Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Hits New 1-Year Low on Analyst Downgrade

Key Points

• LOPE hit a new 52-week low after Truist cut its price target from $200 to $180, while maintaining a Buy rating. The shares fell from the prior close of $150.67 to a low of $132.11.
• Third-quarter EPS of $1.77 slightly topped the $1.76 consensus, but revenue of $267.35 million missed estimates of $270.11 million; revenue rose 2.4% year over year and EPS was down from $1.78.
• Grand Canyon Education expects ground-campus enrollment to grow more than 10% in fall 2027, citing Common App participation and new college partners as contributors to its student pipeline.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Thursday after Truist Financial lowered their price target on the stock from $200.00 to $180.00. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the stock. Grand Canyon Education traded as low as $132.11 and last traded at $130.4470, with a volume of 207,031 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $150.67.

Several other analysts have also commented on LOPE. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $185.00 to $182.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Grand Canyon Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, August 9th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, Barrington Research set a $200.00 target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $187.33.

Grand Canyon Education News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Grand Canyon Education this week:

• Positive Sentiment: GCE expects ground-campus enrollment to grow more than 10% in fall 2027, with Common App participation and new college partners contributing to its student pipeline. Article: Grand Canyon Education expects 10%+ ground campus growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Third-quarter EPS was $1.77, essentially in line with the $1.76 consensus estimate, but below $1.78 a year earlier. Revenue rose 2.4% year over year. Article: Grand Canyon Education reports third-quarter 2026 results
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue of $267.35 million missed analysts’ $270.11 million estimate. The shortfall, alongside slightly lower EPS year over year, may be pressuring the stock despite the small EPS beat versus consensus. Article: Grand Canyon Education Q3 earnings meet estimates

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Grand Canyon Education

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LOPE. Van Berkom & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Grand Canyon Education by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Van Berkom & Associates Inc. now owns 558,645 shares of the company's stock valued at $84,685,000 after buying an additional 13,782 shares in the last quarter. Simplex Trading LLC raised its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 171.7% during the 3rd quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 941 shares of the company's stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 2,254 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 48.1% during the 3rd quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 2,265 shares of the company's stock valued at $343,000 after acquiring an additional 736 shares during the last quarter. Clear Wave Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 3rd quarter valued at about $208,000. Finally, Fulcrum Asset Management LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the third quarter valued at about $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company's stock.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Down 14.6%

The stock has a market capitalization of $3.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.66. The company's 50-day moving average is $153.92 and its 200-day moving average is $157.18.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.01. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 19.63% and a return on equity of 36.62%. The company had revenue of $267.35 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $270.11 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.78 earnings per share. Grand Canyon Education's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 10.22 EPS for the current year.

About Grand Canyon Education

Grand Canyon Education, Inc NASDAQ: LOPE is an education services company that provides technology, operational and support services to colleges and universities. Rather than operating primarily as a traditional university, the company partners with higher education institutions to help them deliver online, hybrid and campus-based academic programs.

Its services include learning technology, digital course development, data analytics, marketing, student enrollment and support, financial aid assistance, faculty support, and other administrative functions.

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