Why Lakeland Financial (LKFN) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Lakeland Financial (LKFN) is headquartered in Warsaw and operates in the Finance sector. The stock has experienced a price decline of 9.35% since the beginning of the year [3]. Dividend Information - Lakeland Financial currently pays a dividend of $0.5 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.21%. This yield is higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.18% and significantly above the S&P 500's yield of 1.61% [3]. - The company's annualized dividend of $2 has increased by 4.2% from the previous year. Over the last 5 years, Lakeland Financial has raised its dividend 4 times year-over-year, averaging an annual increase of 12.70% [4]. - The current payout ratio for Lakeland Financial is 55%, indicating that the company distributes 55% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4]. Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lakeland Financial's earnings in 2025 is projected at $3.70 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 6.63% [5]. Investment Perspective - Lakeland Financial is considered an attractive dividend investment and a compelling opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7].