Lincoln National Corp sees surge in options trading volume
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LNC?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Lincoln National Corp (LNC) has experienced a significant drop in its stock price, hitting a 20-day low amid broader market declines, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.35% and the S&P 500 down 0.58%.
The recent surge in options trading volume, with 9,965 contracts traded, indicates heightened market interest in Lincoln National Corp. Notably, the $37.50 strike put option saw significant activity, suggesting that investors are positioning themselves for potential downward movements in the stock price. This increase in options activity may reflect investor sentiment regarding the company's current challenges and market conditions.
The implications of this options trading surge could indicate a cautious outlook among investors, as they react to the stock's recent performance and broader market trends.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy LNC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on LNC
Wall Street analysts forecast LNC stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 34.300
Low
41.00
Averages
47.56
High
59.00
Current: 34.300
Low
41.00
Averages
47.56
High
59.00
About LNC
Lincoln National Corporation is a holding company, which operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses through subsidiary companies. Its segments include Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection and Retirement Plan Services. The Annuities segment provides tax-deferred investment growth and lifetime income opportunities for its clients by offering variable annuities, fixed annuities and indexed variable annuities. The Life Insurance segment provides life insurance products, including term insurance, indexed universal life insurance (IUL) and variable universal life insurance (VUL) products, linked-benefit products, and critical illness and long-term care riders. The Group Protection segment offers group non-medical insurance products and services, including short- and long-term disability, statutory disability and paid family medical leave administration. The Company’s Retirement Plan Services segment provides employers with retirement plan products and services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Latest Rating Changes on Wall Street
- Eli Lilly Upgrade: RBC has upgraded Eli Lilly to 'Outperform' with a price target of $1,250, citing its strong GLP-1 drug franchise and the launch of orforglipron, positioning the company favorably in the obesity treatment market, which is expected to drive revenue growth.
- Molson Coors Downgrade: Bank of America downgraded Molson Coors from 'Neutral' to 'Underperform' with a revised price target of $42, as the brewer's FY26 outlook was weaker than anticipated, indicating limited visibility into stabilizing volumes, which could dampen investor sentiment.
- Apple Price Target Increase: MoffettNathanson reiterated a 'Neutral' rating on Apple, raising its price target from $241 to $270, as positive earnings revisions following a strong December quarter make the valuation more attractive, potentially drawing increased investor interest.
- Amazon Buy Rating Maintained: Bank of America reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Amazon, suggesting that sentiment will improve as AWS revenues accelerate and new AI deals are signed, despite a 6% decline in Amazon shares since the Q4 earnings report, indicating a potential recovery ahead.
See More
Lincoln National Corp. Sees Surge in Options Trading Volume
- Surge in Options Volume: Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) recorded an options trading volume of 9,965 contracts today, equivalent to approximately 996,500 shares, representing 51.4% of its average daily trading volume of 1.9 million shares over the past month.
- Specific Options Focus: Notably, the $37.50 strike put option has seen significant activity with 1,458 contracts traded today, representing about 145,800 underlying shares, indicating market interest at this strike price.
- Citigroup Options Activity: In parallel, Citigroup Inc. (C) has experienced an options trading volume of 68,559 contracts, translating to approximately 6.9 million shares, which accounts for 51.3% of its average daily trading volume of 13.4 million shares over the past month.
- High Strike Price Attention: The $95 strike put option has also garnered attention with 4,263 contracts traded today, representing around 426,300 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations regarding future market movements.
See More
Lincoln Financial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Lincoln National Corporation's board declared a cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on May 1, 2026, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns and enhancing investor confidence.
- Record Date for Shareholders: The record date for shareholders to qualify for the dividend is April 10, 2026, ensuring that those holding shares by this date will receive the payout, thereby encouraging long-term investment among shareholders.
- Customer Trust: As of December 31, 2025, Lincoln Financial serves approximately 17 million customers, demonstrating its strong market position across its four core businesses: annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services.
- Account Balance Scale: The company reported $349 billion in end-of-period account balances as of December 31, 2025, net of reinsurance, indicating robust growth and effective asset management capabilities within the financial services sector.
See More
Lincoln Financial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Lincoln National Corporation's board declared a cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on May 1, 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder confidence and attracting more investors.
- Record Date for Shareholders: The record date for this dividend is April 10, 2026, ensuring that shareholders holding stock before this date will receive the dividend, thereby increasing the company's transparency in the capital markets.
- Customer Trust: As of December 31, 2025, Lincoln Financial serves approximately 17 million customers, demonstrating its strong market position across four core businesses: annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services.
- Asset Scale: The company reported end-of-period account balances of $349 billion as of the end of 2025, net of reinsurance, reflecting its robust financial health and ongoing business growth.
See More
Lincoln National Corporation Q4 2025 Earnings Highlights
- Significant Earnings Growth: Lincoln National Corporation reported adjusted operating income of $434 million for Q4 2025, translating to $2.21 per diluted share, reflecting a 31% year-over-year increase that underscores the company's ongoing improvements in capital foundation and operational efficiency, boosting market confidence.
- Substantial Sales Increase: Annuity sales surged 25% for the year, with RILA sales up 35%, and fixed and variable annuities increasing by 11% and 27% respectively, indicating that the company's strategic focus on higher risk-adjusted margin products is yielding positive results.
- Strong Life Insurance Sales: Life insurance sales rose approximately 50% year-over-year, with executive benefits sales reaching $265 million, demonstrating sustained growth potential in the core life insurance business, with expectations for continued growth in Core Life sales in 2026.
