Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The industrial products company reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.12, Briefing.com reports. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.09 billion. Lincoln Electric had a return on equity of 39.35% and a net margin of 12.30%.Lincoln Electric’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.57 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Lincoln Electric’s conference call:

• Record 2025 results: Sales rose 6% to a record $4.2 billion, adjusted EPS hit a record $9.87, adjusted operating margin was maintained, and the company delivered top‑quartile ROIC and record cash returns to shareholders.
• Automation was a drag in 2025 (Q4 automation sales down 11%, full year mid‑single‑digit decline) but management said Q4 orders and backlog strengthened and expects automation revenue recognition to ramp starting in Q2 2026.
• New five‑year “RISE” strategy targets growth above $6 billion by 2030 with a 300‑basis‑point improvement versus the last cycle (aiming for ~19% average operating margin and a 20%+ peak) driven by volume leverage, enterprise initiatives, innovation and targeted M&A.
• Strong cash generation and balanced capital allocation: management expects >$3.7 billion of operating cash through 2030, will target $110–$130 million annual CapEx, continue dividends (~30% of net income) and maintain ~$75 million/year in share repurchases plus opportunistic buybacks.
• Near‑term headwinds include weaker volumes (Q4 volumes down 6.4%), a higher adjusted effective tax rate and an anticipated ~ $10 million seasonal increase in incentive costs in Q1 that will pressure margins and cash flow early in 2026.

Lincoln Electric Stock Performance

Shares of LECO opened at $293.68 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $257.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $244.27. The firm has a market cap of $16.16 billion, a PE ratio of 31.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.26. Lincoln Electric has a 12-month low of $161.11 and a 12-month high of $310.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

Institutional Trading of Lincoln Electric

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Lincoln Electric by 980.8% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 281 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the period. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Lincoln Electric in the third quarter valued at about $89,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Lincoln Electric by 28.3% during the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 530 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $125,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Lincoln Electric by 8.7% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 823 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $197,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Finally, Rafferty Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Lincoln Electric during the second quarter worth about $202,000. 79.61% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lincoln Electric News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Lincoln Electric this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management laid out a clear long‑term target (over $6 billion in 2030 sales) tied to its RISE strategy, signaling structural revenue growth and scope for margin expansion over the next several years. Lincoln Electric targets over $6B in 2030 sales
• Positive Sentiment: Management emphasized automation and disciplined cost control as the drivers behind its guidance, which supports margin resilience even if volumes remain uneven. Investors looking for operating leverage may view this favorably. LECO Q4 Deep Dive: Automation and Cost Discipline
• Positive Sentiment: Reported results showed an EPS beat (company and several outlets report EPS above consensus) and management highlighted record revenue/EPS in the call — a signal of underlying profitability and strong return on equity. That supports valuations tied to earnings growth. LECO Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Several analyst pieces reiterate LECO as a long‑term growth story, pointing to RISE execution, recurring consumables revenue and aftermarket exposure as multi‑year tailwinds for sales and earnings. Why Lincoln Electric is a top growth stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors can read the full earnings transcript and slide deck for management detail on segmentation, working capital and buyback/capital allocation — useful for modeling but not news by itself. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue came in slightly below Street estimates (about $1.08B vs. ~$1.09B expected) and management flagged uneven volumes — factors that can trigger short‑term profit‑taking despite the EPS beat. Lincoln Electric misses Q4 sales expectations
• Negative Sentiment: GAAP results included special charges that reduced reported EPS versus adjusted figures; that can complicate headline comparisons and momentarily weigh sentiment. Company press release with Q4 results

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LECO has been the topic of several analyst reports. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Lincoln Electric from $280.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Lincoln Electric from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Lincoln Electric in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Roth Mkm reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $297.00 target price (up previously from $285.00) on shares of Lincoln Electric in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Lincoln Electric from $280.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $297.50.

About Lincoln Electric

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: LECO) is a global manufacturer and distributor of welding products, robotic welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment, and surface treatment systems. The company’s portfolio encompasses welding consumables such as electrodes and wires, as well as power sources, torches, and automated welding cells. Lincoln Electric also offers software solutions and training services designed to optimize productivity and quality in fabrication and manufacturing operations.

Founded in 1895 by John C.