Oil prices hold sharp losses with focus on secondary India tariffs
Steven B. Hedlund, the Chair, President, and CEO of Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc . (NASDAQ:LECO), a $11.7 billion market cap company with strong financial health according to InvestingPro, recently executed a series of stock transactions according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. On February 19, 2025, Hedlund sold a total of 21,054 common shares of the company, garnering approximately $4.54 million. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $214.009 to $216.71 per share.
In addition to the sales, the filing detailed the acquisition of shares through stock option exercises. Hedlund exercised options for 21,054 shares at prices between $88.44 and $90.70 per share, resulting in a transaction total of around $1.88 million. Following these transactions, Hedlund’s direct ownership stands at 54,659.609 shares. The company has maintained dividend payments for 52 consecutive years, with analysts setting price targets ranging from $187 to $255.
These transactions offer a glimpse into the financial activities of Lincoln Electric’s top executive, reflecting a balance of exercising stock options and liquidating shares. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently fairly valued, with 8 additional exclusive insights available to subscribers through the comprehensive Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, Lincoln Electric has reported a strong fourth quarter for 2024, surpassing market expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $2.57, compared to the forecast of $2.03. The company also exceeded revenue projections, reporting $1.02 billion against an expected $1 billion, highlighting its robust financial performance. KeyBanc Capital Markets responded to these results by raising their price target for Lincoln Electric to $245, maintaining an Overweight rating, while Stifel increased their price target to $220, keeping a Hold rating. Despite a 7% organic decline, Lincoln Electric achieved a record operating margin of 17.6% for the fiscal year, with margins peaking at 18.2% in the fourth quarter.
The company’s automation business, which had been a factor in previous revenue declines, is anticipated to show improvement by mid-year, contributing to a more favorable demand outlook. Lincoln Electric’s management has expressed confidence in the company’s ability to continue generating mid-20% incremental margins in the forthcoming upcycle. Analysts from KeyBanc highlighted the potential for inorganic revenue and earnings levers, as well as the company’s high return on capital. The firm’s guidance for 2025 suggests that EPS could align with or exceed prior consensus, and Lincoln Electric is projecting low single-digit sales growth for the year, supported by recent acquisitions.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.