Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Stock Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - What's Next?

Key Points

• Grand Canyon Education shares moved above their 200-day moving average, reaching $162.97 and last trading at $162.11, compared with the $153.83 average.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with three Buy ratings and one Hold rating, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $160.67.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $1.81 in earnings per share and $264.05 million in revenue; revenue rose 6.7% year over year, while institutional investors own 94.17% of the stock.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $153.83 and traded as high as $162.97. Grand Canyon Education shares last traded at $162.11, with a volume of 179,467 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LOPE has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barrington Research set a $200.00 price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Friday, July 31st. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Grand Canyon Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 9th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $185.00 to $182.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $160.67.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $4.23 billion, a PE ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.58. The stock's 50 day moving average is $151.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $153.83.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $264.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $261.87 million. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 36.62% and a net margin of 19.63%. The business's revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 10.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LOPE. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 2nd quarter valued at about $397,654,000. Reinhart Partners LLC. grew its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 22.9% during the third quarter. Reinhart Partners LLC. now owns 1,085,326 shares of the company's stock worth $164,525,000 after buying an additional 202,399 shares in the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the second quarter worth about $148,667,000. Wasatch Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 24.0% during the second quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 391,960 shares of the company's stock worth $56,093,000 after buying an additional 75,758 shares during the period. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP increased its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 27.0% during the first quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 329,160 shares of the company's stock worth $55,967,000 after buying an additional 70,048 shares during the period. 94.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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