Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) Hits New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $74.28 and last traded at $74.55, with a volume of 87827 shares. The stock had previously closed at $77.79.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on STRA shares. StockNews.com downgraded Strategic Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Tuesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Strategic Education from $114.00 to $97.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 3rd.

Strategic Education Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a PE ratio of 15.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $85.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $91.37.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $311.46 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $315.18 million. Strategic Education had a return on equity of 7.61% and a net margin of 10.44%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 EPS for the current year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. Strategic Education's payout ratio is 51.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Daniel Wayne Jackson sold 6,025 shares of Strategic Education stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total transaction of $589,425.75. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 81,756 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,998,189.48. The trade was a 6.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Raymond Karl Mcdonnell sold 31,855 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total transaction of $3,116,374.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 140,281 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,723,690.23. This trade represents a 18.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 39,332 shares of company stock valued at $3,825,169. 3.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Strategic Education by 76.7% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 399,144 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $36,941,000 after acquiring an additional 173,225 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth about $15,715,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in Strategic Education by 207.3% in the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 175,141 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $16,362,000 after acquiring an additional 118,151 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its position in Strategic Education by 202.3% in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 114,765 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $10,720,000 after purchasing an additional 76,804 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. lifted its position in shares of Strategic Education by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 618,286 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $57,760,000 after buying an additional 70,743 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the company's stock.

Strategic Education Company Profile

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.