Lincoln Financial vs Zions Bancorp

This page compares Lincoln Financial and Zions Bancorp, examining business models, financial performance, and market context in a neutral, accessible way. It presents strategies, risk profiles, and market positioning to help readers understand the firms side by side. Educational content, not financial advice.

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

LNC

Metric

ZION

$7.55B

Market Cap

$8.72B

8.12%

Potential Profit

4.01%

Hold

Analyst Rating

Hold

Investment Analysis

Lincoln Financial

LNC

Pros

Lincoln National benefits from broad insurance product offerings and strong return on equity, reflecting efficient capital use and underwriting discipline.
The company maintains a diversified mix of life, annuity, and retirement solutions, supporting revenue stability across market cycles.
Recent normalised returns on assets and equity remain above certain peers, suggesting relative financial strength in the insurance sector.

Considerations

Life insurers like Lincoln National face persistent macro headwinds from low interest rates, which pressure investment income and product margins.
Exposure to variable annuity guarantees and longevity risk could lead to elevated reserving needs in adverse scenarios.
The company’s return on assets lags behind some major competitors, indicating potential room for operational improvement.

Zions Bancorp

ZION

Pros

Zions Bancorp delivered better-than-expected earnings recently, even after absorbing a material credit charge, highlighting underlying earning resilience.
The bank offers an above-average dividend yield relative to regional peers, supported by stable payout ratios and disciplined capital management.
Zions retains a strong regional presence in the western US, underpinning customer relationships and deposit stability.

Considerations

Recent credit quality deterioration led to significant loan loss provisions, raising concerns over asset quality and risk management practices.
As a regional lender, Zions remains more exposed to local economic cycles and real estate market volatility than larger, diversified banks.
The stock’s valuation reflects heightened earnings uncertainty following the credit charge, which could limit near-term upside.

About The Companies

Lincoln Financial (LNC)

Lincoln National Corporation, trading under the ticker LNC, is a prominent American holding company in the financial services space. It operates through various subsidiaries to offer a wide range of insurance and retirement solutions to individuals and businesses. The company's core activities are segmented into four main areas: Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services. Through these, it provides products like tax-deferred investments, life insurance policies such as term and universal life, and group benefits like disability cover. For employers, it offers comprehensive retirement plan products and services. As a holding company, its overall performance is linked to the success of these diverse but interconnected business lines. Investors might see it as a key player in the long-term financial planning and security market, though like any investment, its value can go down as well as up.

Zions Bancorp (ZION)

Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION) is a US regional bank headquartered in Salt Lake City that provides commercial and consumer banking, mortgage lending and wealth-management services across several western states. With a market capitalisation of about $7.8 billion, Zions operates in the mid‑cap regional-bank space where earnings are propelled by net interest income, loan growth and fee income; at the same time credit quality, deposit costs and regulatory capital requirements are key variables for investors. Interest-rate movements and regional economic cycles can meaningfully affect profitability, and exposure to commercial real‑estate and small‑business lending can amplify cyclical risk. Recent strategy has emphasised diversification of loan mix and tight expense control, but outcomes depend on economic and credit trends. This is general educational information and not personal financial advice — suitability depends on your circumstances and risk tolerance, and past performance is not a reliable guide to the future.

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Lincoln Financial vs Zions Bancorp

Comparison Snapshot

Investment Analysis

Lincoln Financial

Pros

Considerations

Zions Bancorp

Pros

Considerations

About The Companies

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Buy LNC or ZION in Nemo

Zero Commission

Trusted & Regulated

6% Interest on Cash

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Frequently asked questions

Comparison Snapshot

About The Companies

Lincoln Financial vs Zions Bancorp

Comparison Snapshot

Investment Analysis

Lincoln Financial

Pros

Considerations

Zions Bancorp

Pros

Considerations

About The Companies

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Buy LNC or ZION in Nemo

Zero Commission

Trusted & Regulated

6% Interest on Cash

Discover More Comparisons

Lincoln Financial vs Cullen/Frost Bankers

Lincoln Financial vs AXIS Capital

Lincoln Financial vs StepStone Group

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to compare two stocks on a single page, and what can I learn from this Lincoln National vs Zions Bancorp comparison?

How should I interpret the pros and cons provided for each stock?

What is the significance of diversification in Lincoln National’s product mix compared with Zions Bancorp’s regional focus?

How could macro headwinds, such as low interest rates, affect the two stocks differently?

What should I consider about earnings quality when evaluating these two stocks?

How do the two stocks differ in risk factors related to reserves and credit quality?

In what market context would Lincoln National outperform relative to Zions Bancorp, and vice versa?

How does geographical exposure influence the performance outlook for these stocks?

How should I use this page to compare the relative valuation of Lincoln National and Zions Bancorp?

What disclaimer should I keep in mind while interpreting this comparison?

Comparison Snapshot

About The Companies