📊 LKFN Key Takeaways
Is Lakeland Financial Corp. (LKFN) a Good Investment?
Lakeland Financial demonstrates strong revenue growth (69.1% YoY) and excellent profitability margins (28.8% net), supported by robust free cash flow generation. However, severely depressed returns (ROE 3.5%, ROA 0.4%) and a concerning interest coverage ratio (0.2x) indicate capital deployment inefficiency and potential debt servicing stress that offset growth momentum.
Lakeland Financial exhibits strong core profitability (ROA 1.5%, ROE 13.6%) with solid margins and double‑digit EPS and net income growth, supported by conservative leverage and steady free cash flow. The balance sheet is robust with minimal long‑term debt, providing resilience through cycles. Monitor interest rate dynamics and credit quality, which could pressure earnings if funding costs rise or losses normalize.
Lakeland Financial Corp. Key Strengths (LKFN)
- Exceptional revenue growth of 69.1% YoY demonstrating strong market demand
- Excellent profitability margins with 28.8% net margin and 35.4% operating margin
- Conservative balance sheet with minimal leverage (Debt/Equity 0.04x) and strong FCF generation (30.0M, 32.6% FCF margin)
- Positive net income growth at 10.6% YoY with EPS growing proportionally
- Strong profitability (ROA 1.5%, ROE 13.6%)
- Healthy net margin and double‑digit EPS/net income growth
- Conservative leverage with minimal long‑term debt and solid FCF
LKFN Stock Risks: Lakeland Financial Corp. Investment Risks
- Critically low returns on equity (3.5%) and assets (0.4%) suggesting severe capital inefficiency for a financial institution
- Interest coverage ratio of 0.2x indicates potential difficulty servicing debt obligations relative to operating income
- Significant divergence between revenue growth (69.1%) and income growth (10.6%) suggests operational cost pressures or non-recurring items masking true earnings quality
- 14 insider Form 4 filings in 90 days warrants monitoring for potential management concerns or transactions
- Funding cost pressure and NIM compression (interest coverage signal)
- Potential asset quality deterioration in an economic slowdown
- Deposit competition/liquidity pressures could weigh on growth
Key Metrics to Watch
- Return on Equity trend - target minimum 8-10% for financial institutions; current 3.5% is unsustainable
- Interest coverage ratio sustainability and debt service obligations
- Revenue growth deceleration or margin compression in upcoming quarters
- Operating leverage improvements as company scales to justify low ROE/ROA
- Net interest margin (NIM)
- Credit quality (NPA ratio and net charge-offs)
Lakeland Financial Corp. (LKFN) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The 32.6% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
LKFN Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
LKFN vs Finance Sector: How Lakeland Financial Corp. Compares
How Lakeland Financial Corp. compares to Finance sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Lakeland Financial Corp. Stock Overvalued? LKFN Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Lakeland Financial Corp. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Finance sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Lakeland Financial Corp. Balance Sheet: LKFN Debt, Cash & Liquidity
LKFN Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Lakeland Financial Corp.'s revenue has remained relatively flat over the 5-year period, with a 0% decline. The most recent EPS of $3.65 reflects profitable operations.
LKFN Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
LKFN Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2018 | $264.0K | $15.8M | $0.62 |
| Q2 2018 | $251.0K | $15.4M | $0.60 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Lakeland Financial Corp. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
LKFN SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Lakeland Financial Corp. (CIK: 0000721994)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
| Date | Form | Document | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778090537.xml | View → |
| May 6, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778072719.xml | View → |
| May 6, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778072694.xml | View → |
| May 6, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778072668.xml | View → |
| May 6, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778072642.xml | View → |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about LKFN
What is the AI rating for LKFN?
Lakeland Financial Corp. (LKFN) has a Combined AI Grade of A from Claude (B) and ChatGPT (A) with 70% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are LKFN's key strengths?
Claude: Exceptional revenue growth of 69.1% YoY demonstrating strong market demand. Excellent profitability margins with 28.8% net margin and 35.4% operating margin. ChatGPT: Strong profitability (ROA 1.5%, ROE 13.6%). Healthy net margin and double‑digit EPS/net income growth.
What are the risks of investing in LKFN?
Claude: Critically low returns on equity (3.5%) and assets (0.4%) suggesting severe capital inefficiency for a financial institution. Interest coverage ratio of 0.2x indicates potential difficulty servicing debt obligations relative to operating income. ChatGPT: Funding cost pressure and NIM compression (interest coverage signal). Potential asset quality deterioration in an economic slowdown.
What is LKFN's revenue and growth?
Lakeland Financial Corp. reported revenue of $92.0M.
Does LKFN pay dividends?
Lakeland Financial Corp. pays dividends, with $13.2M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find LKFN SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Lakeland Financial Corp. (CIK: 0000721994) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is LKFN's EPS?
Lakeland Financial Corp. has a diluted EPS of $1.04.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined grade reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
What is LKFN's fundamental grade?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, Lakeland Financial Corp. has a A grade with 70% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is LKFN stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for LKFN: ROE of 3.5% (sector avg: 12%), net margin of 28.8% (sector avg: 25%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
What is LKFN's AI grade for 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Lakeland Financial Corp. a combined A grade for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is LKFN's free cash flow?
Lakeland Financial Corp.'s operating cash flow is $34.7M, with capital expenditures of $4.7M. FCF margin is 32.6%.
How does LKFN compare to other Finance stocks?
Vs Finance sector averages: Net margin 28.8% (avg: 25%), ROE 3.5% (avg: 12%), current ratio N/A (avg: 1.2).