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Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) fair value: what the stock is really worth

As of Sep 23, 2026: fair value of Lincoln Educational Services $11.44, price $24.09, upside -52.5%, quality 48 out of 100. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.

  1. Fair value above price? No
  2. Good quality? No
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Consumer Defensive · US · ISIN US5335351004

LE Lincoln Educational Services logo Some data Sep 24, 2026

Lincoln Educational Services

LINC · US

Weakest SetupStrongly overvalued and low quality.

!Fair value $11.44 · Strongly overvalued (−53%)
!Quality 48/100
!Expensive Growth (revenue 5y +12.1 %/yr)
!Thin margins · 4.1% net margin (TTM)
!Low debt · negative free cash flow
!Trails peers (4/13)
!Narrow moat 40/100
!Insider activity 46/100
!Evidence only medium, so the estimate is less certain
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What runs behind every stock

26 valuation models 8 families, DCF to NCAV 37 quality factors margins, balance sheet, cashflow, debt 6 AI factors moat, what no ratio measures 2,000+ data points verified, per stock, median

69 individual criteria per stock, every one traceable See the method →

Price vs Fair Value

$55.68 $4.69 Fair Value $11.44 Jun 2021 Sep 2026

White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year, dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.

How to read this chart

60‑month range $4.69 – $55.68 · fair‑value band $8.04 – $15.57 · the $24.09 price screens above the $11.44 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). Dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.

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Company profile

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides various career-oriented postsecondary education services to high school graduates and working adults in the United States. It operates in two segments, Campus Operations and Transitional.

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Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides various career-oriented postsecondary education services to high school graduates and working adults in the United States. It operates in two segments, Campus Operations and Transitional. The company 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; and health science and information technology programs. It operates schools under the Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, and Nashville Auto Diesel College brands. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Stock analysis

Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) currently trades at $24.09, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $11.44, implying the stock looks roughly 110.6% overvalued today.

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Valuation

Bull case: the Multiples group reads highest at a median of $12.68 per share, and 0 of the 14 models we run sit above the $24.09 price.

Bear case: the Earnings-Based group reads lowest at $3.73, and 14 of the 14 models stay below the price. Evidence for this calculation is medium.

Scenario range: $8.04 (bear) to $15.57 (bull), the price of $24.09 sits above it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.

Quality & growth

The Quality Score stands at 48/100 (below-average quality), in the Consumer Defensive sector.

Expensive Growth: The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.

Lincoln Educational Services reported revenue of $518M in FY2025 versus $335M in FY2021, a compound +11.5%/yr. Reported net income was $20.0M in FY2025, compounding −12.9%/yr from FY2021.

Key figures

Market cap $1.5B · P/E ratio 67.3 · P/S ratio 2.60 · EPS (TTM) $0.7200 · Net margin 3.9% · Return on equity 11.9% · Return on assets (EBIT) 8.3% · Operating margin 4.5%.

Competitive moat

Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 41 out of 100 (medium confidence).

What moves the price

The share trades about 57% below its 52-week high and 35% above its 52-week low, currently below its 200-day average.

For context, the median of 10 Consumer Defensive peers we cover trades at 17% fair-value upside, at −53%, LINC screens richer than that median.

Fair Value models

Bear $8.04 Fair Value $11.44 Bull $15.57
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above is their evidence-weighted blend, not the output of a single model. Based on fiscal year 2025 figures (about 9 months old). Earnings retained since then ($0.5267 per share) are deliberately not added. Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. Evidence ⓘEvidence = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Highest evidence
Residual Income $5.20 $5.65 $6.83 76
EPV $6.42 $7.24 $7.92 74
ROIC Compounder $6.44 $7.60 $8.92 72
All 14 models by family
Earnings-Based
Graham-Dodd $4.29 $12.53 $16.55 65
Lynch FV $2.61 $3.73 $4.84 61
PEG = 1.0 $2.61 $3.73 $4.84 57
EPV $6.42 $7.24 $7.92 74
Multiples
P/E Multiple $10.40 $13.87 $17.34 63
P/S Multiple $8.04 $10.72 $13.40 58
P/B Multiple $8.04 $10.72 $13.40 55
EV/EBIT $13.15 $17.39 $21.63 66
EV/EBITDA $14.34 $18.98 $23.62 67
EV/Revenue $9.00 $12.68 $16.35 54
Asset-Based
NCAV (Graham) $3.15 $4.22 $6.30 54
Economic Profit
Residual Income $5.20 $5.65 $6.83 76
ROIC Compounder $6.44 $7.60 $8.92 72
Growth Earnings
Growth-Adj P/E $8.38 $11.97 $15.57 67

