LPL Financial Holdings Inc. research snapshot

LPLA AI Stock Analysis

LPLA AI stock analysis currently reads LPL Financial as a scaled advisor platform with recurring advisory and brokerage economics, strong client-asset growth, and a material Commonwealth conversion opportunity. This LPLA AI stock analysis treats the LPLA AI stock forecast as a scenario range, not a fixed price call. At the August 2, 2026 data cutoff, LPLA closed at $353.70 on July 31 with a verified market capitalization near $28.00 billion. The next result depends on advisor retention, organic net new assets, market levels, interest-rate-sensitive cash economics, Commonwealth conversion, debt, buyback execution, and expense discipline. This page is for informational use only and is not investment advice.

Current price

$353.70 close on July 31, 2026

Market cap

$28.00 billion verified market capitalization

AI score

70 / 100

Rating

Scaled advisor platform with record adjusted earnings, resumed share repurchases, and Commonwealth conversion on track for Q4 2026, offset by a high GAAP multiple, integration execution, and leverage

Trend status

Above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages on July 31, 2026 StockAnalysis data, with RSI near 73

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 has a long public reporting history, SEC filings, quarterly earnings releases, detailed operating metrics, liquid market data, analyst coverage, and public peers. The main research challenge is separating reported operating strength from acquisition-related accounting and integration assumptions.
bias Check
The main AI research bias is to extrapolate record adjusted earnings and the recent price move forward indefinitely. The counter-check is whether organic net new assets persist, Commonwealth retains advisors and assets near the 90% target, leverage falls, cash-sweep economics hold, and expenses stay controlled while the stock trades on an elevated GAAP multiple.
ai Confidence
High for price, market-cap math, shares, FY2025 and Q2 2026 financials, client assets, balance-sheet totals, moving averages, RSI, and analyst consensus. Medium for return ranges because capital-market levels, advisor mobility, conversion execution, rates, buyback pace, and valuation multiples can change quickly.
investment Certainty
Medium. The advisor platform has scale, recurring revenue, record adjusted EPS, and resumed buybacks, but certainty is constrained by Commonwealth retention and Q4 2026 conversion, leverage near 1.91x, market and rate sensitivity, regulatory exposure, and a valuation that leans on continued adjusted-earnings growth.

Quick verdict table

DimensionConclusionConfidence
Business qualityLPL provides brokerage, advisory, custody, technology, research, planning, and practice support to independent financial advisors and institutions. Advisors and institutions pay for platform access, service, products, and client-account infrastructure, creating recurring asset-based and advisory revenue.High
MoatThe moat comes from advisor workflow integration, custody and compliance infrastructure, product breadth, scale, service relationships, switching friction, and distribution density. It 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 and integration agenda. Q2 2026 delivered record adjusted EPS of $5.84, resumed buybacks with $309 million repurchased, a $2.5 billion authorization increase, and Commonwealth conversion still planned for Q4 2026 with run-rate EBITDA raised to about $435 million.Medium-high
Financial trendFY2025 revenue rose 37% to $16.989 billion while GAAP net income declined 18% to $863 million amid acquisition costs. In Q2 2026, net income rose 39% year over year to $379 million, adjusted EPS rose 29% to $5.84, gross profit rose 24%, and core G&A fell sequentially with the 2026 outlook lowered to $2,140-2,165 million.High
ValuationAt $353.70, LPLA traded near 28.19x TTM GAAP EPS of $12.55, 15.25x forward adjusted earnings, 4.86x book value, and 1.46x sales in a financial-rigor calculation. That valuation needs continued adjusted-earnings growth and successful acquisition execution rather than only higher market levels.High
Technical trendLPLA closed above its 50-day moving average near $301.41 and its 200-day moving average near $329.75, with RSI near 73.09 and 20-day average volume near 706,000. The recovery is intact but short-term momentum is extended, so a consolidation or pullback near the moving averages is plausible.Medium
Risk levelKey risks include Commonwealth asset retention (mid-80s now versus a 90% target) and Q4 2026 conversion, leverage near 1.91x, advisor attrition, lower markets, pressure on cash-sweep economics, compliance and regulatory costs, and a negative TTM GAAP 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, StockAnalysis, and the Q2 2026 earnings call. Forecast confidence is lower because the largest drivers are future market conditions, advisor behavior, integration results, rates, and valuation sentiment.High data confidence
Investment certaintyLPLA has a credible platform-growth case with record adjusted EPS and resumed buybacks, but the stock needs proof that Commonwealth converts with strong retention, leverage falls, and adjusted-earnings growth survives less favorable market or rate conditions before certainty can move higher.Medium

