LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from______ to______

Commission File Number 000-51371

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey		57-1150621
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

14 Sylvan Way, Suite A		07054
Parsippany, NJ		(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

(973) 736-9340

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value per share	LINC	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

	Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☒

	Non-accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☒

	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of November 6, 2023, there were 31,359,110 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	2
Item 1.	Financial Statements	2
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	6
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	7
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	9
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	38
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	38
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION	39
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	39
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	39
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	39
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	40
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	40
Item 5.	Other Information	40
Item 6.	Exhibits	41
	SIGNATURES	42

Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding proposed new programs, expectations that regulatory developments or other matters will or will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results and future economic performance; and statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to the following:

•	our failure to comply with the extensive existing regulatory framework applicable to our industry or our failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals in connection with a change of control of our company or acquisitions;

•	the promulgation of new regulations in our industry as to which we may find compliance challenging;

•	our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis;

•	our ability to implement our strategic plan;

•	risks associated with changes in applicable federal laws and regulations including pending rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Education;

•	uncertainties regarding our ability to comply with federal laws and regulations regarding the 90/10 Rule and cohort January 1 rates;

•	risks associated with maintaining accreditation;

•	risks associated with opening new campuses and closing existing campuses;

•	risks associated with integration of acquired schools;

•	industry competition;

•	the effect of public health outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics including, without limitation, COVID-19

conditions and trends in our industry;

•	general economic conditions; and

•	risks related to other factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. We caution you not to unduly rely on the forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented herein.

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	41,717	$	46,074
Restricted cash		4,276		4,213
Short-term investments		24,344		14,758
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $34,677 and $28,560 at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		40,261		37,175
Inventories		2,935		2,618
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,945		4,738
Assets held for sale		10,198		4,559
Total current assets		130,676		114,135

PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $139,697 and $146,367 at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		38,402		23,940

OTHER ASSETS:
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance for credit losses of $17,274 and $6,810 at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		16,703		22,734
Deferred income taxes, net		25,210		22,312
Operating lease right-of-use assets		92,866		93,097
Goodwill		10,742		14,536
Other assets, net		1,179		812
Total other assets		146,700		153,491
TOTAL ASSETS	$	315,778	$	291,566

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	September 30,			December 31,
	2023			2022
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Unearned tuition	$	21,844		$	24,154
Accounts payable		17,582			10,496
Accrued expenses		12,670			8,653
Income taxes payable		3,052			2,055
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		10,917			9,631
Other short-term liabilities		35			31
Total current liabilities		66,100			55,020

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Pension plan liabilities		622			668
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities		91,891			91,001
Total liabilities		158,613			146,689

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, no par value - authorized 100,000,000 shares at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, issued and outstanding 31,359,110 shares at September 30, 2023 and 31,147,925 shares at December 31, 2022.		48,181			49,072
Additional paid-in capital		47,536			45,540
Retained earnings		62,487			51,225
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,039	)		(960	)
Total stockholders’ equity		157,165			144,877
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	315,778		$	291,566

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022

REVENUE	$	99,618		$	91,813		$	275,548		$	256,510
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Educational services and facilities		43,129			39,933			121,251			112,234
Selling, general and administrative		54,485			46,984			156,603			139,503
Loss (gain) on sale of assets		8			16			(30,923	)		(178	)
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		-			-			4,220			-
Total costs & expenses		97,622			86,933			251,151			251,559
OPERATING INCOME		1,996			4,880			24,397			4,951
OTHER:
Interest income		878			-			1,891			-
Interest expense		(21	)		(36	)		(74	)		(114	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		2,853			4,844			26,214			4,837
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		789			1,300			7,009			761
NET INCOME	$	2,064		$	3,544		$	19,205		$	4,076
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS		-			304			-			912
INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$	2,064		$	3,240		$	19,205		$	3,164
Basic
Net income per common share	$	0.07		$	0.10		$	0.64		$	0.10
Diluted
Net income per common share	$	0.07		$	0.10		$	0.63		$	0.10
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		30,164			25,381			30,115			25,692
Diluted		30,698			25,381			30,455			25,692

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net income	$	2,064		$	3,544		$	19,205		$	4,076
Other comprehensive loss
Employee pension plan adjustments, net of taxes (nil)		(26	)		(21	)		(79	)		(61	)
Comprehensive income	$	2,038		$	3,523		$	19,126		$	4,015

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Stockholders’ Equity
															Accumulated						Series A
							Additional								Other						Convertible
	Common Stock						Paid-in			Treasury		Retained			Comprehensive						Preferred Stock
	Shares			Amount			Capital			Stock		Earnings			Loss			Total			Shares		Amount
BALANCE - January 1, 2023		31,147,925		$	49,072		$	45,540		$	-	$	51,225		$	(960	)	$	144,877			-	$	-
Net cumulative effect from adoption of ASC 326 (a)		-			-			-			-		(7,943	)		-			(7,943	)		-		-
Net loss		-			-			-			-		(109	)		-			(109	)		-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-		-			(48	)		(48	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		652,042			-			812			-		-			-			812			-		-
Share repurchase		(104,030	)		(556	)		-			-		-			-			(556	)		-		-
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation		(297,380	)		-			(1,779	)		-		-			-			(1,779	)		-		-
BALANCE - March 31, 2023		31,398,557			48,516			44,573			-		43,173			(1,008	)		135,254			-		-
Net income		-			-			-			-		17,250			-			17,250			-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-		-			(5	)		(5	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		61,257			-			2,576			-		-			-			2,576			-		-
Share repurchase		(61,034	)		(335	)		-			-		-			-			(335	)		-		-
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation		(39,670	)		-			(275	)		-		-			-			(275	)		-		-
BALANCE - June 30, 2023		31,359,110			48,181			46,874			-		60,423			(1,013	)		154,465			-		-
Net income		-			-			-			-		2,064			-			2,064			-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-		-			(26	)		(26	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		-			-			662			-		-			-			662			-		-
BALANCE - September 30, 2023		31,359,110		$	48,181		$	47,536		$	-	$	62,487		$	(1,039	)	$	157,165			-	$	-

(a) Net cumulative adjustment to equity based on the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. See Note 14 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

	Stockholders’ Equity
																Accumulated						Series A
							Additional									Other						Convertible
	Common Stock						Paid-in			Treasury			Retained			Comprehensive						Preferred Stock
	Shares			Amount			Capital			Stock			Earnings			Loss			Total			Shares		Amount
BALANCE - January 1, 2022		27,000,687		$	141,377		$	32,439		$	(82,860	)	$	39,702		$	(1,240	)	$	129,418			12,700	$	11,982
Net income		-			-			-			-			272			-			272			-		-
Preferred stock dividend		-			-			-			-			(304	)		-			(304	)		-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-			-			(30	)		(30	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		528,121			-			1,239			-			-			-			1,239			-		-
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation		(268,654	)		-			(1,992	)		-			-			-			(1,992	)		-		-
BALANCE - March 31, 2022		27,260,154			141,377			31,686			(82,860	)		39,670			(1,270	)		128,603			12,700	$	11,982
Net income		-			-			-			-			259			-			259			-		-
Preferred stock dividend		-			-			-			-			(304	)		-			(304	)		-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-			-			(10	)		(10	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		78,829			-			491			-			-			-			491			-		-
Treasury stock cancellation		-			(82,860	)		-			82,860			-			-			-			-		-
Share repurchase		(414,963	)		(2,538	)		-			-			-			-			(2,538	)		-		-
BALANCE - June 30, 2022		26,924,020			55,979			32,177			-			39,625			(1,280	)		126,501			12,700	$	11,982
Net income		-			-			-			-			3,544			-			3,544			-		-
Preferred stock dividends		-			-			-			-			(304	)		-			(304	)		-		-
Employee pension plan adjustments		-			-			-			-			-			(21	)		(21	)		-		-
Stock-based compensation expense
Restricted stock		-			-			637			-			-			-			637			-		-
Share Repurchase		(668,440	)		(4,195	)		-			-			-			-			(4,195	)		-		-
BALANCE - September 30, 2022		26,255,580		$	51,784		$	32,814		$	-		$	42,865		$	(1,301	)	$	126,162			12,700	$	11,982

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2023			2022

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	19,205		$	4,076
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4,656			4,618
Deferred income taxes		-			64
Gain on sale of assets		(30,923	)		(178	)
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		4,220			-
Fixed asset donations		(239	)		(245	)
Provision for credit losses		31,347			24,888
Stock-based compensation expense		4,050			2,367
(Increase) decrease in assets:
Accounts receivable		(39,240	)		(32,467	)
Inventories		(317	)		7
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes payable		997			(503	)
Prepaid expenses and current assets		(124	)		2,550
Other assets, net		2,023			329
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable		6,374			3,800
Accrued expenses		4,017			(5,631	)
Unearned tuition		(2,310	)		(2,661	)
Other liabilities		(124	)		(402	)
Total adjustments		(15,593	)		(3,464	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		3,612			612
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures		(28,685	)		(7,053	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		33,310			2,390
Proceeds from short-term investment		14,758			-
Purchase of short-term investment		(24,344	)		-
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,961	)		(4,663	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividend payment for preferred stock		-			(912	)
Share repurchase		(891	)		(6,733	)
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation		(2,054	)		(1,992	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,945	)		(9,637	)
NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH		(4,294	)		(13,688	)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—Beginning of period		50,287			83,307
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—End of period	$	45,993		$	69,619