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Quality Score breakdown

Overall quality 48/100

Of which business quality 52 · Market factors (momentum, volatility) 27

Profitability 57
Margins and returns on capital today
Quality Growth 73
Are margins and returns improving?
Cashflow 37
Earnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
Fin. Strength 70
Balance sheet, leverage, solvency risk
Investment 22
Disciplined investing over empire-building
Low Volatility 42
Calm price path (market factor)
Momentum 16
Price trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
52W Momentum 31
Distance to the 52-week high (market factor)
Net Issuance 41
Share count: buybacks or dilution?

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Revenue & earnings trend

Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card. 54/100
The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.
Revenue growth 1 year
+17.8%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+14.2%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+12.1%
Start year 2020 (pandemic). Over 10 years: +10.4% a year
Revenue growth 24 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+6.8%
What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate.
−14.3%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year−14.3%
Dividend (yield on the price)0.0%
Profit margin 2020 to 2025 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.5% → 6%

LINC screens 111% overvalued. Compare with New Oriental Education & Technology Group →

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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Education & Training Services · 143 stocks

Beats the industry median on 4/13 measures
Overall it trails its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score 48 · Below median
Fair Value upside −53% · Bottom 25%
Profitability
Return on equity (TTM) 12% · Above median
Return on assets 4% · Above median
Net margin (TTM) 4% · Below median
Operating margin (TTM) 4% · Below median
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth 23% · Top 25%
Balance sheet
Debt / equity 0.08× · Below median

Valuation Multiplesvs Education & Training Services median · lower = cheaper

P/E (TTM) 67.3× · Priciest 25%
P/B 7.69× · Priciest 25%
P/S (TTM) 2.82× · Priciest 25%
EV/EBITDA 26.8× · Priciest 25%
PEG 4.09× · Priciest 25%

Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)

VALUEFUTUREPASTHEALTHDIVIDEND
This stock
VALUEFUTUREPASTHEALTHDIVIDEND
Sector peers
VALUE (fair-value potential)0 · sector 47
FUTURE (revenue growth)100 · sector 23
PAST (return on equity)48 · sector 29
HEALTH (low debt)96 · sector 95
DIVIDEND (yield)0 · sector 63

VALUE 0: the price sits above our fair-value range.

Context: sector, industry, market

Values & ESG

Does this company touch areas you may want to avoid? The classification is inferred from sector and industry.

None of the checked exposures detected

Similar stocks

10 more Education & Training Services stocks, each showing price versus our Fair Value estimate.

Stock Price Fair Value vs Fair Value
New Oriental Education & Technology Group EDU $54.74 $63.95 +17%
TAL Education Group TAL $11.87 $33.07 +179%
Laureate Education, Inc LAUR $36.13 $39.95 +11%
Grand Canyon Education, Inc LOPE $146.78 $161.46 +10%
Physicswallah Limited PWL ₹136.11 ₹32.25 −76%
Covista Inc CVSA $123.00 $135.45 +10%
Stride, Inc LRN $78.69 $140.28 +78%
Universal Technical Institute, Inc UTI $20.41 $21.53 +5%
Perdoceo Education Corporation PRDO $31.23 $41.28 +32%
Strategic Education, Inc STRA $76.47 $105.48 +38%

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Lincoln Educational Services · Fair Value
$11.44 −111%Fair Value
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Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "Lincoln Educational Services Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/LINC

