For the quarter ended September 2023, Lakeland Financial (LKFN Quick QuoteLKFN - Free Report) reported revenue of $59.23 million, down 5.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.98, compared to $1.11 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $58.8 million, representing a surprise of +0.73%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +6.52%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.92.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Lakeland Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Interest Margin: 3.2% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 3.2%.
• Efficiency ratio: 49.1% compared to the 46.6% average estimate based on two analysts.
• Total Non Interest Income: $10.84 million compared to the $11.30 million average estimate based on two analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Lakeland Financial here>>>

Shares of Lakeland Financial have returned -0.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.