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2023		2022

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for:
Interest	$	94	$	132
Income taxes	$	6,002	$	1,216
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Liabilities accrued for or noncash additions of fixed assets	$	1,126	$	501

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts and unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

1.	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business Activities - Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults. The Company, which currently operates 22 campuses in 14 states, offers programs in skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), automotive technology, healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics), and information technology. The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names. Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study. Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas. All of the campuses are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations. These financial statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2022 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“Form 10-K”), reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is now organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations, and (b) Transitional. Based on trends in student demand and program expansion, there have been more cross-offerings of programs among the various campuses. Given this change, the Company has revised the way it manages the business, evaluates performance, and allocates resources, resulting in an updated segment structure. The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance. The Transitional segment refers to campuses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of September 30, 2023, the only campus classified in the Transitional segment is the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. This campus has been fully taught-out, and will continue to incur some additional closing costs until year-end 2023. Total estimated costs to close the campus will approximate $2.0 million.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions, including those used to determine the incremental borrowing rate to calculate lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease term to calculate lease cost, revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, useful lives of fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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New Accounting Pronouncements – In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” and subsequently issued additional guidance that modified ASU 2016-13. The ASU and the subsequent modifications were identified as ASC Topic 326. The standard requires an entity to change its accounting approach in determining impairment of certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, from an “incurred loss” methodology to a “current expected credit loss” methodology (the “CECL methodology”). The CECL methodology utilizes a lifetime “expected credit loss” measurement objective for the recognition of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost at the time the financial asset is originated or acquired. The allowance is adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. The CECL methodology represents a significant change from prior U.S. GAAP, which generally required that a loss be incurred before it was recognized. Further, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, ASU No. 2019-05, ASU No. 2019-11 and ASU No. 2022-02 to provide additional guidance on the credit losses standard. In November 2019, FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842)”. This ASU deferred the effective date of ASU 2016-13 for public companies that are considered smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Additionally, in February and March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-02, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section on Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)”. ASU 2020-02 added an SEC paragraph pursuant to the issuance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 on loan losses to FASB Codification Topic 326 and also updated the SEC section of the codification for the change in the effective date of Topic 842. As of the January 1, 2023 date of adoption, based on forecasts of macroeconomic conditions and exposures at that time, the aggregate impact to the Company resulted in an opening balance sheet adjustment increasing the allowance for credit losses related to the Company’s accounts receivables of approximately $10.8 million, a decrease in retained earnings of $7.9 million, after-tax and a deferred tax asset increase of $2.9 million.

Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.

In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable. A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was enacted and signed into law. The Inflation Reduction Act is a budget reconciliation package that includes significant changes relating to tax, climate change, energy and health care. The income tax provision of the act includes, among other items, a corporate alternative minimum tax of 15.0%, an excise tax of 1.0% on corporate stock buybacks, energy-related tax credits and additional IRS funding. The Company does not expect the tax provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act to have a material impact to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we did not record any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions, as we did not have any uncertain tax positions.

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2.	NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) are determined in accordance with ASC Topic 260,” Earnings per Share”, which specifies the computation, presentation and disclosure requirements for EPS. Basic EPS excludes all dilutive Common Stock equivalents. It is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS, as calculated using the treasury stock method, reflects the potential dilution that would occur if our dilutive outstanding stock options and stock awards were issued.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company presented its basic and diluted income per common share using the two-class method, which requires all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) and unvested shares of Restricted Stock that contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends and therefore participate in undistributed income with common shareholders to be included in computing income per common share. Under the two-class method, net income is reduced by the amount of dividends declared in the period for each class of Common Stock and participating security. The remaining undistributed income is then allocated to Common Stock and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Series A Preferred Stock and shares of unvested Restricted Stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends on an if-converted basis and on the same basis as shares of the Company’s Common Stock, respectively, and are considered participating securities. The Series A Preferred Stock and unvested Restricted Stock are not included in the computation of basic income per common share in periods in which we have a net loss, as the Series A Preferred Stock and unvested Restricted Stock are not contractually obligated to share in our net losses. However, the cumulative dividends on Series A Preferred Stock for the period decreases the income or increases the net loss allocated to common shareholders unless the dividend is paid in the period. Basic income per common share has been computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.

On November 30, 2022, the Company exercised in full its right of mandatory conversion of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. In connection with the conversion, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was cancelled and converted into 423,729 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”). No shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated. As a result of the conversion, the aggregate 12,700 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding were converted into 5,381,358 shares of Common Stock. As of September 30, 2023, the Company still maintains Restricted Stock, but these shares do not participate in the disbursement of dividends.

The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the net income per share computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
(in thousands, except share data)	2023		2022			2023		2022
Numerator:
Net income	$	2,064	$	3,544		$	19,205	$	4,076
Less: preferred stock dividend		-		(304	)		-		(912	)
Less: allocation to preferred stockholders		-		(540	)		-		(522	)
Less: allocation to restricted stockholders		-		(155	)		-		(153	)
Net income allocated to common stockholders	$	2,064	$	2,545		$	19,205	$	2,489

Basic income per share:
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		30,163,745		25,381,447			30,114,926		25,692,094
Basic income per share	$	0.07	$	0.10		$	0.64	$	0.10

Diluted income per share:
Denominator:
Weighted average number of:
Common shares outstanding		30,698,475		25,381,447			30,455,155		25,692,094
Dilutive shares outstanding		30,698,475		25,381,447			30,455,155		25,692,094
Diluted income per share	$	0.07	$	0.10		$	0.63	$	0.10

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The following table summarizes the potential weighted average shares of Common Stock that were excluded from the determination of our diluted shares outstanding as they were anti-dilutive:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(in thousands, except share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Series A Preferred Stock		-		5,381,356		-		5,381,356
Unvested restricted stock		-		1,548,265		-		1,582,493
		-		6,929,621		-		6,963,849

3.	REVENUE RECOGNITION

Substantially all of our revenues are considered to be revenues from our contracts with students. The related accounts receivable balances are recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as student accounts receivable. We do not have significant revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods, and we do not have any transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations other than in our unearned tuition. We record revenue for students who withdraw from our schools only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. Unearned tuition represents contract liabilities primarily related to our tuition revenue. We have elected not to provide disclosure about transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations if original contract durations are less than one year, or if we have the right to consideration from a student in an amount that corresponds directly with the value provided to the student for performance obligations completed to date in accordance with ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” We have assessed the costs incurred to obtain a contract with a student and determined them to be immaterial.

Unearned tuition in the amount of $21.8 million and $24.2 million is recorded as current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The change in this contract liability balance during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 is the result of payments received in advance of satisfying performance obligations, offset by revenue recognized during that period. Revenue recognized for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year was $23.3 million.

The following table depicts the timing of revenue recognition:

	Three months ended September 30, 2023						Nine months ended September 30, 2023
	Campus Operations		Transitional		Consolidated		Campus Operations		Transitional		Consolidated
Timing of Revenue Recognition
Services transferred at a point in time	$	7,489	$	5	$	7,494	$	18,084	$	17	$	18,101
Services transferred over time		92,038		86		92,124		256,009		1,438		257,447
Total revenues	$	99,527	$	91	$	99,618	$	274,093	$	1,455	$	275,548

	Three months ended September 30, 2022						Nine months ended September 30, 2022
	Campus Operations		Transitional		Consolidated		Campus Operations		Transitional		Consolidated
Timing of Revenue Recognition
Services transferred at a point in time	$	7,627	$	83	$	7,710	$	17,225	$	249	$	17,474
Services transferred over time		82,458		1,645		84,103		233,991		5,045		239,036
Total revenues	$	90,085	$	1,728	$	91,813	$	251,216	$	5,294	$	256,510

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LEASES

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at its inception. The Company considers any contract where there is an identified asset as to which the Company has the right to control its use in determining whether the contract contains a lease. An operating lease ROU asset represents the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are to be recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As all of the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available on the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We estimate the incremental borrowing rate based on a yield curve analysis, utilizing the interest rate derived from the fair value analysis of our credit facility and adjusting it for factors that appropriately reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the lease. The operating lease ROU assets include any lease payments made prior to the rent commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Our leases have remaining terms ranging from less than one year to approximately 18 years. Lease terms may include options to extend the term used in determining the lease obligation when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Expenses for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term for operating leases.

On October 31, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 100,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus in Houston, Texas. The lease term is set to commence on January 2, 2024, with an initial lease term of 21-years and 6 months. The lease contains three five-year renewal options.

On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 120,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new Nashville, Tennessee campus. The lease term is set to commence on November 1, 2023, with an initial lease term of 15-years. The lease contains two five-year renewal options.

On June 30, 2022, the Company executed a lease for approximately 55,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus, in Atlanta, Georgia. The lease term commenced in August 2022, with total payments due on an undiscounted basis of $12.2 million over the 12-year initial term. The lease contains two five-year renewal options that may be exercised by the Company at the end of the initial lease term. The Company had no involvement in the construction or design of the facilities on the property and was not deemed to be in control of the asset prior to the lease commencement date. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred approximately $0.6 million in rent expenses.

Operating lease costs for each of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 were $4.8 million and $4.8 million, respectively, and $14.6 million and $14.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Variable lease costs were $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $0.3 million and less than $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The net change in ROU asset and operating lease liability is included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our operating leases are as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Operating cash flow information:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	$	3,977	$	4,382	$	12,155	$	13,702
Non-cash activity:
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets	$	8,349	$	5,844	$	10,491	$	12,561

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The Company has entered into three new leases and four lease modifications since the beginning of the fiscal year, resulting in a noncash re-measurement of the related ROU asset and operating lease liability of $10.5 million.

Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for our operating leases are as follows:

	As of
	September 30,
	2023			2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term	11.22 years			11.36 years
Weighted-average discount rate		6.94	%		7.21	%

Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for our operating leases as of September 30, 2023 are as follows:

Year ending December 31,
2023 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2023)	$	3,949
2024		18,054
2025		16,681
2026		14,386
2027		11,499
2028		11,331
Thereafter		67,312
Total lease payments		143,212
Less: imputed interest		(40,404	)
Present value of lease liabilities	$	102,808

5.	GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles annually, or more frequently if necessary for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that an asset’s carrying value is impaired, it will record a write-down of the carrying value of the asset and charge the impairment as an operating expense in the period in which the determination is made. For other long-lived assets, including ROU lease assets, the Company evaluates assets for recoverability when there is an indication of potential impairment. If the undiscounted cash flows from a group of assets being evaluated is less than the carrying value of that group of assets, the fair value of the asset group is determined and the carrying value of the asset group is written down to fair value.

When we perform the quantitative impairment test for long-lived assets, we examine estimated future cash flows using Level 3 inputs. These cash flows are evaluated by using weighted probability techniques as well as comparisons of past performance against projections. Assets may also be evaluated by identifying independent market values.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company impaired $3.8 million of goodwill and an additional $0.4 million of long-lived assets relating to the sale of the Company’s Nashville, Tennessee property, which occurred on June 8, 2023 (see Part I, Item 1. “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”, Note 13 - Property Purchase and Sale Agreements). The result of the sale created a change in the trajectory of the fair value of the Nashville, Tennessee operations and consequently triggered the impairments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets.

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The carrying amount of goodwill at September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

	Gross Goodwill Balance		Accumulated Impairment Losses			Net Goodwill Balance
Balance as of January 1, 2023	$	117,176	$	(102,640	)	$	14,536
Adjustments		-		(3,794	)		(3,794	)
Balance as of September 30, 2023	$	117,176	$	(106,434	)	$	10,742

	Gross Goodwill Balance		Accumulated Impairment Losses			Net Goodwill Balance
Balance as of January 1, 2022	$	117,176	$	(102,640	)	$	14,536
Adjustments		-		-			-
Balance as of September 30, 2022	$	117,176	$	(102,640	)	$	14,536

6.	LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit Facility

On November 14, 2019, the Company entered into a senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with its lender, Sterling National Bank (the “Lender”), providing for borrowing in the aggregate principal amount of up to $60.0 million (the “Credit Facility”). Initially, the Credit Facility was comprised of four facilities: (1) a $20.0 million senior secured term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Term Loan”), with monthly interest and principal payments based on a 120-month amortization, with the outstanding balance due on the maturity date; (2) a $10.0 million senior secured delayed draw term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan”), with monthly interest payments for the first 18 months and thereafter monthly payments of interest and principal based on a 120-month amortization and all balances due on the maturity date; (3) a $15.0 million senior secured committed revolving line of credit providing a sublimit of up to $10.0 million for standby letters of credit maturing on November 13, 2022 (the “Revolving Loan”), with monthly payments of interest only; and (4) a $15.0 million senior secured non-restoring line of credit maturing on January 31, 2021 (the “Line of Credit Loan”). The Credit Facility was secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Lender on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company as well as a pledge of the stock and other rights in the Company’s subsidiaries and mortgages on parcels of real property owned by the Company. The Credit Agreement was amended on various occasions.

On November 4, 2022, the Company agreed with its Lender to terminate the Credit Agreement and the remaining Revolving Loan. The Lender agreed to allow the Company’s existing letters of credit to remain outstanding, provided that they are cash collateralized. As of September 30, 2023, the letters of credit, in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of $4.1 million, remained outstanding, were cash collateralized, and were classified as restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2023, the Company did not have a credit facility and did not have any debt outstanding. The Company is continuing to consider potential lenders for its future credit needs.

7.	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors and have the right to one vote per share on all matters requiring shareholder approval. The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since the Company’s Board of Directors discontinued our quarterly cash dividend program in February 2015. The Company currently has no intention to pay cash dividends to holders of Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

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Preferred Stock

On November 30, 2022, the Company exercised in full its right of mandatory conversion of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. In connection with the conversion, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was cancelled and converted into the right to receive 423,729 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, no par value per share. No shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated. As a result of the conversion, the aggregate 12,700 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding were converted into 5,381,358 shares of Common Stock.

Dividends

Pursuant to the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Dividends”), at the initial annual rate of 9.6%, were paid, in arrears, from the date of issuance quarterly on each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30, with September 30, 2020 being the first dividend payment date. As of December 31, 2022, we had paid $1.1 million in cash dividends on the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. With the exercise of the mandatory conversion of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock as noted above, there will not be any further dividend payments related to the Series A Preferred Stock. Dividends paid in the prior year are included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets within additional paid-in-capital when the Company maintains an accumulated deficit.

Treasury Stock

On May 24, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized the cancellation of 5,910,541 shares of Treasury Stock, which reduced Treasury Stock and Common Stock by $82.9 million.

Restricted Stock

The Company currently has two stock incentive plans: the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “LTIP”) and the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”).

LTIP

On March 26, 2020, the Board of Directors adopted the LTIP to provide an incentive to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to align their interests in the Company’s success with those of its shareholders through the grant of equity-based awards. On June 16, 2020, the shareholders of the Company approved the LTIP. The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other qualified committee appointed by the Board of Directors, which will, among other duties, have the full power and authority to take all actions and make all determinations required or provided for under the LTIP. Pursuant to the LTIP, the Company may grant options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options. Under the LTIP, employees may surrender shares as payment of applicable income tax withholding on the vested Restricted Stock. The LTIP has a duration of 10 years. On February 23, 2023, the Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, the amendment of the LTIP to increase the aggregate number of shares available under the LTIP from 2,000,000 shares to 4,000,000 shares. The amendment was approved and adopted by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 5, 2023.

Prior Plan

Under the Prior Plan, certain employees have received awards of restricted shares of Common Stock based on service and performance. The number of shares granted to each employee is based on the amount of the award and the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant. The LTIP makes it clear that there will be no new grants under the Prior Plan as of June 16, 2020, the date of shareholder approval of the LTIP. As no shares remain available under the Prior Plan, there can be no additional grants under the Prior Plan. Grants under the Prior Plan remain in effect according to their terms. Therefore, those grants remaining in effect under the Prior Plan are subject to the particular award agreement relating thereto and to the Prior Plan to the extent that the Prior Plan provides rules relating to those grants. The Prior Plan remains in effect only to that extent.

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, the Company completed a net share settlement for 337,050 and 268,654 restricted shares on behalf of certain employees that participate in the LTIP and the Prior Plan upon the vesting of the restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the LTIP and the Prior Plan. The net share settlement was in connection with income taxes incurred on restricted shares that vested and were transferred to the employees during 2023 and/or 2022, creating taxable income for the employees. At the employees’ request, the Company has paid these taxes on behalf of the employees in exchange for the employees returning an equivalent value of restricted shares to the Company. These transactions resulted in a decrease of $2.0 million and $2.0 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, to equity on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the cash payment of the taxes effectively was a repurchase of the restricted shares granted in previous years.

The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to Restricted Stock:

	Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at December 31, 2022		1,548,266		$	5.18
Granted		751,240			6.10
Canceled		(37,941	)		6.15
Vested		(862,890	)		4.01

Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at September 30, 2023		1,398,675			6.37

The Restricted Stock expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively and $4.0 million and $2.4 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unrecognized Restricted Stock expense as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $6.2 million and $7.9 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock had an aggregate intrinsic value of $11.8 million.

Share Repurchase Plan

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program of up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. The repurchase program was authorized for 12 months. Pursuant to the program, purchases may be made, from time to time, in open-market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means as determined by the Company’s management and in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The timing of purchases and the number of shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, trading volume, corporate and regulatory requirements and market conditions. The Company retains the right to limit, terminate or extend the share repurchase program at any time without prior notice.

On February 27, 2023, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.

The following table presents information about our repurchases of Common Stock, all of which were completed through open market purchases:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(in thousands, except share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Total number of shares repurchased¹		-		668,440		165,064		1,083,403
Total cost of shares repurchased	$	-	$	4,195	$	891	$	6,733

¹ These shares were subsequently canceled and recorded as a reduction of Common Stock.

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8.	INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes was $0.8 million, or 27.7% of pre-tax income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to a provision for income taxes of $1.3 million, or 26.8% of pre-tax income in the prior year comparable period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the provision for income taxes was $7.0 million, or 26.7% of pre-tax income compared to a provision for income taxes of $0.8 million, or 15.7% of pre-tax income in the comparable prior year period. The lower provision in the current quarter was driven by a decrease in pre-tax income. The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily driven by a pre-tax income position, resulting from a gain of $30.9 million in the current year, resulting from the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee campus.

9.	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

There are no material developments relating to previously disclosed legal proceedings. See the Company’s Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding existing legal proceedings.

In the ordinary conduct of its business, the Company is subject to certain lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although the Company cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

10.

SEGMENTS

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is now organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. Based on trends in student demand and program expansion, there have been more cross-offerings of programs among the various campuses. Given this change, the Company has revised the way it manages the business, evaluates performance, and allocates resources, resulting in an updated segment structure. As a result, the Company has shifted its focus to two new segments defined below:

Campus Operations – The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.

