American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) Updates Q3 2026 Earnings Guidance

Key Points

• American Public Education lowered its Q3 2026 outlook, guiding for EPS of $0.18–$0.29 versus the $0.56 consensus estimate and revenue of $164.5–$167.0 million versus the $169.9 million estimate. Full-year 2026 EPS guidance is $2.48–$2.79.
• APEI shares fell 7.5% to $47.39 following the guidance update. The stock still carries a consensus “Buy” rating, with an average analyst price target of $59.12.
• The company recently exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $0.52 EPS and $171.73 million in revenue, while institutional investors own approximately 79.6% of outstanding shares.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report) updated its third quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 0.180-0.290 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.560. The company issued revenue guidance of $164.5 million-$167.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $169.9 million. American Public Education also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.480-2.790 EPS.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised American Public Education from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Sunday, July 12th. Weiss Ratings lowered American Public Education from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Zacks Research raised American Public Education from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. DA Davidson reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $64.00 target price on shares of American Public Education in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, B. Riley Financial increased their price target on shares of American Public Education from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $59.12.

American Public Education Stock Down 7.5%

Shares of NASDAQ:APEI traded down $3.85 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $47.39. 549,262 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 304,431. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 2.98 and a current ratio of 2.98. American Public Education has a 52-week low of $27.74 and a 52-week high of $61.59. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $52.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.69. The company has a market capitalization of $869.13 million, a PE ratio of 25.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.38.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.16. American Public Education had a return on equity of 14.02% and a net margin of 6.13%.The firm had revenue of $171.73 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $170.88 million. American Public Education has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.790 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.180-0.290 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that American Public Education will post 2.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.00, for a total value of $108,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 52,172 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,817,288. This represents a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Corporate insiders own 10.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of American Public Education

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. No Street GP LP bought a new position in shares of American Public Education in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,365,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in American Public Education by 122.9% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 294,386 shares of the company's stock worth $11,619,000 after acquiring an additional 162,318 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in American Public Education by 1,025.5% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 130,600 shares of the company's stock worth $4,937,000 after acquiring an additional 118,996 shares during the last quarter. Manatuck Hill Partners LLC bought a new stake in American Public Education during the second quarter valued at about $3,503,000. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of American Public Education by 63.3% in the second quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 286,313 shares of the company's stock worth $8,721,000 after purchasing an additional 111,026 shares during the period. 79.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Public Education Company Profile

American Public Education, Inc operates as a provider of online postsecondary education, offering degree and certificate programs through its wholly owned subsidiary, American Public University System (APUS). The company designs and delivers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business administration, information technology, criminal justice, homeland security, health sciences, and education. Its curriculum is developed to meet the needs of working adults, military personnel, veterans and civilian students seeking flexible, career-relevant learning opportunities.

APUS is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and employs a proprietary online learning platform that supports asynchronous instruction, digital course materials and interactive learning tools.

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