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Lincoln Educational Services Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 22.4% in the quarter: Revenue was $142.6 million against $116.5 million a year earlier. Growth came mainly from average student population, with tuition increases making up the remainder. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 42.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $12.7 million against $8.9 million. Net income was $1.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, against $1.6 million, or $0.05. Source
  • Starts rose 1%, enrollment about 9%: Starts rose 1% in the quarter after nearly 20% growth in the first quarter. Management had expected start growth near half that rate, and enrollment grew about nine percent. Source
  • Actions taken on enrollment conversion: Management said it has taken steps to address the quarter's trends and believes they are reaccelerating new student starts. Source
  • Quarter operating cash rose to $22.1M: Net cash from operating activities was $22.1 million for the quarter, against $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • First-half capital spending fell: First-half capital expenditures were $29.1 million, against $46.3 million a year earlier. Source

“Our prior investments which have created a more efficient and scalable business model have continued to drive our operating efficiency and financial results”

Scott Shaw, President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$590.0 - $600.0 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$76.0 - $80.0 millionKept
Net income Sourcefull year 2026$23.0 - $26.0 millionKept
Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.74 - $0.83Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$95.0 - $100.0 millionRaised from $70 - $75 million
Student starts growth Sourcefull year 202610% - 14%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Revenue, adjusted EBITDA, net income, diluted EPS and student start guidance were reiterated; only capital expenditure guidance changed. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditure guidance was increased by about $25 million for the Melrose Park property acquisition and the new Suitland campus. Source
  • New: A lease was signed in June for a Suitland, Maryland campus, the company's second in the Washington, D.C. area and its first focused-program campus. Source
  • New: In July the company completed the purchase of its previously leased Melrose Park, Illinois campus property for $18.8 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 22.4% in the quarter: Revenue was $142.6 million against $116.5 million a year earlier. Growth came mainly from average student population, with tuition increases making up the remainder. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 42.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $12.7 million against $8.9 million. Net income was $1.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, against $1.6 million, or $0.05. Source
  • First-half revenue and EBITDA grew: Six-month revenue was $286.5 million. Six-month adjusted EBITDA rose 62.9% to $28.2 million, and six-month diluted EPS was $0.20 against $0.11. Source

Enrollment and program mix

  • Starts rose 1%, enrollment about 9%: Starts rose 1% in the quarter after nearly 20% growth in the first quarter. Management had expected start growth near half that rate, and enrollment grew about nine percent. Source
  • Skilled trades starts more than doubled: Transportation and Skilled Trades starts were 4,844 against 2,350 a year earlier. Healthcare and Other Professions starts rose 39.4% to 1,125. Source
  • Skilled trades population rose 38.5%: End-of-period Transportation and Skilled Trades population reached 15,302. Healthcare and Other Professions end-of-period population was 3,602, up 9.0%. Source
  • Healthcare average population slipped: Average Healthcare and Other Professions population was 3,628, down 0.2%, while Transportation and Skilled Trades average population rose 23.4% to 14,714. Source

“our start growth for the quarter slowed to one percent, as fewer enrolled students than expected attended the first day of class.”

Scott Shaw, President & CEO

Starts and high school recruiting

  • Actions taken on enrollment conversion: Management said it has taken steps to address the quarter's trends and believes they are reaccelerating new student starts. Source
  • High school recruiting team expanded: Management started an overhaul and expansion of its high school recruiting team last summer, citing renewed interest in the skilled trades from students, parents and counselors. Source

Costs, margins and campus operations

  • Educational services costs rose 27.4%: Educational services and facilities expense rose to $59.6 million, including $2.9 million for new campuses and $3.1 million of higher depreciation. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose 18.8%: Selling, general and administrative expense rose to $79.7 million. Of the increase, $2.1 million relates to the Houston, Hicksville and Rowlett campuses. Source
  • Campus operations income rose 11.6%: Campus Operations operating income was $21.5 million. The Corporate operating loss was $18.2 million, leaving total operating income of $3.3 million. Source
  • Corporate expense rose on salaries: Corporate and other expenses rose to $18.2 million, driven by higher salaries and benefits for a larger student population and growth initiatives. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA add-backs narrowed: From fiscal 2026, adjusted EBITDA adds back only non-cash stock-based compensation and other non-recurring items. Prior periods were recast to match. Source

“we remain confident in achieving our full-year 2026 guidance and progressing toward our 2030 targets of $850 million in revenue and $150 million in Adjusted EBITDA.”

Scott Shaw, President & CEO

Cash, liquidity and capital

  • Quarter operating cash rose to $22.1M: Net cash from operating activities was $22.1 million for the quarter, against $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Liquidity about $143 million at quarter end: Total liquidity was about $143 million: $44.2 million of cash plus $99.0 million available under the credit facility. Source
  • First-half capital spending fell: First-half capital expenditures were $29.1 million, against $46.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables rose to $45.9 million: Accounts receivable were $45.9 million at June 30, 2026, up from $36.9 million at December 31, 2025, with a $41.4 million allowance. Source
  • Diluted share count edged up: Diluted weighted average shares were 31.4 million for the quarter, against 31.3 million a year earlier. Source

Campuses and focused-program model

  • Focused-program campuses cost less: Management said the focused-program model costs less than half of a traditional campus buildout and can be built faster. Source
  • Melrose Park recognized by USA Today: The Melrose Park, Illinois campus was named one of America's Top Vocational Schools by USA Today, the second consecutive year. Source
  • Grand Prairie campus accreditation recognition: The Grand Prairie, Texas campus was named a School of Excellence by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges during its accreditation renewal. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 August 2026

  • August class expected to be large: Management expects the August class to be one of the largest in the company's history. Source
  • Recruiting to drive growth next year: Management expects more growth next year from the high school recruiting teams as they build relationships and reach more prospective students. Source
  • Suitland campus opening planned: The Suitland, Maryland campus is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2027, offering Electrical and HVAC training. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Student starts, second quarter Source5,969
End-of-period student population Source18,904
Average student population, second quarter Source18,342
Campuses Source22 campuses in 12 states

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management observed changes in student decision-making during the quarter that affected conversion from enrollment to start. Source
  • Financial: Selling, general and administrative expense rose partly because of a larger provision for credit losses, along with enrollment growth and sales and marketing spending. Source
  • Operational: Adjusted EBITDA guidance includes about $10.0 million of losses from new campus openings and growth initiatives. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in the full-year student start growth guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it sees improvements this year from the high school recruiting investments. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.