Lincoln National Corporation ( LNC ) at this moment is a classic example of a deep value stock, trading with a huge discount. At today’s price of around $41, it is undervalued in terms of book value, which is around $69.50 perI am an independent trader and analyst specializing in the micro-cap market. My strategy combines technical analysis with the CAN SLIM method, developed by William O'Neil, to identify high-growth, underanalyzed companies. I focus on financial trends, profit growth, and institutional ca ...

Lincoln National Corporation ( LNC ) at this moment is a classic example of a deep value stock, trading with a huge discount. At today’s price of around $41, it is undervalued in terms of book value, which is around $69.50 perI am an independent trader and analyst specializing in the micro-cap market. My strategy combines technical analysis with the CAN SLIM method, developed by William O'Neil, to identify high-growth, underanalyzed companies. I focus on financial trends, profit growth, and institutional ca ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the investment positions held by the author in specific companies, indicating a long position in LNC and SCRYY, which may suggest a positive outlook on these stocks [1]. Group 1 - The author expresses personal opinions on the stocks mentioned, emphasizing that the article is not influenced by external compensation [1]. - There is a clear distinction made that the author is not a licensed financial advisor, which may affect the interpretation of the information provided [2]. - The article highlights the importance of individual due diligence and research before making investment decisions, particularly in high-risk trading styles [2]. Group 2 - The article notes that past performance of stocks does not guarantee future results, indicating a cautious approach to investment recommendations [3]. - It clarifies that the views expressed may not represent the broader opinions of Seeking Alpha, suggesting a diversity of perspectives within the platform [3]. - The article emphasizes that the authors are third-party contributors, which may include both professional and individual investors without formal licensing [3].

Group 1 - Lincoln Financial will report its fourth quarter and full year results for 2025 on February 12, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time [1] - A conference call is scheduled for the same day at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with earnings materials available on the company's Investor Relations webpage [1][2] - The company had approximately 17 million customers as of December 31, 2024, and $347 billion in end-of-period account balances as of September 30, 2025 [3] Group 2 - Lincoln Financial operates in four core businesses: annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services [3] - The company is headquartered in Radnor, PA, and is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates [3]

Core Insights - Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is positioned for growth due to strong performance across all segments, new product rollouts, and expense management, with shares increasing by 28.1% over the past six months compared to the industry's 7.1% rise [1][9] Company Overview - LNC has a market capitalization of $8.5 billion and operates as a diversified life insurance and investment management company, offering a variety of wealth accumulation, protection, and retirement products [2] - The trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio for LNC is 0.89X, which is below the industry average of 2X [2] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LNC's 2025 earnings is $7.89 per share, reflecting an 11.6% year-over-year increase, with revenues projected at $19 billion [3] - LNC has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, averaging a surprise of 12% [3] Growth Drivers - LNC operates through four segments: Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services, with revenues supported by a balanced business mix and higher insurance premiums [4] - The Annuities segment benefits from strong demand and favorable equity markets, while Life Insurance is gaining traction through improved operating efficiency [5] - Group Protection shows steady premium growth due to pricing discipline, and Retirement Plan Services is seeing positive net flows and increasing account balances [5] Strategic Focus - The company is enhancing its business mix towards higher-margin growth and investing in digital tools and technology modernization to improve service capabilities and customer experience [6] - LNC's financial foundation is strong, with cash and invested cash at $10.7 billion as of September 30, 2025, an increase of 83.9% from the previous year, and total debt at $5.8 billion [7] Financial Stability - LNC's dividend yield stands at 4%, higher than the industry average of 3.1%, supported by a rising cash balance and declining debt levels [7][9] - However, LNC has a higher total debt-to-capital ratio of 35.6% compared to the industry average of 14.6% [10]

Group 1 - Piper Sandler analyst John Barnidge raised the price target on Lincoln National (LNC) to $48 from $42 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares [1] - The firm is generally above consensus across the board in the life insurance sector [1] - The gradual drop in rates has been more constructive for broader capital markets activity, likely providing a tailwind to fee and spread earnings in its coverage [1]

