Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Hits New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Grand Canyon Education's stock reached a new 52-week high at $202.84 during trading, closing at $201.13 with a trading volume of 35,138 shares.
• The company reported better-than-expected earnings of $1.53 per share for the last quarter, surpassing analysts’ estimates by $0.16 and showing an 8.8% revenue increase year-over-year.
• Analysts maintain a consensus "Buy" rating for the stock, with an average target price of $203.67, and both BMO Capital Markets and Barrington Research have provided positive outlooks on its valuation.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $202.84 and last traded at $201.13, with a volume of 35138 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $199.35.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on LOPE. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $222.00 to $210.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Grand Canyon Education from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Barrington Research reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $215.00 target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Grand Canyon Education has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $203.67.

Grand Canyon Education Trading Up 1.4%

The company has a market cap of $5.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.46, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.79. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $181.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.98.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $247.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $240.90 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 22.15% and a return on equity of 31.50%. Grand Canyon Education's revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.19 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.81 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Grand Canyon Education

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter worth approximately $35,000. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Grand Canyon Education during the first quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. increased its position in Grand Canyon Education by 58.2% during the first quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 261 shares of the company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.17% of the company's stock.

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.

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