Short Interest in Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC) Grows By 6.3%

Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 422,400 shares, an increase of 6.3% from the July 15th total of 397,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 153,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.8 days.

Lincoln Educational Services Stock Performance

LINC opened at $11.82 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $371.67 million, a P/E ratio of 13.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.41. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $12.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Lincoln Educational Services has a 12-month low of $7.88 and a 12-month high of $14.52.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on LINC. B. Riley increased their price objective on Lincoln Educational Services from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. Lake Street Capital increased their price objective on Lincoln Educational Services from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. StockNews.com lowered Lincoln Educational Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities increased their price objective on Lincoln Educational Services from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lincoln Educational Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $15.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Lincoln Educational Services news, major shareholder Juniper Investment Company, Ll sold 25,010 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.75, for a total value of $293,867.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 246,299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,894,013.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold a total of 65,829 shares of company stock valued at $784,349 in the last three months. Insiders own 16.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Lincoln Educational Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Lincoln Educational Services in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Pullen Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Lincoln Educational Services by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 124,832 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,481,000 after buying an additional 2,924 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 60.2% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 11,218 shares of the company’s stock worth $116,000 after acquiring an additional 4,217 shares during the period. Weil Company Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Weil Company Inc. now owns 41,125 shares of the company’s stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 4,500 shares during the period. Finally, Auxier Asset Management lifted its position in shares of Lincoln Educational Services by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Auxier Asset Management now owns 238,324 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,827,000 after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the period. 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.