Transitional – The Transitional segment refers to businesses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of September 30, 2023, the only campus classified in the Transitional segment is the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. The campus has been fully taught-out and will continue to incur some additional closing costs until year-end 2023. Total estimated costs to close the campus will approximate $2.0 million.

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Summary financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	Revenue										Operating Income (Loss)
	2023		% of Total			2022		% of Total			2023			2022
Campus Operations	$	99,527		99.9	%	$	90,085		98.1	%	$	11,889		$	13,024
Transitional		91		0.1	%		1,728		1.9	%		(745	)		(76	)
Corporate		-					-					(9,148	)		(8,068	)
Total	$	99,618		100.0	%	$	91,813		100.0	%	$	1,996		$	4,880

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Revenue										Operating income (Loss)
	2023		% of Total			2022		% of Total			2023			2022
Campus Operations	$	274,093		99.5	%	$	251,216		97.9	%	$	26,167		$	30,430
Transitional		1,455		0.5	%		5,294		2.1	%		(1,423	)		(227	)
Corporate		-					-					(347	)		(25,252	)
Total	$	275,548		100.0	%	$	256,510		100.0	%	$	24,397		$	4,951

	Total Assets
	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Campus Operations	$	207,617	$	190,473
Transitional		572		1,498
Corporate		107,589		99,595
Total	$	315,778	$	291,566

11.	FAIR VALUE

The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers:

Level 1: Defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3: Defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

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The Company measures the fair value of money market funds using Level 1 inputs. As of September 30, 2023, the Company has two treasury bills, one with a maturity date of three months or less, which is classified as a cash equivalent, and the other with a maturity date of greater than three months, which is classified as a short-term investment. The treasury bills are valued using Level 1 inputs. Pricing sources may include industry standard data providers, security master files from large financial institutions and other third-party sources used to determine a daily market value. The following charts reflect the fair market value of cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

	September 30, 2023
	Carrying		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
Cash equivalents:
Money market fund	$	1,883	$	1,883	$	-	$	-	$	1,883
Treasury bill		5,092		5,092		-		-		5,092

Short-term investments:
Treasury bill		24,344		24,679		-		-		24,679
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	31,319	$	31,654	$	-	$	-	$	31,654

	December 31, 2022
	Carrying		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
Cash equivalents:
Money market fund	$	18,160	$	18,160	$	-	$	-	$	18,160
Treasury bill		10,383		10,383		-		-		10,383

Short-term investments:
Treasury bill		14,758		14,758		-		-		14,758
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	43,301	$	43,301	$	-	$	-	$	43,301

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accrued expenses and other short-term liabilities, approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.

12.	COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CARES ACT

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law, providing a $2.0 trillion federal economic relief package of financial assistance and other relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic. Among other things, the CARES Act includes a $14.0 billion Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) for the DOE to distribute directly to institutions of higher education. The DOE has allocated funds to each institution of higher education based on a formula contained in the CARES Act. The formula is heavily weighted toward institutions with large numbers of Pell Grant recipients. The DOE allocated $27.4 million to our schools, distributed in two equal installments, and required them to be utilized by April 30, 2021 and May 14, 2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had distributed the full $13.7 million of its first installment as emergency grants to students and had utilized the full $13.7 million of its second installment. Proceeds from the second installment for permitted expenses were primarily utilized to either offset original expenses incurred or to reduce student accounts receivable, driving a decrease in bad debt expense. Both uses resulted in a decrease in our selling, general, and administrative expenses. Institutions are required to use at least half of the HEERF funds for emergency grants to students for expenses related to disruptions in campus operations (e.g., food, housing, etc.). The law requires an institution receiving such funds to continue, to the greatest extent practicable, to pay its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to the COVID-19 emergency, which the Company has done. The Company was also permitted to defer payment of FICA payroll taxes through January 1, 2021 and did so, but pursuant to requirements of the deferment, repaid 50.0% of the deferred payments in January 2022 and, in accordance with the deferment, repaid the remaining 50.0% in January 2023.

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In December 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was enacted, which included the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CRRSAA”). The CRRSAA provided an additional $81.9 billion to the Education Stabilization Fund, including $22.7 billion for the HEERF, which was originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020. The higher education provisions of the CRRSAA are intended in part to provide additional financial assistance benefitting students and their postsecondary institutions in the wake of the spread of COVID-19 across the country and its impact on higher educational institutions. In March 2021, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was signed into law. Among other things, the ARPA provides $40.0 billion in relief funds that go directly to colleges and universities, with $395.8 million going to for-profit institutions. The DOE allocated a total of $24.4 million to our schools from the funds made available under CRRSAA and ARPA. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has drawn down and distributed to our students $14.8 million of these allocated funds. The availability of the remainder of the funds has expired as of June 30, 2023 and the Company will no longer have access to such funds. Failure to comply with requirements for the usage and reporting of these funds could result in requirements to repay some or all of the allocated funds and in other sanctions.

13.	Property Purchase and Sale Agreements

Purchase Transaction – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus

On September 28, 2023, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania for approximately $10.2 million. The Company expects to invest approximately $17.0 million in the buildout of new classrooms and training areas to ensure a best-in-class campus that provides a positive experience for students, faculty, and industry partners. Furthermore, the Company plans to sell the property in the coming months to recover the purchase price and simultaneously enter into a leaseback agreement for approximately 20 years. This property is currently classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company has served the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area at its current campus located at 9191 Torresdale Avenue for more than 60 years. The new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing campus at 9191 Torresdale Avenue which today serves about 250 Automotive Technology students. The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout at the new location is fully complete to ensure a seamless transition. The new and significantly larger campus is projected to have an average population of approximately 600 students providing educational opportunities for students from Philadelphia, points north in Pennsylvania, as well as neighboring Trenton and Camden, New Jersey. Additionally, the facility will have the extra capacity to accommodate several potential industry partners and future program expansions.

Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus

On September 24, 2021, Nashville Acquisition, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate (the “Nashville Contract”) to sell the nearly 16-acre property located at 524 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, at which the Company operates its Nashville campus, to SLC Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Southern Land Company (“SLC”).

On June 8, 2023, the Company closed on the sale of its Nashville, Tennessee property to East Nashville Owner, LLC, an affiliate of SLC, for approximately $33.8 million pursuant to the Nashville Contract. The net proceeds from the Nashville sale, net of closing costs, are available for working capital, acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes. In connection with the sale, the parties entered into a lease agreement allowing Lincoln to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15-months plus options to extend the lease for up to three consecutive 30-day terms at $150,000 per extension term. The carrying value of the campus is approximately $4.5 million and the estimated fair value of the rent for the 15-month rent-free period is approximately $2.3 million, which is currently included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s balance sheet.

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14.	STUDENT RECEIVABLES

Student receivables represent funds owed to us in exchange for the educational services provided to a student. Student receivables are reflected net of an allowance for credit losses at the end of the reporting period. Student receivables, net, are reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as components of both current and non-current assets.

Our students pay for their costs through a variety of funding sources, including federal loan and grant programs, institutional payment plans, Veterans Administration and other military funding and grants, private and institutional scholarships and cash payments. Cash receipts from government-related sources are typically received during the current academic term. Students who have not applied for any type of financial aid generally set up a payment plan with the institution and make payments on a monthly basis as per the terms of the payment plan. A student receivable balance is written off when deemed uncollectable, which is typically once a student is out of school and there has been no payment activity on the account for 150 days. If, however, the student does remit a payment during this time period, the 150-day policy for write-off starts again until the students either (1) continues making payments or (2) the student does not make any additional payments and is then subsequently written off after 150 days.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly known as “CECL.” On the January 1, 2023 date of adoption, based on forecasts of macroeconomic conditions and exposures at that time, the aggregate impact to the Company resulted in an opening balance sheet adjustment increasing the allowance for credit losses related to the Company’s accounts receivables of approximately $10.8 million, a decrease in retained earnings of $7.9 million, after-tax and a deferred tax asset increase of $2.9 million.

Students enrolled in the Company’s programs are provided with a variety of funding resources, including financial aid, grants, scholarships and private loans. After exhausting all fund options, if the student is still in need of additional financing, the Company may offer an institutional loan as a lender of last resort. Institutional loan terms are pre-determined at enrollment and are not typically restructured.

Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses on student receivables that considers vintages of receivables to determine a loss rate. In considering lifetime credit losses, if the expected life goes beyond the Company’s reasonable ability to forecast, the Company then reverts back to historical loss experience as an indicator of collections. In determining the expected credit losses for the period, student receivables were disaggregated and pooled into two different categories to refine the calculation. Other information considered included external factors outside the Company’s control, which included, but was not limited to, the effects of COVID-19. Given that collection history during the pandemic was not considered to be a reliable indicator of a student’s repayment history, the Company adjusted the historical loss calculation by normalizing the financial data relating to that time period. Our estimation methodology further considered a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, student status, changes in the current economic condition, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.

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Student Receivables

The Company has student receivables that are due greater than 12 months from the date of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the amount of non-current student receivables under payment plans that is longer than 12 months in duration, net of allowance for credit losses, was $16.7 million and $22.7 million, respectively. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of student receivables as of September 30, 2023 by year of origination.

			September 30, 2023
	Student		Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
Year	Receivables (1)		Write-Off’s (2)		Write-Off’s (2)
2023	$	71,867	$	2,870	$	2,920
2022		14,678		4,626		18,820
2021		7,797		587		2,615
2020		3,481		162		547
2019		2,318		73		461
Thereafter		1,258		85		244
Total	$	101,399	$	8,403	$	25,607

(1)	Student receivables are presented gross and only relate to amounts owed directly from the individual student. These receivables do not include amounts owed relating to federal subsidy or from corporate partnerships.

