LKFN
Financial ServicesLakeland Financial Corporation · Banks - Regional · $2B
What is Lakeland Financial Corporation?
Lakeland Financial Corporation is the holding company for Lake City Bank, a community bank serving northern and central Indiana. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, it has deep roots in the region's commercial and agricultural economy.
Lakeland Financial generates revenue primarily through traditional banking — accepting deposits and extending loans to businesses, farmers, and consumers across Indiana. Beyond lending, the bank earns fee income from treasury management, wealth advisory, trust services, and retail brokerage. Its customer base spans commercial real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and healthcare industries.
Lake City Bank traces its origins to 1872, with Lakeland Financial Corporation established as its holding company and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana.
- Commercial and agricultural lending
- Consumer and mortgage loans
- Corporate treasury management and wealth advisory
- Retail brokerage and trust services
Is LKFN a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates LKFN as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed profile where operational quality stands out but growth and competitive positioning weigh on the composite.
The Quality pillar is the clearest bright spot, suggesting the bank runs an operationally sound business relative to peers. Valuation is rated Good, meaning the stock does not appear significantly overpriced relative to its fundamentals.
Growth, Moat, and Risk all carry Weak ratings — pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and elevated risk factors for a small-cap regional bank.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does LKFN pay dividends?
Yes — Lakeland Financial Corporation pays a dividend.
Lakeland Financial pays a regular dividend, consistent with the income-oriented tradition of community banks. For investors seeking steady income from a regional financial institution, LKFN's dividend history reflects the bank's commitment to returning capital. Yield category and payout details are available in the full Pro analysis.
When does LKFN report earnings?
Lakeland Financial reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed bank holding companies.
The bank's Quality pillar suggests consistent operational execution, though the Weak Growth rating indicates revenue and earnings expansion have been modest relative to sector peers. Investors should weigh near-term results in the context of the broader interest rate environment affecting community banks.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Lakeland Financial Corporation's investor relations page.
LKFN Price History
+11.5% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Lakeland Financial Corporation?
Based on Lakeland Financial Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
LKFN Long-term Outlook
The Weak Growth and Weak Risk pillar ratings suggest a cautious fundamental outlook for LKFN. Community banks of this size face headwinds from margin compression, limited geographic diversification, and competitive pressure from larger institutions. The Good Valuation rating provides some cushion, but the path to meaningful earnings acceleration appears narrow given current pillar signals.
Growth drivers
- Deepening relationships in underserved Indiana agricultural and commercial markets
- Fee income expansion through wealth advisory and treasury management services
Key risks
- Interest rate sensitivity common to community bank balance sheets
- Limited geographic footprint constraining growth opportunities
- Weak Moat rating reflecting low competitive differentiation in a crowded regional banking market
LKFN vs Peers
Lakeland Financial operates in a competitive regional banking landscape alongside several similarly sized institutions.
National Bank Holdings focuses on markets across the Mountain West and Texas, giving it a geographically distinct footprint compared to LKFN's Indiana concentration.
Hope Bancorp primarily serves Korean-American and broader multicultural business communities, representing a niche deposit and lending strategy that differs from LKFN's Midwest agricultural focus.
S&T Bancorp operates across Pennsylvania and Ohio, with a commercial lending emphasis that makes it a close structural peer to Lakeland Financial among mid-sized regional banks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lakeland Financial Corporation do?
Lakeland Financial is the holding company for Lake City Bank, which provides deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, agricultural lending, wealth advisory, trust services, and treasury management to businesses and individuals across northern and central Indiana.
Does LKFN pay dividends?
Yes, Lakeland Financial pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with the income-return tradition of community banks. For current yield and payout details, the full breakdown is available to Pro members on UQS Score.
When does LKFN report earnings?
Lakeland Financial reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed bank holding companies. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the company's investor relations page directly.
Is LKFN a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates LKFN as Below Average overall. The Quality pillar is strong and Valuation is rated Good, but Weak ratings across Growth, Moat, and Risk temper the overall picture. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your income and risk preferences.
Is LKFN overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for LKFN is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not significantly overpriced relative to its fundamentals. That said, Weak Growth and Moat ratings mean investors should weigh what they are paying for carefully.
How does LKFN compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like NBHC, HOPE, and STBA, Lakeland Financial's Quality pillar stands out positively. However, its limited geographic footprint and Weak Moat rating suggest it has less competitive differentiation than some regional banking peers.
What is LKFN's market cap bracket?
LKFN is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer income through dividends but may carry higher volatility and lower liquidity than large-cap financial institutions.
Who founded Lakeland Financial Corporation?
Lake City Bank, the operating subsidiary, was founded in 1872, making it one of Indiana's longer-standing community banking institutions. Founding details for the holding company structure are publicly available through the company's official history.
Is LKFN a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, LKFN's Strong Quality pillar is encouraging, reflecting sound operational management. However, Weak Growth and Moat ratings suggest limited structural advantages that could compound value over time — factors long-term investors should weigh carefully.
What sector does LKFN belong to?
LKFN operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically as a community bank holding company. Community banks like Lakeland Financial are sensitive to interest rate cycles, regional economic conditions, and regulatory requirements unique to the banking industry.
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Pro Analysis
LKFN — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 53.5 | 85.4 | 30.0 | 22.4 | 56.4 | 78.1 | +4.6 |
| May 7, 2026 | 48.9 | 81.1 | 30.0 | 22.4 | 36.4 | 74.8 | -0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 49.0 | 81.1 | 30.0 | 22.4 | 36.4 | 74.9 | -0.1 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | 49.1 | 81.1 | 30.0 | 22.4 | 36.4 | 76.0 | -0.2 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 49.3 | 81.1 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 76.6 | +0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 49.2 | 81.1 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 75.8 | -0.3 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 49.5 | 82.0 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 76.8 | -0.6 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 50.1 | 82.0 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 80.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 50.1 | 82.0 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 80.9 | -0.4 |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 50.5 | 81.9 | 30.0 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 83.2 | 0.0 |
LKFN — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 85.5/100 (25%)Lakeland Financial Corporation demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 22.4/100 (20%)Lakeland Financial Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 56.4/100 (15%)Lakeland Financial Corporation maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 78.0/100 (15%)Lakeland Financial Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 30/100 (25%)Lakeland Financial Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for LKFN.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the LKFN UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Lakeland Financial Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Lakeland Financial Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Lakeland Financial Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.