Systematic Financial Management LP Increases Position in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA)

Systematic Financial Management LP raised its position in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Free Report) by 31.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 30,820 shares of the health services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 7,340 shares during the quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP owned approximately 0.13% of Strategic Education worth $2,879,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Strategic Education in the 4th quarter valued at about $15,715,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Strategic Education by 207.3% in the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 175,141 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $16,362,000 after buying an additional 118,151 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Strategic Education by 202.3% in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 114,765 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $10,720,000 after buying an additional 76,804 shares during the period. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. lifted its position in shares of Strategic Education by 12.9% in the fourth quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 618,286 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $57,760,000 after buying an additional 70,743 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lightrock Netherlands B.V. bought a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,625,000. Institutional investors own 93.27% of the company's stock.

Strategic Education Price Performance

Shares of Strategic Education stock traded down $1.83 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $88.37. The company's stock had a trading volume of 116,125 shares, compared to its average volume of 156,067. The stock has a market cap of $2.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.52. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $82.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $91.02. Strategic Education, Inc. has a 52 week low of $74.28 and a 52 week high of $121.60.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $303.59 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $300.67 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 7.61%. Strategic Education's revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.11 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.72%. Strategic Education's payout ratio is presently 51.28%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Robert R. Grusky sold 1,494 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.27, for a total transaction of $119,923.38. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,349 shares of the company's stock, valued at $910,984.23. This represents a 11.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Raymond Karl Mcdonnell sold 31,855 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total transaction of $3,116,374.65. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 140,281 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,723,690.23. This trade represents a 18.51% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 40,826 shares of company stock worth $3,945,093. 3.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Strategic Education Company Profile

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.