(2)	Write-off amounts included only relate to the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

The Company does not utilize or maintain data pertaining to student credit information.

Allowance for Credit Losses

We define student receivables as a portfolio segment under ASC Topic 326. Changes in our current and non-current allowance for credit losses related to our student receivable portfolio are calculated in accordance with the guidance effective January 1, 2023 under CECL for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
Balance, beginning of period	$	47,607		$	35,370
Cumulative effect of ASC 326		-			10,841
Adjusted beginning of period balance		47,607			46,211
Provision for credit losses		12,747			31,347
Write-off’s		(8,403	)		(25,607	)
Balance, at end of period	$	51,951		$	51,951

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amount reported in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the current portion of student receivables approximates fair value because of the nature of these financial instruments as they generally have short maturity periods. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the non-current portion of student receivables, since observable market data is not readily available, and no reasonable estimation methodology exists.

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Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company, our business, prospects, and our results of operations that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties posed by many factors and events that could cause our actual business, prospects, and results of operations to differ materially from those that may be anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Such statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” "may," “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” or similar words and include, without limitation, statements relating to future enrollment, revenues, revenues per student, earnings growth, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and effect of pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate effect on the Company’s business and results. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that could cause or contribute to differences between our actual results and those anticipated include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may subsequently arise. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the SEC that advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. Based on trends in student demand and program expansion, there have been more cross-offerings of programs among the various campuses. Given this change, the Company has revised the way it manages the business, evaluates performance and allocates resources, resulting in an updated segment structure. The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance. The Transitional segment refers to businesses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of September 30, 2023, the only campus classified in the Transitional segment is the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. The campus has been fully taught-out and will continue to incur some additional closing costs until year-end 2023. Total estimated costs to close the campus will approximate $2.0 million.

We evaluate performance based on operating results. Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity. The interim financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and the discussions contained herein should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K, which includes audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022.

General

The Company provides diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults. The Company offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control, and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics) and information technology programs. The schools, currently consisting of 22 campuses in 14 states, operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names. Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study. Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas. All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the DOE and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

Purchase Transaction – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus

The Company has served the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area at its current campus located at 9191 Torresdale Avenue for more than 60 years. The new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing campus at 9191 Torresdale Avenue, which today serves about 250 Automotive Technology students. The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout at the new location is fully complete to ensure a seamless transition. The new and significantly larger campus is projected to have an average population of approximately 600 students providing educational opportunities for students from Philadelphia, points north in Pennsylvania, as well as neighboring Trenton and Camden, New Jersey. Additionally, the facility will have the extra capacity to accommodate several potential industry partners and future program expansions.

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Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus

On June 8, 2023, the Company closed on the sale of its Nashville, Tennessee property to East Nashville Owner, LLC, an affiliate of SLC, for approximately $33.8 million pursuant to the Nashville Contract. The net proceeds from the Nashville sale, net of closing costs, are available for working capital, acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes. In connection with the sale, the parties entered into a lease agreement allowing Lincoln to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15 months plus options to extend the lease for up to three consecutive 30-day terms at $150,000 per extension term. The carrying value of the campus is approximately $4.5 million and the estimated fair value of the rent for the 15-month rent-free period is approximately $2.3 million, which is currently included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s balance sheet.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

For a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates, refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K and Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

Allowance for Credit Losses

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” As a result of the adoption, the Company has revised the way in which it calculates reserves on outstanding student accounts receivable balances. Details considered by management in the estimate include the following:

We extend credit to a portion of the students who are enrolled at our academic institutions for tuition and certain other educational costs. Based upon past experience and judgment, we establish an allowance for credit losses with respect to student receivables which we estimate will ultimately not be collectible. Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses for student receivables that considers vintages of receivables to determine a loss rate. Our estimation methodology considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, changes in the current economic, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.

Management makes a range of assumptions to determine what is believed to be the appropriate level of allowance for credit losses. Management determines a reasonable and supportable forecast based on the expectation of future conditions over a supportable forecast period as described above, as well as qualitative adjustments based on current and future conditions that may not be fully captured in the historical modeling factors described above. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change.

We monitor our collections and write-off experience to assess whether or not adjustments to our allowance percentage estimates are necessary. Changes in trends in any of the factors that we believe impact the collection of our student receivables, as noted above, or modifications to our collection practices, and other related policies may impact our estimate of our allowance for credit losses and our results from operations.

Because a substantial portion of our revenue is derived from Title IV Programs, any legislative or regulatory action that significantly reduces the funding available under Title IV Programs, or the ability of our students or institutions to participate in Title IV Programs, would likely have a material impact on the realizability of our receivables.

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Effect of Inflation

Inflation has not had a material effect on our operations, except for some inflationary pressures on certain instructional expenses, including consumables, and in instances where potential students have not wanted to incur additional debt or increased travel expense.

Results of Continuing Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

The following table sets forth selected Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Revenue		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Costs and expenses:
Educational services and facilities		43.3	%		43.5	%		44.0	%		43.8	%
Selling, general and administrative		54.7	%		51.2	%		56.8	%		54.4	%
Loss (gain) on sale of assets		0.0	%		0.0	%		-11.2	%		-0.1	%
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		0.0	%		0.0	%		1.5	%		0.0	%
Total costs and expenses		98.0	%		94.7	%		91.1	%		98.1	%
Operating income		2.0	%		5.3	%		8.9	%		1.9	%
Interest income, net		0.9	%		0.0	%		0.7	%		0.0	%
Income from operations before income taxes		2.9	%		5.3	%		9.5	%		1.9	%
Provision for income taxes		0.8	%		1.4	%		2.5	%		0.3	%
Net income		2.1	%		3.9	%		7.0	%		1.6	%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenue. Revenue increased $7.8 million, or 8.5% to $99.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $91.8 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment revenue of $0.1 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our revenue would have increased $9.4 million, or 10.5%. The remaining increase in revenue was driven by several factors including student start growth of 7.1%, which drove a 3.0% increase in average student population, and an increase in average revenue per student of 7.3%, driven in part by the continuing rollout of the Company’s hybrid teaching model in combination with tuition increases. The Company’s hybrid teaching model increases program efficiency and delivers accelerated revenue recognition in certain evening programs.

For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality and Outlook” below.

Educational services and facilities expense. Our educational services and facilities expense increased $3.2 million, or 8.0% to $43.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $39.9 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment educational services and facilities expense of $0.5 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our educational services and facilities expense would have increased $3.5 million, or 9.1%. Increased costs were primarily concentrated in instructional, facilities, and books and tools expenses.

Instructional expenses increased $1.6 million, driven primarily by higher instructional salaries resulting from higher staffing levels due to increases in our student population, merit salary increases, and the transition to the Company’s hybrid teaching model.

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Facilities expense increased by approximately $1.3 million, mainly due to non-cash rent expense relating to the new Atlanta, Georgia campus, and the sale leaseback of our existing Nashville, Tennessee property. In connection with the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property, the Company entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15-months. At the consummation of the sale, the Company took the fair value of the 15-month rent free period, valued at $2.3 million, and included the balance in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. During the 15-month rent-free period, the Company will straight-line the expense until the rent-free period has expired. Additional increases were driven by utilities expense resulting from inflation and a higher student population in addition to routine maintenance at several campuses.

Books and tools expense increased $0.6 million, driven by a 7.1% increase in student starts quarter-over-quarter.

Educational services and facilities expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 43.3% from 43.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.5 million, or 16.0% to $54.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $47.0 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment selling, general and administrative expense of $0.4 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our selling general and administrative expense would have increased $8.1 million, or 17.7%. Increased costs were driven by the following:

Administrative costs increased $5.7 million, driven primarily by bad debt expense and performance-based incentives. Bad debt expense increased quarter-over-quarter primarily due to a higher accounts receivable balance driven by revenue growth, and lower collections.

Marketing investments increased $1.1 million as a result of a continuing shift in marketing strategy to include additional spending in digital channels that generate higher quality, better converting leads but which come at a higher cost-per-lead. These efforts are driven primarily through the increased investment in the paid search and paid social media channels. We continue to reduce our dependency on lower cost third-party affiliate/pay-per-lead inquiries, which convert at relatively lower levels. Additional investments in marketing have contributed to the increase in starts quarter-over-quarter while maintaining a consistent cost per start. The Company also invested incremental marketing dollars in the third quarter to support two new program launches: Medical Assistant at our Columbia, Maryland campus and Electrical & Electronic Systems Technology at our Grand Prairie, Texas campus.

Student services increased $0.7 million, primarily resulting from costs associated with an increased student population.

Selling, general and administrative expense, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 54.7% from 51.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Net interest income / expense. Net interest income was $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to net interest expense of less than $0.1 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase to net interest income was primarily driven by the Company’s investment of its cash reserves into various short-term investments.

Income taxes. Our provision for income taxes was $0.8 million, or 27.7% of pre-tax income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $1.3 million, or 26.8% of pre-tax income in the prior year comparable period.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenue. Revenue increased $19.0 million, or 7.4% to $275.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from $256.5 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment revenue of $1.5 million and $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our revenue would have increased $22.9 million, or 9.1%. The remaining increase in revenue was driven by several factors including student start growth of 10.3% and an increase in average revenue per student of 8.9%, driven in part by the continuing rollout of the Company’s hybrid teaching model in combination with tuition increases. The Company’s hybrid teaching model increases program efficiency and delivers accelerated revenue recognition in certain evening programs.

