Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ: LINC) saw its stock surge 12.18% in pre-market trading on Monday, February 24, 2025, after reporting strong fourth-quarter 2024 results and providing an upbeat outlook for the full year 2025.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Lincoln Educational delivered better-than-expected revenue of $119.4 million, representing a 16.4% year-over-year increase and surpassing consensus estimates. While earnings per share of $0.22 were slightly below analysts' expectations, the company's overall performance was solid, with student starts growing by 9.6% and the quarter-end student population rising by 14.1%.

Looking ahead to 2025, Lincoln Educational provided robust guidance that exceeded analysts' projections. The company expects revenue in the range of $480 million to $490 million, outpacing consensus estimates. Additionally, Lincoln Educational forecasted adjusted EBITDA between $55 million and $60 million, driven by anticipated student start growth of 8% to 12%.

The company's impressive results and positive outlook are attributed to its strategic growth investments, including the opening of new campuses and expansion of program offerings to meet the rising demand for skilled professionals. Lincoln Educational's President and CEO, Scott Shaw, emphasized the company's focus on providing high-value training and meeting the workforce skills gap, which contributed to the strong double-digit growth across key financial metrics.