Lincoln International Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

• Record second quarter and first half revenues of $225.7 million and $383.5 million, up 51% and 36%, respectively, compared to the prior-year periods
• Robust performance in Investment Banking Advisory reflects improving market conditions and strong company fundamentals
• Increased activity in Valuations and Opinions reflects growing demand for private market valuations and transaction opinions
• Declared dividend of $0.07 per share for third quarter 2026

CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln International, Inc. (NYSE: LCLN) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. For the second quarter, GAAP net income was $0.5 million, or $0.01 diluted earnings per share, and adjusted net income was $28.7 million, or adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.26.

"Today marks an important milestone as we report our first quarterly results as a public company," said Rob Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln International. "Our strong performance despite macroeconomic uncertainty reflects the depth of our differentiated private capital markets expertise, our intentionally diversified business model, and our distinctively collaborative culture. As we enter the second half of 2026 following record quarterly revenues, we are encouraged by increasing business activity across the firm and healthy company fundamentals. We remain focused on strengthening our position as a leading global investment banking advisory firm serving the private capital markets through disciplined execution of our growth strategies."

Selected Financial Data

comparable GAAP measures in the tables and the notes at the end of this release. 

Revenues

Total revenues were $225.7 million for the second quarter, compared to $149.7 million in the prior-year period, representing an increase of 51%, primarily attributable to increasing M&A activity, demand for private market valuations, and the impact of our acquisition of MarshBerry in October of 2025.

Investment Banking Advisory revenues were $177.7 million for the second quarter, a 56% increase from the prior-year period primarily due to a higher number of transactions completed, higher average fees and our acquisition of MarshBerry.

Valuations and Opinions revenues were $47.9 million for the second quarter, a 35% increase from the prior-year period primarily driven by increasing demand for portfolio valuations and transaction opinions.

Expenses

comparable GAAP measures in the tables and the notes at the end of this release. 

Compensation and benefits were $145.8 million for the second quarter, compared to $70.8 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 106%. On an adjusted basis, compensation and benefits were $137.7 million for the second quarter compared to $87.4 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 58%. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61% for the second quarter, compared to 58% in the prior-year period. The increase in compensation expenses was primarily a result of an increase in revenues, our acquisition of MarshBerry and the change in our corporate structure.

Non-compensation expenses were $95.8 million for the second quarter, compared to $46.7 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 105%. On an adjusted basis, non-compensation expenses were $42.2 million for the second quarter compared to $35.9 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 18%. This resulted in an adjusted non-compensation ratio of 19% for the second quarter, compared to 24% in the prior-year period. The increase in non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of IPO-related expenses and our acquisition of MarshBerry.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was $1.5 million in the second quarter, representing an effective tax rate of (7%). On an adjusted basis, the provision for income taxes was $14.5 million in the second quarter, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 34%.

Talent

We strategically invest in our business to build upon competitive advantages to drive value for our clients. In the first half of 2026, seven Managing Directors joined the Company as lateral hires in addition to the six Managing Directors promoted at the beginning of the year, bringing the total number of Managing Directors to 162 firmwide.

We continue to build and invest in the next generation of leaders through a deliberate focus on high-performing individuals and internal promotion.

Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $250.6 million and long-term debt of $101.9 million, resulting in net cash of $148.7 million. This compares to cash and cash equivalents of $320.2 million as of December 31, 2025.

During the second quarter, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from its initial public offering to repay approximately $195.8 million of the debt incurred primarily to finance the MarshBerry acquisition, further strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing financial flexibility.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share of Class A common stock, payable on September 15, 2026, to Class A common stockholders of record as of September 1, 2026.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Lincoln International will host a conference call beginning at 7:30 a.m. Central Time on August 6, 2026 to discuss second quarter results. To access the conference call, please call +1 (877) 270-2148 (toll-free domestic) or +1 (412) 317-6060 (international). The call will be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website www.lcln.com, and accompanying materials will be posted prior to the conference call. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the call.

About Lincoln International

Lincoln International, Inc. (NYSE: LCLN) is a trusted investment banking advisor to business owners, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and public and private companies worldwide. Our services include mergers and acquisitions advisory, private funds and capital markets advisory, and valuations and opinions. With more than 1,400 professionals in more than 30 offices across 14 countries, we combine perspective on the global private capital markets with deep industry expertise, market intelligence and strategic insights to deliver exceptional execution and build lasting client relationships.

We periodically provide other information for investors on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.lcln.com. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements often include words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "commits," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to, statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, expected growth, future capital expenditures and debt service obligations. These statements are based on management's current expectations, beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to retaining and recruiting talent, acquisitions and integration (including MarshBerry), changing market, economic and geopolitical conditions, revenue volatility, competition, cybersecurity and operational risks, extensive regulation, and our organizational structure. A further description of these and other risks can be found under "Risk Factors" in our final prospectus dated May 19, 2026 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 21, 2026, and as updated in our subsequent filings with the SEC. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business or results of operations. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), we consider certain adjusted (non-GAAP) measures in assessing the performance of our business. We recognize that these non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, including that they may be calculated differently by other companies or may be used under different circumstances or for different purposes, thereby affecting their comparability from company to company. In order to compensate for these and the other limitations, we do not consider these measures in isolation from or as alternatives to the comparable financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should be used in addition to and in conjunction with the results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP measures. The non-GAAP measures we use are adjusted compensation and benefits and adjusted compensation ratio, adjusted non-compensation and adjusted non-compensation ratio, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin, adjusted other income, adjusted provision for income taxes and adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and net cash.

Management believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures together with comparable GAAP measures provides useful information to investors to enhance their ability to analyze our performance from period to period, enhance their overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in their financial and operational decision making. Internally, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, along with GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating results and in making resource allocation and compensation decisions.

We adjust for certain non-cash and other items that management believes are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance. These adjustments include IPO-related items, such as equity award and partner conversion expenses, and transition-related amortization costs associated with debt repaid in connection with the IPO. These adjustments also include acquisition-related items, such as deferred retention and earnout expenses, and amortization of intangible assets recognized through purchase accounting.

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share are calculated assuming all outstanding common units of Lincoln International, LP and minority interests have been exchanged for Class A common stock, resulting in all of the Company's income becoming subject to corporate-level. tax. The adjusted provision for income taxes reflects this assumption and applies the applicable statutory tax rates in the relevant jurisdictions to each non-GAAP adjustment.

For an explanation of the adjustments and a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures with the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the tables and the related notes at the end of this release.

Financial Information" at the end of this release.

shares of Class B and Class C common stock have been canceled as a result of such exchange.

distributions that were not recognized as compensation expense under the former partnership structure. Following the IPO, those individuals 

became employees, and the related payments are recognized as compensation expense. The adjustment reflects the estimated impact of

applying the current corporate structure to the comparable prior-year period to improve period-over-period comparability.

1H26 and $17.1 million in 1H25.

of Class B and Class C common stock have been canceled as a result of such exchange.

performance-based distributions that were not recognized as compensation expense under the former partnership structure. Following the IPO, those

individuals became employees, and the related payments are recognized as compensation expense. The adjustment reflects the estimated impact of

applying the current corporate structure to the comparable prior-year period to improve period-over-period comparability.

equity compensation and related deferrals resulting from the conversion to a corporate structure upon the IPO, improving comparability with post-IPO

periods.

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SOURCE Lincoln International