For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality and Outlook” below.

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Educational services and facilities expense. Our educational services and facilities expense increased $9.0 million, or 8.0% to $121.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from $112.2 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment educational services and facilities expense of $1.6 million and $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our educational services and facilities expense would have increased $9.9 million, or 9.0%. Increased costs were primarily concentrated in instructional expense, facilities expense and books and tools expense.

Instructional expenses increased $4.8 million, driven primarily by higher instructional salaries resulting from higher staffing levels due to increases in our student population, merit salary increases, and the transition to the Company’s hybrid teaching model. Also contributing to the increase were additional costs incurred for student testing primarily relating to our nursing program, increased consumables costs driven by a higher student population and inflation, and an increase in benefits expense due to increased enrollments.

Facilities expense increased by approximately $2.9 million, mainly due to non-cash rent expense relating to the new Atlanta, Georgia campus, and the sale leaseback of our existing Nashville, Tennessee property. In connection with the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property, the Company entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15-months. At the consummation of the sale, the Company took the fair value of the 15-month rent free period valued at $2.3 million and included the balance in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. During the 15-month rent-free period, the Company will straight-line the expense until the rent-free period has expired. Additional increases were driven by utilities expense resulting from inflation and a higher student population in addition to routine maintenance at several campuses.

Books and tools expense increased $2.2 million, driven by the 10.3% increase in student starts year-over-year.

Educational services and facilities expense, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 44.0% from 43.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $17.1 million, or 12.3% to $156.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $139.5 million in the prior year comparable period. Excluding the Transitional segment selling, general and administrative expense of $1.3 million and $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, our selling general and administrative expense would have increased $18.9 million, or 13.8%. Increased costs were driven by the following:

Administrative costs increased $14.0 million, driven by several factors including increased bad debt expense, stock-based compensation, performance-based incentives, and legal costs. Bad debt expense increased year-over-year primarily due to a higher accounts receivable balance driven by revenue growth, and lower collections.

Marketing investments increased $2.5 million as a result of a continuing shift in marketing strategy to include additional spending in digital channels that generate higher quality, better converting leads but which come at a higher cost-per-lead. These efforts are driven primarily through the increased investment in the paid search and paid social media channels. We continue to reduce our dependency on lower cost third-party affiliate/pay-per-lead inquiries, which convert at relatively lower levels. Additional investments in marketing have contributed to the increase in starts year-over-year while maintaining a consistent cost per start. The Company also invested incremental marketing dollars in the third quarter to support two new program launches: Medical Assistant at our Columbia, Maryland campus and Electrical & Electronic Systems Technology at our Grand Prairie, Texas campus.

Student services increased $1.7 million, primarily resulting from costs associated with an increased student population.

Selling, general and administrative expense, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 56.8% from 54.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Gain on sale of assets. Gain on sale of assets was $30.9 million, resulting from the sale of the Company’s Nashville, Tennessee property during the second quarter of 2023. Net proceeds from the sale were approximately $33.3 million.

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets. Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets was $4.2 million as a result of the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property on June 8, 2023. The result of the sale created a change in the trajectory of the fair value of the Nashville, Tennessee operations and as such, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $3.8 million relating to goodwill and an additional $0.4 million impairment relating to long-lived assets. As of September 30, 2022, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets.

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Net interest income / expense. Net interest income was $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to net interest expense of $0.1 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase to net interest income was primarily driven by the Company’s investment of its cash reserves into various short-term investments.

Income taxes. Our provision for income taxes was $7.0 million, or 26.7% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $0.8 million, or 15.7% of pre-tax income in the prior year comparable period. The increase in provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was due to the gain on the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property during the second quarter of 2023, which drove an increase in the Company’s pre-tax income.

Segment Results of Operations

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business is now organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. Based on trends in student demand and our program expansions, there have been more cross-offerings of programs among the various campuses. Given this change, the Company has revised the way it manages the business, evaluates performance, and allocates resources, resulting in an updated segment structure. As a result, the Company has shifted its focus to the two new segments as defined below:

Campus Operations – The Campus Operations segment includes all campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.

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The following table presents results for our two reportable segments for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			% Change
Revenue:
Campus Operations	$	99,527		$	90,085			10.5	%
Transitional		91			1,728			-94.7	%
Total	$	99,618		$	91,813			8.5	%

Operating Income (loss):
Campus Operations	$	11,889		$	13,024			-8.7	%
Transitional		(745	)		(76	)		880.3	%
Corporate		(9,148	)		(8,068	)		-13.4	%
Total	$	1,996		$	4,880			-59.1	%

Starts:
Campus Operations		5,157			4,815			7.1	%
Transitional		-			114			-100.0	%
Total		5,157			4,929			4.6	%

Average Population:
Campus Operations		12,923			12,551			3.0	%
Transitional		19			273			-93.0	%
Total		12,942			12,824			0.9	%

End of Period Population:
Campus Operations		14,027			13,291			5.5	%
Transitional		4			295			-98.6	%
Total		14,031			13,586			3.3	%

Campus Operations

Operating income was $11.9 million and $13.0 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change quarter-over-quarter was mainly driven by the following factors:

•

Revenue increased $9.4 million, or 10.5% to $99.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $90.1 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in revenue was driven by several factors including student start growth of 7.1%, which drove a 3.0% increase in average student population and an increase in average revenue per student of 7.3%, driven in part by the continuing rollout of the Company’s hybrid teaching model in combination with tuition increases. The Company’s hybrid teaching model increases program efficiency and delivers accelerated revenue recognition in certain evening programs.

•

Educational services and facilities expense increased $3.5 million, or 9.1% to $42.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $39.1 million in the prior year comparable period. Increased costs were primarily concentrated in instructional, facilities expense, and books and tools expense.

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Facilities expense increased by approximately $1.3 million, mainly due to non-cash rent expense relating to the new Atlanta, Georgia campus and the sale leaseback of our existing Nashville, Tennessee property. In connection with the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property, the Company entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15-months. At the consummation of the sale, the Company took the fair value of the 15-month rent free period, valued at $2.3 million, and included the balance in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. During the 15-month rent-free period, the Company will straight-line the expense until the rent-free period has expired. Additional increases were driven by utilities expense resulting from inflation and a higher student population in addition to routine maintenance at several campuses.

Books and tools expense increased $0.6 million, driven by a 7.1% increase in student starts quarter-over-quarter.

•

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.0 million, or 18.6% to $44.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $37.9 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in administrative costs including bad debt expense, sales, and marketing investments and additional spending in student services, all of which are discussed above in the Consolidated Results of Operations.

Transitional

On November 3, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a plan to close the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. The owner of the Somerville property has exercised an option to terminate the lease on December 8, 2023 and the Company has since determined not to pursue relocating the campus in this geographic region. The campus has been fully taught out, and will continue to incur some additional closing costs until year-end 2023. Total estimated costs to close the campus will approximate $2.0 million.

•

Revenue decreased $1.6 million, or 94.7% to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $1.7 million in the prior year comparable period.

•

Total operating expenses decreased $1.0 million, or 53.7% to $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $1.8 million in the prior year comparable period.

Decreased operating performance is the result of closing the campus and no longer enrolling new students.

Corporate and Other

This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company. Corporate and other expenses were $9.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $8.1 million in the prior year comparable period. Increased costs were driven by performance-based initiatives.

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The following table presents results for our two reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			% Change
Revenue:
Campus Operations	$	274,093		$	251,216			9.1	%
Transitional		1,455			5,294			-72.5	%
Total	$	275,548		$	256,510			7.4	%

Operating Income (loss):
Campus Operations	$	26,167		$	30,430			-14.0	%
Transitional		(1,423	)		(227	)		526.9	%
Corporate		(347	)		(25,252	)		98.6	%
Total	$	24,397		$	4,951			392.8	%

Starts:
Campus Operations		13,008			11,791			10.3	%
Transitional		-			343			-100.0	%
Total		13,008			12,134			7.2	%

Average Population:
Campus Operations		12,506			12,479			0.2	%
Transitional		88			302			-70.9	%
Total		12,594			12,781			-1.5	%

End of Period Population:
Campus Operations		14,027			13,291			5.5	%
Transitional		4			295			-98.6	%
Total		14,031			13,586			3.3	%

Campus Operations

Operating income was $26.2 million and $30.4 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change year-over-year was mainly driven by the following factors:

•

Revenue increased $22.9 million, or 9.1% to $274.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from $251.2 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in revenue was driven by several factors including student start growth of 10.3% and an increase in average revenue per student of 8.9%, driven in part by the continuing rollout of the Company’s hybrid teaching model in combination with tuition increases. The Company’s hybrid teaching model increases program efficiency and delivers accelerated revenue recognition in certain evening programs.

•

Educational services and facilities expense increased $9.9 million, or 9.0% to $119.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from $109.8 million in the prior year comparable period. Increased costs were primarily concentrated in instructional, facilities expense, and books and tools expense.

Instructional expenses increased $4.8 million, driven primarily by higher instructional salaries resulting from higher staffing levels due to increases in our student population, merit salary increases, and the transition to the Company’s hybrid teaching model. Also contributing to the increase were additional costs incurred for student testing, primarily relating to our nursing program, increased consumables costs driven by a higher student population and inflation, and an increase in benefits expense due to increased enrollments.

