Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: LOBAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

LOB AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) is a North Carolina-based bank holding company specializing in commercial banking and small business lending. In FY2025, revenue reached $1.04B with net income of $103.8M, supported by a five-year revenue CAGR of 22.4%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings grew 45.1% year-over-year while trailing twelve months revenue stood at $526.4M.

Market cap
$1.62B
Revenue (TTM)
$526.4M
P/E
12.2x
fwd 10.2x
1Y return
6.0%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$41.75
19.6% vs last close

Bull case

  • Quarterly earnings jumped 45.1% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, supported by quarterly revenue growth of 12.2%.
  • The balance sheet maintains strong liquidity with $927.6M in cash and short-term investments against only $99.8M in total debt, yielding net cash of $827.9M.
  • Analysts forecast a 59.6% surge in EPS to $2.96 for FY2026 and set a mean price target of $41.75, representing 19.6% upside over the last close.

Bear case

  • The stock has lagged broader markets with a five-year return of -49.8% compared to an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.
  • Operating cash flow dropped from $536.5M in FY2024 to $158.2M in FY2025, alongside a decline in free cash flow to $143.5M.
  • Net margin compressed from 33.0% in FY2021 down to 10.0% in FY2025 as gross margin fell from 84.3% to 48.3%.

What Live Oak Bancshares does

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. serves as the bank holding company for Live Oak Banking Company, offering commercial banking products and services primarily in North Carolina, USA. Founded in 2008 and based in Wilmington, North Carolina, it serves individuals, small businesses, and professionals. The bank provides deposit products including noninterest-bearing demand accounts, interest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and time deposits. Its lending activities feature commercial and industrial loans, construction and development loans, commercial land loans, and loans collateralized by commercial real estate. Additionally, it offers settlement, accounting, and securitization services for government guaranteed loans, wealth management, and venture capital investment advisory services.

Growth and profitability

Revenue expanded from $506.4M in FY2021 to $1.04B in FY2025, representing a five-year revenue CAGR of 22.4%. Annual net income moved from $167.0M in FY2021 to $103.8M in FY2025, with net margins shifting from 33.0% down to 10.0%. Over the same period, gross margin contracted from 84.3% in FY2021 to 48.3% in FY2025, while operating margin fell from 41.6% to 15.5%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue was $526.4M with a profit margin of 26.5% and an operating margin of 38.8%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 12.2% year-over-year and quarterly earnings grew 45.1%.

LOB income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Live Oak Bancshares held $927.6M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $99.8M, resulting in net cash of $827.9M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Total assets stood at $16.04B and shareholders' equity was $1.31B. During FY2025, the bank generated operating cash flow of $158.2M and free cash flow of $143.5M. Cash usage included $14.8M in capital expenditures and $8.5M in dividends paid, alongside $99.2M in share issuance.

LOB balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Live Oak Bancshares trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 12.2x, slightly above the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers, and a forward P/E of 10.2x compared to the peer median of 10.8x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 3.1x versus the peer median of 3.2x, with a price-to-book ratio of 1.4x and an enterprise value to revenue ratio of 3.3x. Over the past year, the stock returned 6.0% compared to a 16.8% return for the S&P 500 (SPY). Over a five-year timeframe, the stock declined 49.8% while the S&P 500 gained 83.0%.

LOB key metrics →

LOB dividend

Live Oak Bancshares offers an annual forward dividend of $0.12 per share, which yields 0.34%. The company maintains a payout ratio of 4.9% and pays distributions on a quarterly basis. It has maintained 12 consecutive years of dividend payments, though its five-year annualized dividend growth stands at 0.0%. The last ex-dividend date was September 1, 2026.

LOB dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 1 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 3 Holds, 0 Sells, and 0 Strong Sells. The mean price target is $41.75, representing an upside of 19.6% from the last close of $34.91. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $650.6M and EPS of $2.96, an expected EPS increase of 59.6%. Over the last four quarters, the bank posted 2 earnings beats. The company is scheduled to report earnings on October 21, 2026.

LOB forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The stock has a beta of 1.94 and closed 8.4% below its 200-day average, signaling heightened price volatility relative to the broader market.
  • Short interest accounts for 7.5% of the float, reflecting meaningful negative sentiment among market participants.
  • With an earnings track record of 2 beats over the last 4 quarters, the bank has demonstrated inconsistency in meeting consensus targets.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this LOB AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: LOB income statement, LOB balance sheet, LOB key metrics, LOB analyst forecast, LOB chart. See the LOB stock overview for the latest quote and news.

LOB AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Live Oak Bancshares' dividend yield and payout ratio?

Live Oak Bancshares pays an annual forward dividend of $0.12 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.34%. The dividend payout ratio is 4.9%.

When is Live Oak Bancshares' next earnings report?

The bank's next earnings date is scheduled for October 21, 2026.

What is the analyst price target for LOB?

The mean analyst price target is $41.75, which sits 19.6% above the last close price of $34.91.

How much debt does Live Oak Bancshares carry?

As of June 30, 2026, Live Oak Bancshares held $99.8M in total debt, compared to $927.6M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net cash of $827.9M.

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