LPL Financial Holdings Inc. research snapshot

LPL AI Stock Analysis

LPL AI stock analysis currently reads LPL Financial as a scaled advisor platform with record client assets, strong organic growth, a second quarter that beat analyst expectations, and a Commonwealth conversion still scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. This LPL AI stock analysis treats the LPL AI stock forecast as a scenario range, not a fixed price call. At the August 4, 2026 data cutoff, LPL traded at a $356.91 intraday reference with a verified market capitalization near $28.25 billion. The next result depends on advisor and asset retention, Commonwealth conversion execution, Mariner integration, organic net new assets, market levels, interest-rate-sensitive cash economics, debt, and expense discipline. This page is for informational use only and is not investment advice.

Current price

$356.91 intraday reference on August 3, 2026

Market cap

$28.25 billion verified market capitalization

AI score

68 / 100

Rating

Scaled advisor platform with record client assets, improving operating leverage, a pending Commonwealth conversion, and a price now above its 200-day moving average

Trend status

Above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages on August 3, 2026 StockAnalysis data, with RSI near 73.8 signaling an overbought short-term condition

Data cutoff (updated monthly)

August 4, 2026

Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.

Research quality check

information Richness
A-level information richness. LPL Financial has a long public reporting history, a Form 10-Q filed August 3, 2026, a July 30, 2026 earnings release, detailed operating metrics, liquid market data, and active sell-side coverage. The main research challenge is separating reported operating strength from acquisition-related accounting and the still-unfinished Commonwealth conversion.
bias Check
The main AI research bias is to assume that record client assets automatically produce proportional shareholder returns. The counter-check is whether Commonwealth converts with near 90% asset retention, organic flows persist after market moves, leverage falls from the 1.91x level, buybacks are executed at reasonable prices, and expenses stay within the lowered 2026 Core G&A guidance.
ai Confidence
High for price, market-cap math, shares, FY2025 and Q2 2026 reported results, client assets, balance sheet, moving averages, and stated management targets. Medium for return ranges because capital-market levels, advisor mobility, conversion execution, rates, and valuation multiples can change quickly.
investment Certainty
Medium. The advisor platform has scale, a record $2.6 trillion in client assets, and improving operating leverage, but certainty is constrained by the pending Commonwealth conversion, Mariner integration, debt-funded growth, market sensitivity, regulatory exposure, and an overbought RSI near 73.8.

Quick verdict table

DimensionConclusionConfidence
Business qualityLPL provides brokerage, advisory, custody, technology, research, planning, and practice support to independent advisors and institutions. Advisors and institutions pay for platform access, service, products, and client-account infrastructure, creating recurring asset-based and advisory revenue. In Q2 2026 total client assets reached $2.6 trillion, up 34% year over year, with advisory assets at $1.5 trillion.High
MoatThe moat comes from advisor workflow integration, custody and compliance infrastructure, product breadth, scale, service relationships, switching friction, and distribution density. JD Power ranked Commonwealth first and LPL second for independent advisor satisfaction, which supports the service relationship argument. The moat is meaningful but not absolute because advisors can change affiliation models and competitors invest heavily in recruiting.Medium-high
ManagementCEO Rich Steinmeier and President and CFO Matt Audette are executing a growth, integration, and capital-return agenda. Management kept the Commonwealth conversion on track for Q4 2026 with about 90% asset retention, raised expected run-rate EBITDA to about $435 million, resumed buybacks, and closed the Mariner Advisor Network acquisition. Execution now matters more than the narrative.Medium
Financial trendQ2 2026 revenue rose 35% year over year to $5.19 billion and net income rose 39% to $379 million, with adjusted EPS up 29% to $5.84. H1 2026 revenue was $10.13 billion with net income of $735.7 million. FY2025 revenue rose 37% to $16.99 billion while GAAP net income fell 18% to $863 million amid acquisition costs.High
ValuationAt $356.91, LPL traded near 28.36x TTM EPS of $12.55 and 4.86x book value per share of $72.72. The forward PE near 15.34x reflects analyst expectations of large EPS growth after the Commonwealth conversion. The trailing multiple still requires durable earnings normalization and successful acquisition execution rather than only higher market levels.Medium
Technical trendLPL was above its 50-day moving average near $302.85 and above its 200-day moving average near $329.93, with RSI near 73.8. The trend improved and turned overbought in the near term, so a pullback toward the moving averages is a normal technical scenario rather than a signal change.Medium
Risk levelKey risks include Commonwealth asset retention and conversion, Mariner integration, debt near $7.46 billion with a 1.91x leverage ratio, advisor attrition, lower markets, pressure on cash-sweep economics, regulatory change, and a negative free-cash-flow reading that needs context around advisor loans and acquisition activity.Medium-high
AI confidenceCore descriptive data is well supported by SEC filings, LPL releases, and StockAnalysis. Forecast confidence is lower because the largest drivers are future market conditions, advisor behavior, integration results, rates, and valuation sentiment.High data confidence
Investment certaintyLPL has a credible platform-growth case with improving operating leverage, but the stock needs proof that Commonwealth converts with strong retention, leverage falls, and earnings growth survives less favorable market or rate conditions before certainty can move higher.Medium

