Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Stock Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Grand Canyon Education shares crossed above their 200-day moving average, reaching $160.48 and last trading at $160.30, compared with a 200-day average of $154.23.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with three Buy ratings and one Hold rating producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $160.67; targets range up to $200.
• The company recently exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $1.81 in EPS versus $1.67 expected and $264.05 million in revenue, up 6.7% year over year. Institutional investors own approximately 94.17% of outstanding shares.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday. The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $154.23 and traded as high as $160.48. Grand Canyon Education shares last traded at $160.30, with a volume of 321,529 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on LOPE shares. Wall Street Zen cut Grand Canyon Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 9th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $185.00 to $182.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Finally, Barrington Research set a $200.00 price target on Grand Canyon Education in a report on Friday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $160.67.

Grand Canyon Education Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.58. The stock's 50-day moving average is $150.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $154.23.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $264.05 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $261.87 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 19.63% and a return on equity of 36.62%. The firm's revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 10.22 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Grand Canyon Education

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Grand Canyon Education by 5.3% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,201 shares of the company's stock valued at $204,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Leonteq Securities AG boosted its holdings in Grand Canyon Education by 48.9% in the 1st quarter. Leonteq Securities AG now owns 195 shares of the company's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. Twin Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Grand Canyon Education by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,632 shares of the company's stock worth $788,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,003 shares of the company's stock worth $341,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 4,075 shares of the company's stock worth $693,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.17% of the company's stock.

About Grand Canyon Education

Grand Canyon Education, Inc is an education services company that provides technology, academic, operational and support services to postsecondary institutions. The company helps partner universities deliver traditional, online and hybrid degree programs, with services spanning student enrollment, counseling, marketing, curriculum development, faculty support, technology infrastructure and field-experience coordination.

Grand Canyon Education was established in 2003 and was historically associated with Grand Canyon University, a private university based in Phoenix, Arizona.

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