Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Stock Position Cut by Ameriprise Financial Inc.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Free Report) by 8.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,499 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 5,550 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.24% of Strategic Education worth $5,558,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Strategic Education during the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Strategic Education by 394.8% during the 4th 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 increased its holdings in Strategic Education by 809.1% in 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 in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $96,000. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in Strategic Education by 53.3% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,044 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the last quarter. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Robert R. Grusky sold 1,494 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.27, for a total value of $119,923.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,349 shares of the company's stock, valued at $910,984.23. The trade was a 11.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Lizette Benedi Herraiz sold 1,452 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.21, for a total transaction of $119,368.92. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 61,716 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,073,672.36. This trade represents a 2.30% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Strategic Education Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of NASDAQ STRA traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $89.92. 50,359 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 155,480. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.52. The company's 50 day moving average price is $83.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $90.82. Strategic Education, Inc. has a 12 month low of $74.28 and a 12 month high of $121.60.

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

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.67%. Strategic Education's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

STRA has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barrington Research restated an "outperform" rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Strategic Education in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Truist Financial set a $105.00 price target on Strategic Education in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Strategic Education from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th.

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.