LPL AI stock forecast

LPL AI Stock Forecast Scenarios

The LPL AI stock forecast is scenario-based because earnings depend on client-asset levels, advisor retention, recruited assets, advisory mix, cash balances, rates, Commonwealth conversion, Mariner integration, acquisition costs, and leverage. Using a $356.91 price reference, TTM EPS of $12.55, and a three-year model checked with the financial rigor tool, the mechanical outcomes are about $433 in a bullish case, $282 in a base case, and $149 in a bearish case before dividends.

Bullish case

$415 to $450 before dividends

More likely if Commonwealth converts on schedule with retention near the roughly 90% target, Mariner adds net new advisors, organic net new assets stay near 4% annualized, markets remain constructive, EPS compounds at roughly 20% a year, and the market holds about a 19x forward multiple. This outcome is broadly consistent with the analyst consensus target near $428.

Base case

$265 to $295 before dividends

More likely if LPL retains most Commonwealth assets, grows client assets at a moderate pace, absorbs conversion and integration costs, keeps leverage manageable, and trades near a 16x earnings multiple as investors wait for clean post-conversion results.

Bearish case

$135 to $165 before dividends

More likely if advisor or asset retention disappoints, markets weaken, brokerage outflows continue, cash-sweep economics compress, expenses or regulatory costs rise, leverage stays near current levels, or the market revalues LPL near an 11x earnings multiple.

LPL AI technical analysis

LPL AI Technical Analysis

LPL AI technical analysis turned constructive as of the August 4, 2026 data cutoff. StockAnalysis showed a $356.91 intraday reference on August 3, a $28.25 billion market capitalization, a 50-day moving average near $302.85, a 200-day moving average near $329.93, RSI near 73.8, 20-day average volume near 700,000 shares, and a 52-week range of $260.15 to $400.16.

LevelValueWhy it matters
Current price reference$356.91 intraday on August 3, 2026StockAnalysis listed this real-time reference during the August 3 market session. It is not an end-of-day quote.
Immediate support$350 to $357This zone brackets the current reference and the round number at $350. A close below it would weaken the short-term breakout read.
200-day support$325 to $333This range surrounds the 200-day moving average near $329.93 and the breakout zone from the prior repair phase.
50-day support$300 to $305This range surrounds the 50-day moving average near $302.85 and is the main trend support area.
Near resistance$375 to $385A break above the recent consolidation would open the path toward the upper end of the 52-week range.
Major resistance$400 to $410The 52-week high near $400.16 and the round number at $400 form the main overhead hurdle.
Moving averages50-day near $302.85, 200-day near $329.93Price above both averages suggests an improving trend, but RSI near 73.8 means the move is stretched in the near term.
MomentumRSI near 73.8Momentum is strong but overbought. A pullback toward the 200-day average with stable volume would reset the setup.
Volume and volatility20-day average volume near 700,000 shares; 5-year beta 0.47Earnings, advisor-retention updates, market moves, and the Q4 2026 Commonwealth conversion are the main volume catalysts to monitor.
InvalidationSustained close below $330, followed by a break of the $300 to $305 zoneA close under the 200-day area would reduce trend confidence. A break of the 50-day zone would signal a deeper correction.

LPL AI trading strategy

LPL AI Trading Strategy Framework

The LPL AI trading strategy below is a rules-based research framework, not personal advice. It connects technical levels with client assets, advisory and brokerage flows, advisor count and retention, Commonwealth and Mariner milestones, market levels, cash balances, debt, leverage, buyback execution, and the lowered 2026 Core G&A guidance.

Trend-following setup

Watch for LPL to hold the $350 to $357 area, build on the reclaim of the $329.93 200-day average, and then work toward the $400 to $410 52-week high zone with improving volume, positive organic net new assets, steady advisor retention, and no deterioration in leverage or expense outlook.

A failed move at resistance followed by a close below $330 should reduce trend confidence, especially if client assets fall, advisor attrition rises, or Commonwealth retention weakens.

Mean-reversion setup

If LPL pulls back toward the $325 to $333 zone or the $300 to $305 area without an operating reset, compare the lower price with TTM EPS, client-asset trends, net new assets, corporate cash, debt, conversion milestones, and whether advisor economics remain intact.