LPLA AI stock forecast

LPLA AI Stock Forecast Scenarios

The LPLA AI stock forecast is scenario-based because earnings depend on client-asset levels, advisor retention, organic net new assets, advisory mix, cash balances, rates, Commonwealth conversion and retention, integration costs, leverage, and valuation multiples. Using a $353.70 price reference, the FY2026 consensus adjusted EPS of $23.47, and a three-year model checked with the financial rigor tool, the mechanical outcomes are about $642 in a bullish case, $414 in a base case, and $221 in a bearish case before dividends. The analyst consensus average target of $428.36 sits near the base-case output.

Bullish case

$610 to $675 before dividends

More likely if Commonwealth converts on schedule with retention near 90%, organic net new assets accelerate, recruited assets stay elevated, advisory assets keep growing, markets remain constructive, buybacks continue, debt falls, and the market holds an 18x exit multiple on adjusted earnings.

Base case

$395 to $435 before dividends

More likely if LPL retains most Commonwealth assets, grows client assets at a moderate pace, absorbs conversion costs, keeps leverage manageable near 1.91x, and trades near a 14x exit multiple on adjusted earnings as investors wait for clean post-conversion results.

Bearish case

$205 to $240 before dividends

More likely if advisor or asset retention disappoints, markets weaken, cash-sweep economics compress, expenses or regulatory costs rise, leverage stays high, buybacks slow, or the market revalues LPLA near a 10x exit multiple on adjusted earnings.

LPLA AI technical analysis

LPLA AI Technical Analysis

LPLA AI technical analysis improved through July and now reads as a confirmed recovery above both moving averages as of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff. StockAnalysis showed a $353.70 close on July 31, a $28.00 billion market capitalization, a 50-day moving average near $301.41, a 200-day moving average near $329.75, RSI near 73.09, and 20-day average volume near 706,000 shares.

LevelValueWhy it matters
Current price reference$353.70 close on July 31, 2026StockAnalysis listed this closing reference after the Q2 earnings report. The day range was $347.70 to $360.26.
Immediate support$344 to $353This zone brackets the current close and the July 31 day range. A close below it would start to weaken the short-term breakout read.
Trend support$329 to $340This range surrounds the 200-day moving average near $329.75 and is the key first trend support after the recovery.
Deep support$301 to $310This range includes the 50-day moving average near $301.41 and marks the second trend-support zone if the pullback deepens.
Near resistance$360 to $370This range includes the July 31 day high near $360.26 and the round-number hurdle at $365 to $370.
Major resistance$400 to $404This zone includes the 52-week high near $403.58. A sustained break would confirm a full recovery of the year-to-date range.
Moving averages50-day near $301.41, 200-day near $329.75Price above both averages now suggests a confirmed recovery phase, with the 200-day average as the main trend line to hold.
MomentumRSI near 73.09Momentum is positive but overbought short-term. A cooling RSI with price holding above the 200-day average would be a healthier setup.
Volume and volatility20-day average volume near 706,000; 5-year beta 0.47Earnings, advisor-retention updates, market moves, and Commonwealth conversion milestones are the volume catalysts to monitor.
InvalidationSustained close below $329, or a deeper break under $301 after a failed breakout attemptA break under the 200-day area would reduce trend confidence. Repeated rejection near $360 to $370 would keep the recovery range-bound.

LPLA AI trading strategy

LPLA AI Trading Strategy Framework

The LPLA 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 milestones, market levels, cash balances, debt, leverage, buyback activity, and expense guidance.