Frequently asked questions

Is Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Sep 24, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $11.44 versus a price of $24.09, about −53% upside (overvalued).
What is the fair value of LINC?
Our model-based fair value for Lincoln Educational Services is $11.44 (as of Sep 24, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $24.09.
What is the quality score of LINC?
Lincoln Educational Services has a Quality Score of 48/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $11.44 (as of Sep 24, 2026) from 14 valuation models. Cautious scenario $8.04, optimistic scenario $15.57. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the Lincoln Educational Services stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $11.44, about −53% upside versus a price of $24.09 (overvalued). Cautious scenario $8.04, optimistic scenario $15.57. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Lincoln Educational Services reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $545M (latest available figure, as of Sep 24, 2026).
What is the intrinsic value of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For Lincoln Educational Services it is $11.44 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026), against a price of $24.09. It is the blended result of 14 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is Lincoln Educational Services stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Sep 24, 2026, LINC trades above its calculated fair value: price $24.09, fair value $11.44, a gap of about −53% (overvalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of LINC?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($24.09); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($11.44). For Lincoln Educational Services the two are $12.65 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is Lincoln Educational Services worth?
The market values Lincoln Educational Services at about $1.5B (market capitalisation, as of Sep 24, 2026). Per share that is $24.09; our models calculate a fair value of $11.44 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about LINC?
Our models span a range for Lincoln Educational Services: cautious scenario $8.04, base $11.44, optimistic $15.57 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026, price $24.09). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of LINC?
Lincoln Educational Services trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.3 (as of Sep 24, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $11.44 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: PEG 4.1, P/B 7.7, P/S 2.8, EV/EBITDA 26.8.
What is the PEG ratio of LINC?
The PEG ratio of Lincoln Educational Services is 4.09 (P/E divided by earnings growth, as of Sep 24, 2026). That is above 1, so the growth is already paid for in the price.
How solid is the balance sheet of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Balance-sheet figures for Lincoln Educational Services (as of Sep 24, 2026): return on equity 11.9%, debt of 0.08 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 48/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is LINC from its 52-week high?
Lincoln Educational Services trades at $24.09, about 57% below its 52-week high of $55.68 and 35% above the low of $17.80 (as of Sep 23, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $11.44 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to Lincoln Educational Services?
From the same area (Consumer Defensive) we also value New Oriental Education & Technology Group, TAL Education Group, Laureate Education, Inc, Grand Canyon Education, Inc, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is Lincoln Educational Services stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Sep 24, 2026: price $24.09, calculated fair value $11.44 (−53%), Quality Score 48/100, from 14 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of LINC calculated?
We run Lincoln Educational Services through 14 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $11.44, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 14.1 % above its aggregate fair value. Lincoln Educational Services itself currently trades above fair value. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The closing price on Sep 23, 2026 was $24.09. Our model-based fair value is $11.44, about −53% upside (overvalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with Lincoln Educational Services right now?
The price sits above even our optimistic bull case ($15.57). The favourable scenario is already priced in. Solid but not exceptional quality (48/100) and above fair value, neither a clear bargain nor a standout compounder. A fairly wide model range ($8.04 to $15.57) leaves room in how you read the outcome.

Key figures of Lincoln Educational Services

How large is the market capitalisation of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The market capitalisation of Lincoln Educational Services is $1.5B. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The price-to-sales ratio of Lincoln Educational Services is 2.60 (P/E × margin). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Earnings per share at Lincoln Educational Services are $0.7200 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 67.3). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the net margin of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The net margin of Lincoln Educational Services is 3.9% (fiscal year 2025). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The return on equity (ROE) of Lincoln Educational Services is 11.9% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of Lincoln Educational Services is 8.3% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
The operating margin of Lincoln Educational Services is 4.5% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Revenue at Lincoln Educational Services is growing +22.5% versus a year earlier (3y avg +14.2%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)?
Earnings per share at Lincoln Educational Services are growing +133% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much free cash flow does Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) generate?
The free cash flow of Lincoln Educational Services is −$27.4M (fiscal year 2025). The cash truly left after running and investing in the business, this is what pays dividends and buybacks.
How much net debt does Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) carry?
The net debt of Lincoln Educational Services is $175M (fiscal year 2025). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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