Do not treat every decline as value if retained Commonwealth assets, organic flows, earnings quality, or cash-sweep economics deteriorate while leverage stays near 1.91x.

Fundamental monitor

Track advisory and brokerage assets, organic net new assets, recruited assets, advisor count, retention, client cash balances, gross profit, Core G&A, adjusted and GAAP EPS, corporate cash, total debt, leverage ratio, buyback execution, and Commonwealth and Mariner milestones.

Position sizing should reflect that a strong advisor platform can still deliver weak stock returns if acquisition assumptions, market conditions, rates, or the valuation multiple move against the thesis.

Investment research summary

Four-master Research Compression

Business essence

Customers pay LPL for a platform that helps independent advisors and institutions custody assets, serve clients, access investment products, execute trades, manage compliance, use technology, and offer planning and advice. The economic engine combines recurring advisory and asset-based revenue with transactional and service revenue. Total client assets reached $2.6 trillion in Q2 2026.

Moat

LPL has scale in the advisor-mediated market, workflow integration, custody and compliance infrastructure, broad product access, service relationships, and switching friction. JD Power ranked Commonwealth first and LPL second for independent advisor satisfaction. The moat is strongest when the platform helps an advisor grow while reducing administrative burden, but advisor choice remains a real competitive constraint.

Munger risk inversion

The thesis fails if acquired advisors or assets leave, the Commonwealth conversion causes disruption, the Mariner transition underperforms, recruiting economics worsen, markets decline, rate-sensitive income compresses, debt limits flexibility, regulatory costs rise, or acquisition adjustments mask a weaker core earnings trend.

Management

Management is pursuing scale through organic recruiting, institutional relationships, technology investments such as Latitude and Cyan, and acquisitions including Commonwealth and Mariner. The key test is capital allocation discipline: whether expected retention and run-rate EBITDA materialize while debt, integration cost, and advisor service quality remain controlled, and whether the resumed buyback is used at reasonable prices.

Industry trend

The long-term trend favors advice, retirement planning, outsourcing, and digital workflow for independent advisors. The near-term industry debate is about consolidation, advisor mobility, fee pressure, regulation, and whether larger platforms can integrate acquired networks without eroding their culture or service model.

Valuation and margin of safety

At $356.91, the price implies LPL can convert acquired assets, sustain organic growth near current rates, preserve advisor economics, and normalize earnings after integration costs. The trailing PE near 28.4x and a forward PE near 15.3x reflect very different earnings paths, and margin of safety depends on the $435 million Commonwealth EBITDA target, a $2.5 billion buyback authorization, leverage near 1.91x, and execution that stays on schedule.

Source-backed data

LPL Data Table

Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.

MetricValueSourceLast verified
Current price and market capitalization$356.91 intraday reference and $28.25 billion market cap on August 3, 2026StockAnalysis statisticsAugust 4, 2026
Shares outstanding79.16 millionStockAnalysis statisticsAugust 4, 2026
Q2 2026 income statementRevenue $5.19 billion up 35%; net income $379 million up 39%; diluted EPS $4.74; adjusted EPS $5.84 up 29%LPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseAugust 4, 2026
Q2 2026 client assets and flows$2.6 trillion total client assets up 34%; $1.5 trillion advisory assets; $23 billion organic net new assets; $25 billion recruited assetsLPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseAugust 4, 2026
Q2 2026 balance sheet$1.276 billion cash and equivalents; $7.461 billion corporate debt and borrowings; $430 million corporate cash; 1.91x leverage ratioLPL Q2 2026 earnings release and Form 10-QAugust 4, 2026
FY2025 annual results$16.99 billion revenue up 37%; $863 million GAAP net income down 18%LPL FY2025 10-K and StockAnalysis financialsAugust 4, 2026
Valuation ratios28.36x trailing PE, 15.34x forward PE, 0.69 PEG, 4.86 PB, 1.46 PS, and 18.44x EV/EBITDA in financial rigor checksStockAnalysis statisticsAugust 4, 2026
Technical indicators50-day MA $302.85, 200-day MA $329.93, RSI 73.8, 20-day average volume 700,357StockAnalysis statisticsAugust 4, 2026
Analyst consensusBuy consensus with an average target of $428.36 from 16 analysts, roughly 20% above the current priceStockAnalysis forecastAugust 4, 2026
Commonwealth integration targetsConversion planned for Q4 2026 with approximately 90% asset retention and approximately $435 million run-rate EBITDA expectedLPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseAugust 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This LPL AI stock analysis is an informational research tool only and is not investment advice, a recommendation, or a promise of future returns. Forecast scenarios are based on available company filings, market data, and assumptions as of the stated data cutoff, and they can be wrong if earnings, market levels, advisor retention, interest rates, integration results, valuation multiples, or other conditions change.