Mackenzie Financial Corp Boosts Holdings in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

Key Points

• Mackenzie Financial Corp has increased its holdings in American Public Education, Inc. by 123.2%, owning approximately 59,968 shares valued at $1.34 million after acquiring an additional 33,099 shares in the first quarter.
• Analysts are optimistic about the stock, with multiple reports indicating a "buy" or "strong-buy" rating and an average target price of approximately $32.20.
• Insider selling has occurred recently, with significant trades resulting in a 7.84% and a 15.36% decrease in ownership for key insiders, raising concerns about insider confidence in the company's future.

Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI - Free Report) by 123.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 59,968 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 33,099 shares during the quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp owned about 0.33% of American Public Education worth $1,338,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in American Public Education by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 761,534 shares of the company's stock worth $16,426,000 after purchasing an additional 34,817 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of American Public Education by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 750,912 shares of the company's stock valued at $16,197,000 after buying an additional 63,103 shares in the last quarter. Bastion Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of American Public Education by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. Bastion Asset Management Inc. now owns 485,901 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,845,000 after buying an additional 42,575 shares in the last quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of American Public Education by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 353,184 shares of the company's stock valued at $7,618,000 after buying an additional 6,909 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of American Public Education by 379.5% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 282,325 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,090,000 after buying an additional 223,447 shares in the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Northland Capmk upgraded shares of American Public Education to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Lake Street Capital raised their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. B. Riley restated a "buy" rating on shares of American Public Education in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Northland Securities assumed coverage on shares of American Public Education in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $36.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barrington Research raised their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $24.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $32.20.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Public Education news, insider Nuno S. Fernandes sold 7,272 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.11, for a total value of $197,143.92. Following the sale, the insider owned 85,459 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,316,793.49. This trade represents a 7.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director 325 Capital Llc sold 214,396 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.04, for a total transaction of $6,011,663.84. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 1,181,005 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,115,380.20. This trade represents a 15.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 669,736 shares of company stock worth $19,211,182. Insiders own 17.54% of the company's stock.

American Public Education Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:APEI opened at $29.94 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $540.12 million, a PE ratio of 29.35, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.60. The company's fifty day moving average is $29.42 and its 200 day moving average is $25.43. American Public Education, Inc. has a 52 week low of $11.80 and a 52 week high of $32.24. The company has a quick ratio of 3.27, a current ratio of 3.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

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

American Public Education 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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