Trend-following setup

Watch for LPLA to hold the $329 to $340 200-day zone, break through $360 to $370 with improving volume, and then test the $400 to $404 52-week area, supported by positive organic net new assets, steady advisor retention, ongoing buybacks, and no deterioration in leverage or expense outlook.

A failed move through $360 to $370 followed by a close below $329 should reduce trend confidence, especially if client assets fall, advisor attrition rises, or Commonwealth retention weakens.

Mean-reversion setup

If LPLA pulls back toward the $329 to $340 200-day zone or the $301 to $310 50-day area without an operating reset, compare the lower price with FY2026 adjusted EPS consensus, client-asset trends, organic net new assets, corporate cash, debt, buyback pace, and Commonwealth conversion milestones.

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

Fundamental monitor

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

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, service, and interest revenue.

Moat

LPL has scale in the advisor-mediated market, workflow integration, custody and compliance infrastructure, broad product access, service relationships, and switching friction. 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, recruiting momentum stalls, markets decline, rate-sensitive income compresses, leverage 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 investment, and acquisitions including Commonwealth and Mariner. The key test is capital allocation discipline: whether expected retention and EBITDA materialize while debt, integration cost, advisor service quality, and buyback timing remain controlled.

Industry trend

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

Valuation and margin of safety

The current price implies that LPL can convert acquired assets, sustain organic growth, preserve advisor economics, execute buybacks, and grow adjusted earnings after integration costs. Margin of safety is limited by a high multiple on TTM GAAP earnings, $7.461 billion of June 30, 2026 total debt, leverage near 1.91x, and uncertain integration outcomes.

Source-backed data

LPLA Data Table

Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.

MetricValueSourceLast verified
Current price and market capitalization$353.70 close on July 31, 2026 and $28.00 billion market cap, verified with 0.00% deviation using financial_rigor.pyStockAnalysis statistics and financial_rigor.pyAugust 2, 2026
Shares outstanding79.16 millionStockAnalysis statisticsAugust 2, 2026
Q2 2026 net income and adjusted EPS$379 million net income, $4.74 diluted EPS up 39% year over year, and record adjusted EPS of $5.84 up 29%LPL Q2 2026 earnings release and Q2 2026 earnings callJuly 30, 2026
Q2 2026 client assets and flows$2.6 trillion total client assets up 34% year over year, $1.5 trillion advisory assets, $23 billion organic net new assets or 4% annualized, and $25 billion recruited assetsLPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseJuly 30, 2026
Q2 2026 balance sheet$1.276 billion cash and equivalents, $7.461 billion total debt, $5.757 billion stockholders equity, and a 1.91x leverage ratioLPL Q2 2026 earnings release and Q2 2026 10-QJuly 30, 2026
Valuation ratios28.19x TTM PE, 15.25x forward PE, 4.86x PB, 1.46x PS, and 0.34% dividend yield in financial-rigor checksStockAnalysis statistics and financial_rigor.pyAugust 2, 2026
FY2025 revenue and net income$16.989 billion revenue up 37% and $863.024 million GAAP net income, cross-validated across the 10-K, StockAnalysis, and Fiscal.aiLPL FY2025 10-K, LPL FY2025 results, and StockAnalysis financialsJuly 30, 2026
Technical indicators50-day MA $301.41, 200-day MA $329.75, RSI 73.09, and 20-day average volume 706,366StockAnalysis statisticsAugust 2, 2026
Analyst consensusBuy rating with an average price target of $428.36, a range of $372 to $543, and 16 analysts covering LPLAStockAnalysis forecast and S&P Global IntelligenceJuly 31, 2026
Commonwealth integration targetConversion on track for Q4 2026 with about 90% asset retention expected and run-rate EBITDA estimate raised from $410 million to $435 millionLPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseJuly 30, 2026
Capital management$309 million repurchased in Q2 2026 with about $300 million planned for Q3, a $2.5 billion authorization increase, and a $0.30 per share dividend declaredLPL Q2 2026 earnings releaseJuly 30, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This LPLA 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.