Aquatic Capital Management LLC Boosts Stake in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA)

Aquatic Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Free Report) by 51.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,041 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,741 shares during the quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC's holdings in Strategic Education were worth $1,031,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in Strategic Education in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Strategic Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 394.8% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Strategic Education by 809.1% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 700 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 623 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Strategic Education in the 4th quarter valued at about $96,000. 93.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Raymond Karl Mcdonnell sold 31,855 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total transaction of $3,116,374.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 140,281 shares in the company, valued at $13,723,690.23. The trade was a 18.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Michael A. Mcrobbie purchased 600 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $81.80 per share, for a total transaction of $49,080.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 6,135 shares of the company's stock, valued at $501,843. The trade was a 10.84 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 40,826 shares of company stock worth $3,945,093. 3.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Strategic Education Trading Up 1.8 %

Strategic Education stock traded up $1.59 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $87.68. 50,002 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 152,124. The firm has a market cap of $2.12 billion, a PE ratio of 16.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $81.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $90.87. Strategic Education, Inc. has a 12-month low of $74.28 and a 12-month high of $123.62.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $303.59 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $300.67 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 7.61%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.11 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.74%. Strategic Education's dividend payout ratio is currently 51.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on STRA shares. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Strategic Education from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. StockNews.com raised Strategic Education from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Truist Financial set a $105.00 target price on shares of Strategic Education in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Barrington Research reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of Strategic Education in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th.

About Strategic Education

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.