IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Blank Capital Research ("BCR") is a technology platform, not a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer. The algorithmically generated signals, scores, and rankings provided on this site ("God Mode" Signals) are for informational and research purposes only and do not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy any securities.
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS: The "timing scores" and "regime signals" displayed are based on quantitative models. Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain inherent limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since the trades have not actually been executed, the results may have under-or-over compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity.
RISK OF LOSS: Trading in financial markets involves a high degree of risk and may result in the loss of your entire investment. Data provided by third-party sources (Intrinio, Snowflake) is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
© 2026 Blank Capital Research. All rights reserved. System Version: Aegis V8 (God Mode).
Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#3779
Positioning
Market Dominance
Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate
Banking
$1.6B
David M. Findlay
Lakeland Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Lake City Bank. Its loan products include commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family residential, agri-business and agricultural, consumer 1-4 family mortgage, and other consumer loans. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 51 offices in fifteen counties, including 45 offices in northern Indiana and six offices in central Indiana.
Headcount
650
HQ Base
WARSAW, Indiana
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Dates updated upon official exchange announcement.
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = LKFN ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$SII SPROTT INC. | 75 | 91 | 87 | 98 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PUK PRUDENTIAL PLC | 73 | 88 | 97 | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NMR NOMURA HOLDINGS INC | 72 | 81 | 92 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PSLV Sprott Physical Silver Trust | 69 | 82 | 80 | 98 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$UFCS UNITED FIRE GROUP INC | 68 | 81 | 93 | 76 | 5.0x | 3.5x | 13.2% | 4.1% | 99.9% | 14.7% | 11.1% | 9.2% | 2.1% | 16.0x | $775M | VS | |
$SLF SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC | 68 | 83 | 95 | 63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$CBOE Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 68 | 75 | 63 | 77 | 21.3x | 15.7x | 24.0% | 13.7% | 41.7% | 32.4% | 26.4% | 8.2% | 1.1% | 30.0x | $25.7B | VS | |
$VTMX Vesta Real Estate Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. | 67 | 69 | 77 | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PHYS Sprott Physical Gold Trust | 67 | 64 | 82 | 91 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GLDM World Gold Trust | 66 | 54 | 85 | 92 | 11.3x | 11.3x | - | 20.9% | 100.0% | 97.1% | 554.8% | -19.0% | 0.0% | - | $32.0B | VS | |
$LKFN LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP | 38 | 32 | 40 | 28 | 15.7x | 13.0x | 13.0% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 31.2% | 25.8% | 1.2% | 3.1% | 822.0x | $1.6B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 11.9x | 7.8x | 9.0% | 1.3% | 77.7% | 18.1% | 21.9% | 10.7% | 2.0% | 0.5x | - | REF |
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP (LKFN) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 38.0/100. It ranks #3779 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 1-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Fair valuation relative to peers
Weak fundamentals — higher risk of value trap
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Moderate investment profile
Below-average composite — caution warranted
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Relative valuation derived from Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for LKFN.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 32 | 48 | -16DRAG |
| MOMENTUM | 28 | 21 | +7ALPHA |
| VALUATION | 40 | 42 | -2NEUTRAL |
| INVESTMENT | 40 | 75 | -35DRAG |
| STABILITY | 58 | 64 | -6DRAG |
| SHORT INT | 25 | 11 | +14ALPHA |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy 13.0% (sector 9.0%)
GM 0% vs sector 78%, OM 31% vs sector 18%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth 1%, 10yr history
Interest coverage 0.8x, Net debt/EBITDA -0.3x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP (LKFN) as Avoid with a composite score of 38.0/100 at a current price of $58.05. The stock falls in the bottom quintile, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 38.0/100 places it at rank #3779 in our full universe.
No Moat
Medium
Standard
Fair Value
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Leverage of 822% D/E amplifies downside risk.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Below-average quality raises earnings sustainability concerns.
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP represents a avoid based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our quantitative model flags LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 38.0/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #3779 of 7,333 stocks, LKFN falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
LKFN's quality score of 32/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of 13.0% (sector avg: 9.0%), gross margins of 0.0% (sector avg: 77.7%), net margins of 25.8% (sector avg: 21.9%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
With a value score of 40/100, LKFN appears somewhat expensive relative to its fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 15.69x, an EV/EBITDA of 12.99x, a P/B ratio of 2.03x. Investors paying a premium here are likely betting on above-average growth or margin expansion to justify current prices.
With an investment score of 40/100, LKFN exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 1.2% vs. a sector average of 10.7% and a return on assets of 1.4% (sector: 1.3%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 28/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth stands at 1.2% year-over-year, while a beta of 0.67 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. While deep momentum weakness can occasionally present value opportunities, it often reflects deteriorating fundamentals or structural headwinds that may persist.
With a stability score of 58/100, LKFN exhibits average financial resilience. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 822.00x (sector avg: 0.5x). While the balance sheet is not a major concern, the stock is subject to typical market volatility and may experience sharper drawdowns during risk-off episodes.
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP's short interest score of 25/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 822.00x), small-cap liquidity risk. At $1.6B (small-cap), LKFN carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
LKFN pays a solid dividend yield of 3.1%, contributing an income component to total returns. This compares to a sector average dividend yield of 2.0%. This moderate yield suggests a balance between returning capital to shareholders and retaining earnings for reinvestment — a common profile among quality compounders.
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP is a small-cap company in the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #3779 of 7,333 overall (48th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 13.0% exceeding the 9.0% sector median and operating margins of 31.2% above the 18.1% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate peers.
While LKFN currently exhibits a AVOID profile, superior opportunities exist within the FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Upgrade catalyst
Improvement in Short Int. (25) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
EV/EBITDA 67% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 44% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Gross Margin 100% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Lake City Bank (NASDAQ:LKFN) and the rest of the regional banks stocks fared in Q4.
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ:FFBC) and the best and worst performers in the regional banks industry.
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Lakeland Financial (LKFN) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended March 2024, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
Lakeland Financial Corporation recently reported full-year 2025 results, with net interest income rising to US$221.02 million and net income reaching US$103.36 million, while basic earnings per share from continuing operations increased to US$4.02. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the company also completed a share repurchase program totaling 337,890 shares, equivalent to 1.32% of its outstanding stock, for US$19.59 million, which reduces share count and can enhance per-share metrics over...
Lakeland Financial (LKFN) has drawn fresh attention after reporting full year 2025 earnings, with net interest income of US$221.02 million and net income of US$103.36 million, alongside recently completed share repurchases. See our latest analysis for Lakeland Financial. The recent full year earnings and completion of the buyback program have arrived alongside a steady shift in sentiment, with a 30 day share price return of 8.2% and a year to date share price return of 10.34%. However, the 1...