Insider Trading February 24, 2026

Lakeland Financial Director Disposes $331,792 of Stock; Company Posts Strong Q4 Results and Raises Dividend

Director Bradley J. Toothaker sold 5,685 shares as Lakeland reports better-than-expected Q4 2025 earnings and an increased quarterly dividend

By Sofia Navarro LKFN
Lakeland Financial Director Disposes $331,792 of Stock; Company Posts Strong Q4 Results and Raises Dividend
LKFN

Bradley J. Toothaker, a director at Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ: LKFN), sold 5,685 shares of common stock on February 23, 2026, for $58.3628 per share, totaling $331,792. After the sale he retains direct ownership of 20,178 shares. Lakeland Financial reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.16 per share, beating consensus by 9.4%, and announced a 4% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.52 for Q1 2026. Stephens raised its price target to $66.00 while keeping an Equal Weight rating. A subsidiary, Lake City Bank, promoted Donald J. Robinson-Gay to Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer.

Key Points

  • Director Bradley J. Toothaker sold 5,685 shares on February 23, 2026, for $331,792 and now directly owns 20,178 shares.
  • Lakeland Financial reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.16, beating consensus by 9.4%, with no loan loss provision and a lower tax rate.
  • Company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.52 for Q1 2026 and Stephens increased its price target to $66.00 while keeping an Equal Weight rating.

A director of Lakeland Financial, Bradley J. Toothaker, executed a sale of 5,685 shares of the company's common stock on February 23, 2026, according to a recent SEC filing. The shares were sold at $58.3628 apiece, producing a total transaction value of $331,792.

Following the disposition, Toothaker holds 20,178 shares of Lakeland Financial directly. The company's stock is currently trading at $57.75, carries a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.43, and yields 3.55% in dividends.

Market analysis on InvestingPro identifies Lakeland Financial as appearing undervalued at current levels and places the stock on the platform's list of most undervalued stocks. The company has also maintained dividend payments for 32 consecutive years, a record noted alongside the recent yield and payout level.


Quarterly results and corporate actions

Lakeland Financial reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.16 per share, a result that exceeded consensus estimates by 9.4%. Management highlighted favorable revenue trends, recorded no loan loss provision for the quarter, and benefited from a lower tax rate, each of which was cited in the company's results.

In response to the quarter, Stephens adjusted its price target for the company to $66.00 while retaining an Equal Weight rating on the shares. Separately, the company declared a 4% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising the payout to $0.52 per share for the first quarter of 2026, up from the $0.50 per share distributed throughout 2025.

On the personnel front, Lake City Bank, a subsidiary of Lakeland Financial, promoted Donald J. Robinson-Gay to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. In that position, Robinson-Gay will be responsible for managing the bank's loan portfolio and overseeing credit quality and related policies.


Contextual notes

These developments - the insider sale, quarterly financial results, the dividend increase, the analyst price-target adjustment, and the executive promotion at Lake City Bank - are presented as recent company actions and disclosures. The reported facts above reflect the information contained in filings and company announcements.


Key points

  • Insider transaction: Director Bradley J. Toothaker sold 5,685 shares on February 23, 2026, for $331,792; he now directly owns 20,178 shares.
  • Financial results: Lakeland Financial reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.16, beating consensus by 9.4%, with favorable revenue trends, no loan loss provision, and a lower tax rate.
  • Dividend and analyst move: Quarterly dividend increased to $0.52 for Q1 2026 (a 4% rise), and Stephens raised its price target to $66.00 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating.

Risks and uncertainties

  • Insider selling may prompt investor scrutiny of executive share activity; market reaction could affect the regional banking and financial services sectors.
  • Despite the favorable quarter, future earnings and credit performance remain subject to loan portfolio dynamics and credit quality overseen by the newly promoted Chief Credit Officer.
  • Valuation assessments, such as the InvestingPro view that the stock appears undervalued, represent one analysis and may not reflect all market opinions or future price movement.

Risks

  • Insider selling may attract investor scrutiny and could influence sentiment in the regional banking and financial services sectors.
  • Future credit performance and earnings are dependent on loan portfolio dynamics and the effectiveness of credit oversight under the new Chief Credit Officer.
  • Valuation assessments such as InvestingPro's view of the stock as undervalued are one perspective and do not guarantee future stock performance.

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