American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) Trading Down 5.3% - What's Next?

Key Points

• American Public Education shares fell 5.3% to about $41.14, with trading volume 53% below the average session level.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with six Buy ratings and two Holds producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $59.38.
• The company exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $0.52 in EPS versus the $0.36 consensus and $171.73 million in revenue; institutional investors own 79.62% of its stock.

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report)'s stock price was down 5.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $41.43 and last traded at $41.1350. 139,498 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 53% from the average session volume of 298,705 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.43.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $64.00 target price on shares of American Public Education in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Weiss Ratings downgraded American Public Education from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Zacks Research lowered American Public Education from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Wall Street Zen cut American Public Education from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 15th. Finally, Lake Street Capital boosted their price target on American Public Education from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $59.38.

American Public Education Stock Down 5.3%

The stock has a market capitalization of $752.77 million, a P/E ratio of 16.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 3.25, a quick ratio of 3.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm's fifty day moving average is $47.27 and its 200-day moving average is $52.02.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.16. American Public Education had a net margin of 6.84% and a return on equity of 15.30%. The firm had revenue of $171.73 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $170.88 million. American Public Education has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.790 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.180-0.290 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that American Public Education, Inc. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Public Education

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of APEI. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the second quarter valued at $47,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in American Public Education by 111.8% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,360 shares of the company's stock worth $127,000 after buying an additional 1,246 shares in the last quarter. AXQ Capital LP bought a new stake in American Public Education during the 4th quarter worth about $205,000. Arizona State Retirement System bought a new stake in American Public Education during the 2nd quarter worth about $245,000. Finally, Two Sigma Securities LLC acquired a new stake in American Public Education in the 2nd quarter valued at about $264,000. Institutional investors own 79.62% of the company's stock.

American Public Education Company Profile

American Public Education, Inc NASDAQ: APEI is an education-services company that provides postsecondary education and career-focused learning through its operating institutions. Its primary business is American Public University System (APUS), which includes American Public University and American Military University. APUS offers primarily online undergraduate and graduate programs designed for adult learners, military personnel, veterans, public-service professionals and other students seeking flexible higher education.

Through APUS, the company provides programs in areas such as business, cybersecurity, information technology, intelligence studies, public administration, health, nursing, education and the liberal arts.

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