Lincoln National Corporation

LNC
Financial Analysis · Updated May 18, 2026 · Coverage 2026-Q2
TTM ROIC
12.5%
FY2025 · Adjusted Operating Income / Book Equity ex-AOCI · WACC ~9.5% · Moat spread +3pp

Financial Snapshot


ticker: LNC step: 04 generated: 2026-05-13 source: quick-research

Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) — Financial Snapshot

Income Statement Summary (GAAP revenue is volatile for insurance; adjusted operating metrics more relevant)

Metric FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 YoY
Revenue (GAAP) ~$17B $11.71B $17.98B +53.6%
Note Crisis year Recovery GAAP gains
Adj. Op. EPS ~$7.64
Adj. Op. Income (FY2025) $1.54B

FY2025: Adjusted operating income $1.54B ($8.23/share); strong recovery. Annuities: record $175B ending account balances; $4.9B sales (+33%); highest in 5 years. Q3 2025: GAAP EPS $2.12 vs. ($3.29) in Q3 2024. Q4 2024: Record operating income quarter; annuity deposits +32%; RBC ratio above 420%. 2022 was a severe crisis year (large reserve charges on legacy VA guarantees + COVID excess mortality). FY2023–2025: recovery execution under CEO Ellen Cooper. $2B unsecured credit facility extended March 2026 (through 2031).

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet

Metric Value
Annuity Account Balances $175B (record; FY2025)
RBC Ratio 420%+ (strong capital position)
Credit Facility $2B (March 2026; unsecured; through 2031)
Legacy VA Liability Under active restructuring (Bain partnership)
Adj. Operating EPS (FY2025) $8.23/share

Lincoln's capital position (420%+ RBC) has recovered significantly from the 2022 nadir. The Bain Capital partnership to optimize legacy captive reinsurance subsidiaries and VA liabilities is reducing the capital drag from the old book. As the legacy back-book is managed down, the capital released can be redeployed into growth products (FIA, RILA) at better risk-adjusted returns.

Key Ratios (approximate)

  • P/E: ~4–5x (adj. operating EPS $8.23 at ~$35 stock price) — extremely cheap on adjusted basis
  • P/E (GAAP): variable (GAAP EPS swings dramatically with VA mark-to-market)
  • Revenue Growth: volatile (GAAP); adj. operating income more stable
  • RBC: 420%+ (well-capitalized)

Growth Profile

Lincoln is a turnaround story: from near-crisis in 2022 to record adjusted operating income in FY2025. The business mix shift (away from legacy VA with guarantees → toward FIA/RILA/protection life) is reducing capital requirements, improving earnings quality, and enabling the annuity franchise to grow without the same balance sheet burden. Annuity sales at 5-year highs (+33%) confirm that the distribution partners are embracing the new product suite.

Forward Estimates

  • FY2026: Adj. operating EPS guidance not explicitly stated; street estimates ~$8–9/share
  • Analyst consensus PT: $43.50 (24 analysts; range $39–$60)
  • 3 Buy, 8 Hold, 2 Sell — cautious consensus
  • 25%+ implied upside to PT from ~$35 current
  • Key variable: Legacy VA liability management + NII headwinds

Deeper Financial Analysis

The fundamental tier adds 9 additional research dimensions for $LNC.

Revenue Breakdown
Segment revenue, geographic mix, product-line contribution margins, and cohort dynamics.
Financial Trends
Quarter-over-quarter momentum, leading indicators, and inflection point analysis.
Balance Sheet
Debt structure, liquidity runway, dilution risk, and working capital dynamics.
Capital Allocation
Buyback cadence, M&A appetite, dividend policy, and reinvestment priorities.
Returns on Capital (ROIC)
Multi-year ROIC vs. WACC, marginal returns on reinvestment, sales-to-invested-capital efficiency, and moat spread.
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