Core Insights - Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is enhancing its market reach and shareholder value through strategic partnerships and a positive financial outlook [1][5] Financial Outlook - Piper Sandler has set a price target of $48 for LNC, suggesting a potential price increase of approximately 4.03% from the current trading price of $46.14, reflecting the company's strong financial health [2] - LNC's stock has shown volatility, with a year's high of $46.70 and a low of $27.58, indicating investment opportunities [4] Strategic Partnerships - LNC has partnered with FOX Sports as the first-ever Game Break sponsor for the Women's Sports Desk, aligning with its mission to promote financial confidence and empowerment among women [3] - This multi-year sponsorship aims to enhance LNC's visibility and commitment to diversity and inclusion [3] Market Performance - LNC's current market capitalization is approximately $8.76 billion, with a trading volume of 1,101,742 shares, demonstrating solid presence and active investor interest in the financial services industry [4]

Group 1 - Lincoln Financial has entered into a first-of-its-kind agreement with FOX Sports, becoming the inaugural Game Break sponsor for the Women's Sports Desk in live women's college basketball coverage [1] - The multi-year sponsorship demonstrates Lincoln's commitment to enhancing visibility for women's athletics and promoting financial confidence and empowerment [1] - The sponsorship strategy of Lincoln is focused on creating broader audience connections [1]

Industry Overview - The insurance industry has gained 7.9% year to date, driven by better pricing, exposure growth, and accelerated digitalization despite an active catastrophe environment and three rate cuts [2][4] - Macroeconomic conditions remain favorable, with the Federal Reserve projecting 1.7% growth in 2025 and an unemployment rate averaging 4.5% [5] - Global life insurance gross written premiums are expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2026, with emerging markets likely to expand faster due to low insurance penetration [10][12] Company Performance - Insurers such as Travelers Companies (TRV), Axis Capital Holdings (AXS), Jackson Financial (JXN), Lincoln National (LNC), and Globe Life (GL) have outperformed the market in 2025 and are expected to continue their growth in 2026 [3][11] - Strong underwriting, capital positions, and digital upgrades have enabled these insurers to thrive despite catastrophe losses [11] Specific Company Insights - **Travelers Companies (TRV)**: Expected to grow due to strong renewal rate changes and a solid capital position, with a consensus estimate for 2026 earnings per share at $26.40 on $50.5 billion in revenues [14][16] - **Axis Capital Holdings (AXS)**: Focuses on higher-margin segments, with a consensus estimate for 2026 earnings per share at $12.66 on $6.8 billion in revenues [17][18] - **Jackson Financial (JXN)**: Anticipates an 11%-27% increase in capital return to shareholders in 2025, with a consensus estimate for 2026 earnings per share at $23.85 on $7.8 billion in revenues [19][20] - **Lincoln National (LNC)**: Benefits from a recovering Group Protection business, with a consensus estimate for 2026 earnings per share at $8.03 on $19.5 billion in revenues [21][23] - **Globe Life (GL)**: Focuses on niche markets and has a consensus estimate for 2026 earnings per share at $15.04 on $6.3 billion in revenues [23][24]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than traditional strategies of buying low and waiting for recovery [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investors often face challenges in determining the right entry point for fast-moving stocks, which can lead to investments with limited upside or potential downside [2] - A safer approach may involve investing in bargain stocks that have recently shown price momentum, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify these opportunities [3] Group 2: Lincoln National (LNC) Stock Analysis - Lincoln National (LNC) has shown a price increase of 14.5% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [4] - Over the past 12 weeks, LNC has gained 11.7%, with a beta of 1.33, suggesting it moves 33% more than the market [5] - LNC has a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest based on momentum [6] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which typically attract more investors [7] - LNC is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.47, suggesting it is undervalued at 47 cents for each dollar of sales [7] Group 3: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides LNC, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, presenting further investment opportunities [8] - Investors can explore over 45 Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to identify potential winning stocks [9]