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Facilities expense increased by approximately $2.9 million, mainly due to non-cash rent expense relating to the new Atlanta, Georgia campus, and the sale leaseback of our existing Nashville, Tennessee property. In connection with the sale of the Nashville, Tennessee property, the Company entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15-months. At the consummation of the sale, the Company took the fair value of the 15-month rent free period, valued at $2.3 million, and included the balance in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. During the 15-month rent-free period, the Company will straight-line the expense until the rent-free period has expired. Additional increases were driven by utilities expense resulting from inflation and a higher student population in addition to routine maintenance at several campuses.

Books and tools expense increased $2.2 million, driven by the 10.3% increase in student starts year-over-year.

•

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $13.0 million, or 11.7% to $124.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $111.0 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in administrative costs including bad debt expense, sales, and marketing investments and additional spending in student services, all of which are discussed above in the Consolidated Results of Operations.

•

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets was $4.2 million as a result of the sale the Nashville, Tennessee property on June 8, 2023. The result of the sale created a change in the trajectory of the fair value of the Nashville, Tennessee operations, and as such, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $3.8 million relating to goodwill and an additional $0.4 million impairment relating to long-lived assets. As of September 30, 2022, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets.

Transitional

On November 3, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a plan to close the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. The owner of the Somerville property has exercised an option to terminate the lease on December 8, 2023 and the Company has since determined not to pursue relocating the campus in this geographic region. The campus has been fully taught-out, and will continue to incur some additional closing costs until year-end 2023. Total estimated costs to close the campus will approximate $2.0 million.

•

Revenue decreased $3.8 million, or 72.5% to $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $5.3 million in the prior year comparable period.

•

Total operating expenses decreased $2.6 million, or 47.9% to $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $5.5 million in the prior year comparable period.

Decreased operating performance is the result of closing the campus and no longer enrolling new students.

Corporate and Other

This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company. Corporate and other expenses were $31.3 million and $25.5 million after excluding a $30.9 million gain in the current year, resulting from the sale of our Nashville, Tennessee property and a $0.2 million gain in the prior year driven by the sale of our former campus property in Suffield, Connecticut. Increased costs were driven by several factors including additional performance-based incentives, stock-based compensation, and an increase in legal costs.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary capital requirements are for the maintenance and expansion of our facilities and the development of new programs. Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operating activities and, prior to the termination thereof (as described below), borrowings under our Credit Facility. The following chart summarizes the principal elements of our cash flow for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2023			2022
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	3,612		$	612
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,961	)		(4,663	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,945	)		(9,637	)

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As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $46.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, in addition to $24.3 million in short-term investments, compared to $50.3 million cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, including $14.7 million in short-term investments as of December 31, 2022. The decrease in cash was due to several factors including investments of $28.7 million in capital expenditures primarily relating to the buildout of the new Atlanta, Georgia campus and the purchase of the new Levittown, Pennsylvania property for approximately $10.2 million on September 28, 2023. Also contributing to the decrease in cash were incentive compensation payments, share repurchases made under the share repurchase program, and one-time costs incurred in connection with the teach-out of our Somerville, Massachusetts campus. Partially offsetting the expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was the sale of our Nashville, Tennessee property, which yielded proceeds of approximately $33.3 million. In addition, our cash position in prior years benefited from $2.4 million in net proceeds received as a result of the sale of a former campus located in Suffield, Connecticut, which was consummated during the second quarter of 2022.

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program of up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. The share repurchase program was authorized for 12 months. On February 27, 2023, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases. As of September 30, 2023, the Company has approximately $29.7 million remaining for repurchases.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 165,064 shares at a cost of approximately $0.9 million. Total repurchases made since the inception of the share repurchase program through September 30, 2023 were 1,737,478 shares at a total cost of approximately $10.3 million.

Our primary source of cash is tuition collected from our students. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The most significant source of student financing is Title IV Programs, which represented approximately 74% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2022. Pursuant to applicable regulations, students must apply for a new loan for each academic period. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs and loan funds are generally provided by lenders in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement is usually received approximately 31 days after the start of a student’s academic year and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the sixteenth week from the start of the student's academic year. Certain types of grants and other funding are not subject to a 31-day delay. In certain instances, if a student withdraws from a program prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition or prorated Title IV Program financial aid is refunded according to federal, state and accrediting agency standards.

As a result of the significant amount of Title IV Program funds received by our students, we are highly dependent on these funds to operate our business. Any reduction in the level of Title IV Program funds that our students are eligible to receive for tuition payments to us or any restriction on our eligibility to receive Title IV Program funds would have a significant impact on our operations and our financial condition. For more information, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Industry” of our Form 10-K.

Operating Activities

Operating cash flow results primarily from cash received from our students, offset by changes in working capital demands. Working capital can vary at any point in time based on several factors including seasonality, timing of cash receipts and payments and vendor payment terms.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $0.6 million in the prior year comparable period. The main drivers for the cash provided by operating activities included a $2.6 million increase in accounts payable during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 resulting from the timing of cash disbursements and an increase in accrued expense of $9.6 million over the prior year resulting from a $6.1 million performance-based incentive payment made during the first quarter of 2022.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $4.7 million in the prior year comparable period. Cash used in the current year was primarily driven by investments in capital expenditures of $28.7 million, which was primarily driven by the buildout of the new Atlanta, Georgia campus and the purchase of the new Levittown, Pennsylvania property for approximately $10.2 million, which was consummated on September 28, 2023.

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Also contributing to the decrease were net purchases of short-term investment of $9.6 million in the current year. Partially offsetting the cash outflow was $33.3 million in proceeds received from the sale of our Nashville, Tennessee property during the second quarter of 2023.

We currently lease all of our campuses.

Capital expenditures were 3.0% of revenues in 2022 and are expected to approximate 11.0% of revenues in 2023. The significant increase in planned capital expenditures over the prior year will be driven by several factors that include, but are not limited to, the buildout of our new Atlanta, Georgia area campus, additional space, the planned introduction of three new programs at the Lincoln, Rhode Island campus, and the anticipated introduction of new programs at five other campuses. We expect to fund future capital expenditures with cash generated from operating activities and cash on hand.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $2.9 million and $9.6 million, respectively. The decrease in cash used of $6.7 million was primarily driven by a $5.8 million reduction in repurchases made under the Company’s share repurchase program in the current year, in addition to $0.9 million of dividends payments made in the prior year.

Credit Facility

Contractual Obligations

Current portion of Long-Term Debt, Long-Term Debt and Lease Commitments. As of September 30, 2023, we had no debt outstanding. We lease offices, educational facilities and various items of equipment for varying periods through the year 2041 at basic annual rentals (excluding taxes, insurance, and other expenses under certain leases).

As of September 30, 2023, we had outstanding loan principal commitments to our active students of $28.0 million. These are institutional loans and no cash is advanced to students. The full loan amount is not guaranteed unless the student completes the program. The institutional loans are considered commitments because the students are required to fund their education using these funds and they are not reported on our financial statements.

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Regulatory Updates

Negotiated Rulemaking

The DOE initiated rulemaking on several topics in January 2022 and, after delaying the process, announced in January 2023 its intention to reinitiate the rulemaking process on topics including gainful employment, financial responsibility, administrative capability, certification procedures, ability to benefit, and improving income-driven repayment of loans. See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Negotiated Rulemaking.”

On May 19, 2023, the DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register that included proposed regulations on topics including gainful employment, financial responsibility, administrative capability, certification, and ability to benefit. See our Form 10-Q for the second quarter of the fiscal year at “Negotiated Rulemaking.”

On October 10, 2023, the DOE published the final gainful employment regulations which have a general effective date of July 1, 2024. The final regulations replace prior gainful employment regulations, rescinded by the DOE in 2019, that required each of our educational programs to achieve threshold rates in at least one of two debt measure categories. See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Gainful Employment.” The regulations establish rules for annually evaluating each of our educational programs based on the calculation of debt-to-earnings rates (an annual debt-to-earnings rate and a discretionary debt-to-earnings rate) and a median earnings measure. The DOE will calculate these rates and measures under complex regulatory formulas outlined in the regulations and using data such as student debt (including not only Title IV loans but also certain private loans and extensions of credit), student earnings data, and comparative median earnings data for young working adults with only a high school diploma or GED. If one or more of our educational programs were to yield debt-to-earnings rates or a median earnings measure that do not comply with regulatory benchmarks for two of three consecutive years, we would lose Title IV eligibility for each of the impacted educational programs. The regulations will also require us to provide warnings to current and prospective students for programs in danger of losing of Title IV eligibility (which could deter prospective students from enrolling and current students from continuing their respective programs). The regulations also include provisions for providing certifications and reporting data to the DOE and providing required student disclosures related to gainful employment.

The regulations include gainful employment rates and measures that will be based in part on data that is not readily accessible to us and other institutions, which make it difficult for us to predict with certainty how our educational programs will perform under the new gainful employment benchmarks and the extent to which certain programs could become ineligible for Title IV participation. The DOE released performance data at the time it published the proposed regulations that calculates rates for each school’s program while acknowledging that the methodology used to produce the calculations differs from the methodology in the proposed regulations due to limitations in data availability. Because neither we nor the DOE have access to all of the data that will ultimately be used under the regulations to evaluate our programs, we cannot predict whether, or the extent to which, our programs could fail to comply with the new gainful employment benchmarks. Moreover, we do not have control over some of the factors that could impact the rates and measures for our programs which will limit our ability to eliminate or mitigate the impact of the regulations on us and our educational programs.

