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LKFN Stock Analysis 2026 - LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP AI Rating

LKFN Nasdaq State Commercial Banks IN CIK: 0000721994
Recently Updated • Analysis: Apr 12, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
BUY
76% Conf
Pending
Analysis scheduled

📊 LKFN Key Takeaways

Revenue: $373.7M
Net Margin: 27.7%
Free Cash Flow: $103.8M
Current Ratio: N/A
Debt/Equity: 0.04x
EPS: $4.01
AI Rating: BUY with 76% confidence

Is LKFN a Good Investment? Thesis Analysis

Claude

Lakeland Financial demonstrates solid fundamentals with strong profitability (27.7% net margin, 33.6% operating margin) and exceptional free cash flow generation ($103.8M FCF, 27.8% FCF margin). The company maintains a conservative balance sheet with minimal leverage (0.04x debt/equity) and consistent earnings growth (+10.6% net income YoY). However, the 69.1% revenue surge significantly outpaces net income growth, warranting scrutiny into acquisition-related gains versus organic sustainability.

Why Buy LKFN? Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Exceptional free cash flow generation with 27.8% FCF margin providing capital flexibility
  • + Highly conservative capital structure with 0.04x debt/equity ratio and strong $762.4M equity base
  • + Superior operating efficiency with 33.6% operating margin and 27.7% net margin
  • + Consistent double-digit EPS growth (+10.5% YoY) indicating shareholder value creation

LKFN Investment Risks to Consider

Claude
  • ! Revenue growth of 69.1% dramatically exceeds net income growth of 10.6%, suggesting acquisition-driven expansion or one-time gains that may not be repeatable
  • ! Banking sector exposure to interest rate volatility and potential loan portfolio deterioration not visible in current metrics
  • ! Limited transparency on net interest margin trends, credit quality, and loan loss provisions crucial for bank health assessment

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Organic revenue growth rate and acquisition contribution breakdown
  • * Net interest margin trends and loan loss reserve adequacy
  • * Return on equity sustainability and competitive positioning versus regional bank peers

LKFN Financial Metrics

Revenue
$373.7M
Net Income
$103.4M
EPS (Diluted)
$4.01
Free Cash Flow
$103.8M
Total Assets
$7.0B
Cash Position
$141.3M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 27.8% 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 Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 33.6%
Net Margin 27.7%
ROE 13.6%
ROA 1.5%
FCF Margin 27.8%

LKFN vs Finance Sector

How LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP compares to Finance sector averages

Net Margin
LKFN 27.7%
vs
Sector Avg 25.0%
LKFN Sector
ROE
LKFN 13.6%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
LKFN Sector
Current Ratio
LKFN 0.0x
vs
Sector Avg 1.2x
LKFN Sector
Debt/Equity
LKFN 0.0x
vs
Sector Avg 2.0x
LKFN Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is LKFN Overvalued or Undervalued?

Based on fundamental analysis, LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Finance sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
13.6%
Sector avg: 12%
Net Profit Margin
27.7%
Sector avg: 25%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.04x
Sector avg: 2x

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.

LKFN Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
N/A
Quick Ratio
N/A
Debt/Equity
0.04x
Debt/Assets
89.1%
Interest Coverage
0.86x
Long-term Debt
$30.0M

LKFN 5-Year Financial Trend & Growth Analysis

LKFN 5-year financial data: Year 2018: Revenue $1.0M, Net Income N/A, EPS N/A.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

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 Growth Metrics (YoY)

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
27.8%
Free cash flow / Revenue

LKFN Quarterly Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
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.

LKFN Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$114.9M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$20.4M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$11.1M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$51.4M
Returned to shareholders

LKFN SEC 10-K & 10-Q Filing Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP (CIK: 0000721994)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Mar 12, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773343203.xml View →
Mar 10, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773151301.xml View →
Mar 6, 2026 8-K lkfn-20260305.htm View →
Mar 5, 2026 DEF 14A lfc2026proxynotice.htm View →
Feb 27, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1772218106.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about LKFN

What is the AI rating for LKFN?

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP (LKFN) has an AI rating of BUY with 76% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are LKFN's key strengths?

Claude: Exceptional free cash flow generation with 27.8% FCF margin providing capital flexibility. Highly conservative capital structure with 0.04x debt/equity ratio and strong $762.4M equity base.

What are the risks of investing in LKFN?

Claude: Revenue growth of 69.1% dramatically exceeds net income growth of 10.6%, suggesting acquisition-driven expansion or one-time gains that may not be repeatable. Banking sector exposure to interest rate volatility and potential loan portfolio deterioration not visible in current metrics.

What is LKFN's revenue and growth?

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP reported revenue of $373.7M.

Does LKFN pay dividends?

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP pays dividends, with $51.4M 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 $4.01.

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 rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is LKFN a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP has a BUY rating with 76% 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 13.6% (sector avg: 12%), net margin of 27.7% (sector avg: 25%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.

Should I buy LKFN stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP a combined BUY rating 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 $114.9M, with capital expenditures of $11.1M. FCF margin is 27.8%.

How does LKFN compare to other Finance stocks?

Vs Finance sector averages: Net margin 27.7% (avg: 25%), ROE 13.6% (avg: 12%), current ratio N/A (avg: 1.2).

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Apr 12, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI