Strs Ohio Takes $1.73 Million Position in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. $LOPE

Key Points

• Strs Ohio has made a new investment of approximately $1.73 million in Grand Canyon Education, acquiring nearly 10,000 shares during the first quarter.
• Grand Canyon Education reported quarterly earnings of $1.53 EPS, exceeding analysts' expectations, along with an 8.8% increase in year-over-year revenue.
• Several research firms have revised their ratings on Grand Canyon Education, with a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $203.67.

Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 9,993 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,729,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in LOPE. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter valued at about $26,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter valued at about $35,000. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter valued at about $44,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. raised its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 58.2% during the first quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 261 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 107.8% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 318 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company's stock.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

Grand Canyon Education stock traded up $0.35 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $209.17. 194,135 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 219,020. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.80. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 12 month low of $130.69 and a 12 month high of $211.31. The business's 50-day moving average is $189.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $184.52.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $247.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $240.90 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 22.15% and a return on equity of 31.50%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.19 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LOPE has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Grand Canyon Education from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $222.00 to $210.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Barrington Research reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $215.00 target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Grand Canyon Education has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $203.67.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.