We cannot predict how our programs will perform under the new gainful employment metrics. The implementation of the new gainful employment regulations could require us to eliminate or modify certain educational programs, could result in the loss of our students’ access to Title IV Program funds for the affected programs, and could have a significant impact on the rate at which students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

On October 31, 2023, the DOE published final regulations regarding financial responsibility, administrative capability, certification standards and procedures, and ability to benefit. The regulations have a general effective date of July 1, 2024.

•

Financial Responsibility: The final regulations include an expanded list of mandatory and discretionary triggering events that could result in the DOE determining that an institution lacks financial responsibility and must submit to the DOE a letter of credit or other form of acceptable financial protection and accept other conditions on the institution’s Title IV Program eligibility. See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Financial Responsibility Standards.”

The final regulations would, among other things, modify and substantially expand the number of triggers and, as a result, increase the likelihood that the DOE could impose a financial protection requirement and other conditions on us and our institutions. The final rules require the institution to notify the DOE of a triggering event and provide information demonstrating why the event does not warrant the submission of a letter of credit or imposition of other requirements. The final rules state that, if the DOE requires financial protection as a result of more than one mandatory or discretionary trigger, the DOE will require separate financial protection for each individual trigger, which could substantially increase the amount of financial protection we and other institutions could be required to provide to the DOE.

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Examples of mandatory triggering events under the final rules include a lawsuit by a federal or state authority or a qui tam lawsuit in which the Federal government has intervened, where the suit has been pending for 120 days as measured under the regulation; an action where the DOE seeks to recover the cost of adjudicated claims in favor of borrowers under the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations and the claims would lower the institution’s composite score below 1.0; certain judgments, awards, or settlements in certain lawsuits, mediations, or administrative or arbitration proceedings; certain withdrawals of owner’s equity including by dividend; gainful employment issues; accreditor requirements to submit a teach-out plan for reasons related to financial concerns; certain actions taken against a publicly-traded company or failure to timely file certain annual or quarterly reports; 90/10 Rule issues; cohort default rate issues; contributions and distributions occurring near the fiscal year end that materially impact the composite score; certain defaults or other adverse events under a financing arrangement; or certain financial exigencies or receiverships.

Examples of discretionary triggering events under the final regulations include certain accrediting agency actions, certain accreditor events, fluctuations in Title IV volume, high annual dropout rates, indicators of significant change in the financial condition of the institution, the formation by DOE of a group process to consider borrower defense claims against the institution, the institution’s discontinuation of education programs affecting at least 25 percent of enrolled students receiving Title IV funds, the institution’s closure of locations that enroll more than 25 percent of its students who receive Title IV funds, certain state licensing agency actions, the loss of institutional or program eligibility in another federal educational assistance program, a requirement to disclose in a public filing that the company is under investigation for possible violations of law, or if the institution is cited and faces loss of education assistance funds from another federal agency if it does not comply with agency requirements. The final regulations also establish new rules for evaluating financial responsibility during a change in ownership.

•

Administrative Capability: The DOE assesses the administrative capability of each institution that participates in Title IV Programs under a series of separate standards. Failure to satisfy any of the standards may lead the DOE to find the institution ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs or to place the institution on provisional certification as a condition of its participation. See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Administrative Capability.” The final rules add more standards related to topics such as the provision of adequate financial aid counseling and career services, ensuring the availability of clinical and externship opportunities, the disbursement of Title IV funds in a timely manner, compliance with high school diploma requirements, preventing substantial misrepresentations, complying with gainful employment requirements, and avoiding significant negative actions with a federal, state, or accrediting agency.

•

Certification Regulations: The final regulations expand the grounds for placing institutions on provisional certification, expand the types of conditions the DOE may impose on provisionally certified institutions, and expand the number of requirements contained in the institution’s program participation agreement with the DOE (including, among other requirements, an obligation to comply with all state laws related to closure). The DOE typically provides provisional certification to an institution following a change in ownership resulting in a change of control and also may provisionally certify an institution for other reasons, including, but not limited to, noncompliance with certain standards of administrative capability and financial responsibility. The DOE provisionally certified all of our institutions based on findings in recent audits of each institution’s Title IV Program compliance that the DOE alleges identified deficiencies related to DOE regulations regarding an institution’s level of administrative capability. An institution that is provisionally certified receives fewer due process rights than those received by other institutions in the event the DOE takes certain adverse actions against the institution, is required to obtain prior DOE approvals of new campuses and educational programs and may be subject to heightened scrutiny by the DOE. Provisional certification makes it easier for the DOE to revoke or decline to renew our Title IV eligibility if the DOE under the current administration chooses to take such an action against us and other provisionally certified for-profit schools without undergoing a formal administrative appeal process. See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Regulation of Federal Student Financial Aid Programs.” The regulations also expand the conditions to which institutions must agree as part of their participation in the Title IV programs. For example, one of the conditions prohibits the length of certain educational programs from exceeding the required minimum number of hours established by applicable state(s) for entry-level training requirements for the occupation for which the programs train students. We are still evaluating the potential impact of this requirement, which applies to new students enrolling on or after July 1, 2024, but the new requirement could require us to modify or phase out some of our educational programs.

The final regulations, if adopted, allow the DOE to place institutions on provisional certification if, among other reasons, the institution does not meet financial responsibility factors or administrative capability standards, if the institution is required by the DOE to submit a letter of credit as a result of a mandatory or discretionary triggering event, or if the DOE deems the institution to be at risk of closure.

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The final regulations also allow the DOE to determine whether to certify or impose conditions on an institution based on consideration of factors including, for example, the institution’s withdrawal rate, the amounts the institution spent on recruiting activities, advertising, and other pre-enrollment activities, and the passage rate for licensure exams for programs that are designed to meet the educational requirements for a professional license required for employment in an occupation.

The final regulations expand the types of conditions the DOE can impose on provisionally certified institutions including, for example, restrictions on the addition of new programs or locations, restrictions on the rate of growth or new enrollment of students or of Title IV volume, restrictions on the institution providing a teach-out on behalf of another institution, restrictions on the acquisition of another participating institution (including financial protection requirements), additional reporting requirements, limitations on entering into certain written arrangements with institutions or entities for providing part of an educational program, requirements to submit marketing and recruiting materials to DOE for approval (if the institution is alleged or found to have engaged in substantial misrepresentations to students, engaged in aggressive recruiting practices, or violated incentive compensation rules), reporting requirements for institutions that received a government formal inquiry such as a subpoena related to its marketing or recruitment or its federal financial aid, and other potential conditions imposed by the DOE.

We are still reviewing the final regulations and cannot predict the ultimate impact of the final regulations on gainful employment and the other topics discussed above, but the final regulations impose a broad range of additional requirements on institutions and especially on for-profit institutions like our schools, which increase the possibility that our schools could be subject to additional reporting requirements, potential liabilities and sanctions, and potential loss of Title IV eligibility if our efforts to modify our operations to comply with the new regulations are unsuccessful, which could have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.

The DOE commenced negotiated rulemaking meetings in October 2023 aimed at developing new regulations related to providing student debt relief. The meetings are scheduled to continue through December 2023 and are expected to lead to the publication of proposed regulations next year and, after a period of public notice and comment, final regulations. The rulemaking process is in its earliest stages. We cannot predict the timing, content, or potential impact of any final regulations that might emerge from this process.

Seasonality

Our revenue and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population. Student population varies due to new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lower student populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced larger class starts in the third quarter and higher student attrition in the first half of the year. The growth that we generally experience in the second half of the year is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit high school students several months ahead of their scheduled start dates and, as a consequence, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, we cannot predict with certainty the actual number of new student enrollments in any given year and the related impact on revenue. Our expenses, however, typically do not vary significantly over the course of the year with changes in our student population and revenue.

Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item.

Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this Form 10-Q, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to reasonably ensure that material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

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(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes made during our most recently completed fiscal quarter in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except for new internal controls related to ASC 326 and accounts payable payment processing that have been implemented.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material developments relating to previously disclosed legal proceedings. See the Company’s Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10Qs “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding existing legal proceedings.

Item 1A.

RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Form 10-K and those contained in our previously filed Form 10-Q, which could affect our business, financial condition, or operating results. The risks we describe in our periodic reports are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results. For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company is not aware of any specific new and additional risk factors not previously disclosed.

Item 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

(a)

None.

(b)

None.

(c)

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program for 12 months authorizing purchases of up to $30.0 million. Subsequently, on February 27, 2023, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.

The following table presents the number and average price of shares purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2023. The remaining authorized amount for share repurchases under the program as of September 30, 2023 was approximately $29.7 million.

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publically Announced Plan		Maximum Dollar Value of Shares Remaining to be Purchased Under the Plan
July 1, 2023 to July 31, 2023		-	$	-		-	$	29,663,667
August 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023		-		-		-		-
September 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023		-		-		-		-
Total		-		-		-

For more information on the share repurchase plan, see Part I, Item 1. “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”, Note 7 – Stockholders Equity.

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Item 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

(a)

None.

(b)

None

Item 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

Item 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

(a)

None.

(b)

None.

(c)

None.

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Item 6.

EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number	Description

3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005.

3.2	Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020).

3.3	Bylaws of the Company as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 30, 2020).

31.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32**	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101*	The following financial statements from the Company’s 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail.

104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

*	Filed herewith.

Furnished herewith. This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Date: November 6, 2023	By:	/s/ Brian Meyers
		Brian Meyers
		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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Exhibit Index

3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005.

3.2	Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020).

3.3	Bylaws of the Company as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 30, 2020).

31.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32**	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101*	The following financial statements from the Company’s 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail.

104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

*	Filed herewith.