36M$4.2714.68

First Merchants has a beta of 0.85, meaning that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Lakeland Financial has a beta of 0.73, meaning that its stock price is 27% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Lakeland Financial beats First Merchants on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Lakeland Financial compare to German American Bancorp?

Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ:LKFN) and German American Bancorp (NASDAQ:GABC) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, media sentiment, earnings, risk, dividends, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Lakeland Financial has a beta of 0.73, indicating that its share price is 27% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, German American Bancorp has a beta of 0.59, indicating that its share price is 41% less volatile than the broader market.

Lakeland Financial currently has a consensus price target of $66.50, indicating a potential upside of 6.09%. German American Bancorp has a consensus price target of $47.67, indicating a potential upside of 0.03%. Given Lakeland Financial's higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Lakeland Financial is more favorable than German American Bancorp.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Lakeland Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25
German American Bancorp
0 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75

81.2% of Lakeland Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.9% of German American Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.0% of Lakeland Financial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.2% of German American Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

In the previous week, German American Bancorp had 2 more articles in the media than Lakeland Financial. MarketBeat recorded 3 mentions for German American Bancorp and 1 mentions for Lakeland Financial. Lakeland Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.44 beat German American Bancorp's score of 0.63 indicating that Lakeland Financial is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Lakeland Financial Positive
German American Bancorp Positive

German American Bancorp has a net margin of 27.09% compared to Lakeland Financial's net margin of 25.81%. Lakeland Financial's return on equity of 14.79% beat German American Bancorp's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Lakeland Financial25.81% 14.79% 1.57%
German American Bancorp 27.09%11.98%1.62%

Lakeland Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. German American Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Lakeland Financial pays out 48.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. German American Bancorp pays out 34.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Lakeland Financial has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years and German American Bancorp has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. Lakeland Financial is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

German American Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Lakeland Financial. German American Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lakeland Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Lakeland Financial$421.71M3.70$103.36M$4.2714.68
German American Bancorp$487.40M3.67$112.64M$3.6113.20

Summary

Lakeland Financial beats German American Bancorp on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Lakeland Financial compare to Northwest Bancshares?

Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ:LKFN) and Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ:NWBI) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, earnings and profitability.

Lakeland Financial presently has a consensus target price of $66.50, indicating a potential upside of 6.09%. Northwest Bancshares has a consensus target price of $14.80, indicating a potential downside of 2.25%. Given Lakeland Financial's higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Lakeland Financial is more favorable than Northwest Bancshares.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Lakeland Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25
Northwest Bancshares
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33

Northwest Bancshares has higher revenue and earnings than Lakeland Financial. Lakeland Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Northwest Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Lakeland Financial$421.71M3.70$103.36M$4.2714.68
Northwest Bancshares$878.94M2.52$126.01M$0.9316.28

81.2% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 66.3% of Northwest Bancshares shares are held by institutional investors. 3.0% of Lakeland Financial shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Northwest Bancshares shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Lakeland Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Northwest Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Lakeland Financial pays out 48.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Northwest Bancshares pays out 86.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Lakeland Financial has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years.

Lakeland Financial has a net margin of 25.81% compared to Northwest Bancshares' net margin of 14.72%. Lakeland Financial's return on equity of 14.79% beat Northwest Bancshares' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Lakeland Financial25.81% 14.79% 1.57%
Northwest Bancshares 14.72%9.79%1.11%

Lakeland Financial has a beta of 0.73, suggesting that its stock price is 27% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Northwest Bancshares has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the broader market.

In the previous week, Lakeland Financial and Lakeland Financial both had 1 articles in the media. Northwest Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 1.87 beat Lakeland Financial's score of 1.44 indicating that Northwest Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Lakeland Financial Positive
Northwest Bancshares Very Positive

Summary

Lakeland Financial beats Northwest Bancshares on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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LKFN vs. The Competition

MetricLakeland FinancialBANKS IndustryFinance SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$1.54B$3.20B$13.86B$12.22B
Dividend Yield3.37%3.15%5.72%6.12%
P/E Ratio14.6811.4320.4524.17
Price / Sales3.702.83136.0598.91
Price / Cash13.8811.3719.2654.37
Price / Book2.101.312.266.35
Net Income$103.36M$217.17M$1.14B$337.63M
7 Day Performance4.71%3.91%0.88%0.43%
1 Month Performance4.09%6.29%1.30%0.14%
1 Year Performance2.10%28.37%15.34%27.64%

Lakeland Financial Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
LKFN
Lakeland Financial
2.7844 of 5 stars
$62.68
+1.7%
$66.50
+6.1%
+2.1%$1.54B$421.71M14.68650
BUSE
First Busey
4.3241 of 5 stars
$28.32
+0.2%
$27.50
-2.9%
+27.2%$2.40B$1.04B12.591,948
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
3.4062 of 5 stars
$31.89
+0.6%
$33.00
+3.5%
+37.6%$3.35B$961.73M11.272,199
FRME
First Merchants
3.9708 of 5 stars
$41.25
+0.2%
$48.33
+17.2%
+14.9%$2.60B$1.05B12.132,086
GABC
German American Bancorp
3.6529 of 5 stars
$45.38
+0.9%
$47.67
+5.0%
+21.6%$1.70B$487.40M12.571,020

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This page (NASDAQ:LKFN) was last updated on 6/27/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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