Lincoln National Q3 Profit Rises, Tops View

(RTTNews) - Insurance company Lincoln National Corp. (LNC), Wednesday reported an increase in profit for the third quarter, as revenues. Earnings for the quarter came in ahead of analysts estimates, as did revenues.

Radnor, Pennsylvania-based Lincoln National's third-quarter net income rose to $441 million or $1.65 per share from $337 million or $1.23 per share last year.

Operating income rose to $414 million or $1.56 per share from $367 million or $1.34 per share last year. On average, 17 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $1.43 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Total operating revenues for the quarter rose to $3.36 billion from $3.07 billion last year. Analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $3.28 billion for the quarter.

Lincoln National raised its quarterly dividend by 25 percent to $0.20 per share, payable February 1 to shareholders of record as of January 12.

"Lincoln once again delivered record levels of operating revenue and earnings in the quarter as all four businesses posted an increase in results from the second quarter," said Chief Executive Dennis Glass.