EAM Investors LLC Purchases Shares of 40,846 American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

EAM Investors LLC acquired a new stake in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 40,846 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $881,000. EAM Investors LLC owned about 0.23% of American Public Education as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. New York State Teachers Retirement System bought a new stake in American Public Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in American Public Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in American Public Education in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $121,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in American Public Education in the third quarter worth $165,000. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of American Public Education by 350.3% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 11,658 shares of the company's stock worth $172,000 after purchasing an additional 9,069 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.62% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on APEI. StockNews.com upgraded American Public Education from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. B. Riley started coverage on American Public Education in a research note on Friday, March 28th. They set a "buy" rating and a $28.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Barrington Research restated an "outperform" rating and set a $24.00 price objective on shares of American Public Education in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, William Blair raised shares of American Public Education from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $25.33.

American Public Education Stock Up 1.1 %

APEI traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $22.60. 28,653 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 170,197. The stock has a market cap of $407.52 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.35, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.47. American Public Education, Inc. has a 1-year low of $11.80 and a 1-year high of $25.60. The stock's 50-day moving average is $22.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.41. The company has a quick ratio of 2.65, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 60,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,329,783.71. This represents a 5.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 11.38% of the company's stock.

About American Public Education

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.