- Clear Capital Return Strategy: Management anticipates continued growth in capital generation and free cash flow over the next two years, planning for at least $50 million in stock buybacks in 2026, reflecting the company's confidence in future developments and commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Lincoln National Corp Reports Decline in Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Decline: Lincoln National Corp reported fourth-quarter earnings of $745 million, or $3.80 per share, a significant drop from last year's $1.675 billion and $9.63 per share, indicating substantial pressure on profitability.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, the adjusted earnings stood at $434 million, or $2.21 per share, reflecting challenges in cost control and operational efficiency that could impact future investor confidence.
- Revenue Drop: The company's revenue for the quarter was $4.922 billion, down 2.8% from $5.063 billion last year, signaling weak market demand and increased competition.
- Market Reaction: Given the notable decline in earnings and revenue, investors may adopt a cautious stance towards Lincoln National Corp's future performance, potentially putting pressure on the stock price and affecting the company's financing capabilities.
See More
Latest Rating Changes on Wall Street
- Eli Lilly Upgrade: RBC has upgraded Eli Lilly to 'Outperform' with a price target of $1,250, citing its strong GLP-1 drug franchise and the launch of orforglipron, positioning the company favorably in the obesity treatment market, which is expected to drive revenue growth.
- Molson Coors Downgrade: Bank of America downgraded Molson Coors from 'Neutral' to 'Underperform' with a revised price target of $42, as the brewer's FY26 outlook was weaker than anticipated, indicating limited visibility into stabilizing volumes, which could dampen investor sentiment.
- Apple Price Target Increase: MoffettNathanson reiterated a 'Neutral' rating on Apple, raising its price target from $241 to $270, as positive earnings revisions following a strong December quarter make the valuation more attractive, potentially drawing increased investor interest.
- Amazon Buy Rating Maintained: Bank of America reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Amazon, suggesting that sentiment will improve as AWS revenues accelerate and new AI deals are signed, despite a 6% decline in Amazon shares since the Q4 earnings report, indicating a potential recovery ahead.
See More
Lincoln National Corp. Sees Surge in Options Trading Volume
- Surge in Options Volume: Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) recorded an options trading volume of 9,965 contracts today, equivalent to approximately 996,500 shares, representing 51.4% of its average daily trading volume of 1.9 million shares over the past month.
- Specific Options Focus: Notably, the $37.50 strike put option has seen significant activity with 1,458 contracts traded today, representing about 145,800 underlying shares, indicating market interest at this strike price.
- Citigroup Options Activity: In parallel, Citigroup Inc. (C) has experienced an options trading volume of 68,559 contracts, translating to approximately 6.9 million shares, which accounts for 51.3% of its average daily trading volume of 13.4 million shares over the past month.
- High Strike Price Attention: The $95 strike put option has also garnered attention with 4,263 contracts traded today, representing around 426,300 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations regarding future market movements.
See More
Lincoln Financial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Lincoln National Corporation's board declared a cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on May 1, 2026, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns and enhancing investor confidence.
- Record Date for Shareholders: The record date for shareholders to qualify for the dividend is April 10, 2026, ensuring that those holding shares by this date will receive the payout, thereby encouraging long-term investment among shareholders.
- Customer Trust: As of December 31, 2025, Lincoln Financial serves approximately 17 million customers, demonstrating its strong market position across its four core businesses: annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services.
- Account Balance Scale: The company reported $349 billion in end-of-period account balances as of December 31, 2025, net of reinsurance, indicating robust growth and effective asset management capabilities within the financial services sector.
See More
Lincoln Financial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Lincoln National Corporation's board declared a cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on May 1, 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder confidence and attracting more investors.
- Record Date for Shareholders: The record date for this dividend is April 10, 2026, ensuring that shareholders holding stock before this date will receive the dividend, thereby increasing the company's transparency in the capital markets.
- Customer Trust: As of December 31, 2025, Lincoln Financial serves approximately 17 million customers, demonstrating its strong market position across four core businesses: annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services.
- Asset Scale: The company reported end-of-period account balances of $349 billion as of the end of 2025, net of reinsurance, reflecting its robust financial health and ongoing business growth.
See More
Lincoln National Corporation Q4 2025 Earnings Highlights
- Significant Earnings Growth: Lincoln National Corporation reported adjusted operating income of $434 million for Q4 2025, translating to $2.21 per diluted share, reflecting a 31% year-over-year increase that underscores the company's ongoing improvements in capital foundation and operational efficiency, boosting market confidence.
- Substantial Sales Increase: Annuity sales surged 25% for the year, with RILA sales up 35%, and fixed and variable annuities increasing by 11% and 27% respectively, indicating that the company's strategic focus on higher risk-adjusted margin products is yielding positive results.
- Strong Life Insurance Sales: Life insurance sales rose approximately 50% year-over-year, with executive benefits sales reaching $265 million, demonstrating sustained growth potential in the core life insurance business, with expectations for continued growth in Core Life sales in 2026.
- Clear Capital Return Strategy: Management anticipates continued growth in capital generation and free cash flow over the next two years, planning for at least $50 million in stock buybacks in 2026, reflecting the company's confidence in future developments and commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Lincoln National Corp Reports Decline in Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Decline: Lincoln National Corp reported fourth-quarter earnings of $745 million, or $3.80 per share, a significant drop from last year's $1.675 billion and $9.63 per share, indicating substantial pressure on profitability.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, the adjusted earnings stood at $434 million, or $2.21 per share, reflecting challenges in cost control and operational efficiency that could impact future investor confidence.
- Revenue Drop: The company's revenue for the quarter was $4.922 billion, down 2.8% from $5.063 billion last year, signaling weak market demand and increased competition.
- Market Reaction: Given the notable decline in earnings and revenue, investors may adopt a cautious stance towards Lincoln National Corp's future performance, potentially putting pressure on the stock price and affecting the company's financing capabilities.
See More
