Short Interest in Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC) Declines By 16.0%

Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC) was the target of a large decline in short interest in November. As of November 30th, there was short interest totalling 204,300 shares, a decline of 16.0% from the November 15th total of 243,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 104,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:LINC opened at $16.01 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $14.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.93. Lincoln Educational Services has a fifty-two week low of $8.91 and a fifty-two week high of $18.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $503.99 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.53.

Lincoln Educational Services (NASDAQ:LINC) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.14 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $114.41 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.05 million. Lincoln Educational Services had a return on equity of 10.60% and a net margin of 2.33%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.11 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Lincoln Educational Services will post 0.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Michael A. Plater sold 10,471 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.41, for a total transaction of $161,358.11. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 31,608 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $487,079.28. This represents a 24.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Juniper Investment Company, Ll sold 61,289 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.19, for a total transaction of $992,268.91. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 425,544 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,889,557.36. This trade represents a 12.59 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 223,002 shares of company stock worth $3,632,824 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 16.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lincoln Educational Services

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the third quarter worth about $121,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the second quarter worth about $123,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services during the third quarter worth about $144,000. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 259.0% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 34,220 shares of the company’s stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 24,688 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 36.0% during the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 38,162 shares of the company’s stock worth $453,000 after buying an additional 10,095 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.23% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on LINC shares. B. Riley lifted their price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research lifted their price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services from $16.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Lincoln Educational Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $18.00.

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.