Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) Stock Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Strategic Education shares briefly moved above their 200-day moving average of $80.29, reaching $80.33 before closing at $79.28, down 0.6%.
• Analysts have a generally cautious outlook, with an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $96.67; ratings include two Buys and three Holds.
• The company reported quarterly earnings of $1.76 per share and revenue of $321.6 million, both below estimates, while revenue still increased 4.9% year over year. Strategic Education also pays a quarterly dividend of $0.60, yielding about 3.0% annually.

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report)'s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $80.29 and traded as high as $80.33. Strategic Education shares last traded at $79.28, with a volume of 172,201 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on STRA shares. Barrington Research set a $105.00 price target on Strategic Education in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Friday, July 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Strategic Education from $100.00 to $95.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Wall Street Zen raised Strategic Education from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 1st. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Strategic Education from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $96.67.

Strategic Education Stock Down 0.6%

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.47. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $81.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $80.29.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The health services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.80 by ($0.04). Strategic Education had a return on equity of 8.98% and a net margin of 10.46%.The firm had revenue of $321.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $327.55 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.54 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Strategic Education Inc. will post 7.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 4th. Strategic Education's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Strategic Education

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Strategic Education in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Sankala Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Strategic Education in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 305.3% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 616 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 464 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new stake in shares of Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter worth about $49,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter worth about $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the company's stock.

Strategic Education Company Profile

Strategic Education, Inc is a postsecondary education company that provides career-focused academic programs and education services in the United States. The company operates primarily through Strayer University and Capella University, serving working adults and other students through online learning, physical campuses and flexible academic formats.

Strayer University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, professional certificates and other career-oriented courses in areas such as business, information technology, healthcare, criminal justice and education.

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