American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) Trading Up 7.8% - Here's What Happened

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report)'s stock price rose 7.8% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $29.92 and last traded at $30.27. Approximately 66,659 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 184,643 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.07.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on APEI shares. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of American Public Education from $24.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating on shares of American Public Education in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Wall Street Zen raised American Public Education from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Lake Street Capital boosted their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, William Blair upgraded American Public Education from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Public Education has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $32.20.

American Public Education Stock Up 5.0%

The firm has a market cap of $531.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 3.27 and a current ratio of 3.27. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $23.35.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.15 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $164.55 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $161.92 million. American Public Education had a net margin of 3.86% and a return on equity of 9.96%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that American Public Education, Inc. will post 0.47 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Public Education

In other American Public Education news, insider Nuno S. Fernandes sold 7,272 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.11, for a total value of $197,143.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 85,459 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,316,793.49. This trade represents a 7.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director 325 Capital Llc sold 127,406 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.45, for a total value of $3,752,106.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,661,150 shares of the company's stock, valued at $48,920,867.50. This trade represents a 7.12% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 669,736 shares of company stock worth $19,211,182. 17.54% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Militia Capital Partners LP grew its stake in shares of American Public Education by 43.5% during the 1st quarter. Militia Capital Partners LP now owns 6,932 shares of the company's stock worth $155,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in American Public Education by 23.1% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 297,236 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,629,000 after buying an additional 55,708 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 7.4% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 97,294 shares of the company's stock worth $2,172,000 after purchasing an additional 6,671 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 538,440 shares of the company's stock worth $12,018,000 after buying an additional 21,079 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in American Public Education by 4.3% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,386 shares of the company's stock valued at $209,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Public Education Company Profile

American Public Education, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education and career learning in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 184 degree programs and 134 certificate programs in various fields of study, including nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning opportunities in leadership, finance, human resources, and other fields of study critical to the federal government workforce.

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