William Blair Issues Negative Outlook for APEI Earnings

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) – Equities researchers at William Blair lowered their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of American Public Education in a research report issued on Wednesday, November 13th. William Blair analyst S. Sheldon now expects that the company will post earnings of $0.53 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.57. The consensus estimate for American Public Education’s current full-year earnings is $0.47 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for American Public Education’s FY2026 earnings at $1.42 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. StockNews.com downgraded American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Barrington Research upped their price target on American Public Education from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Truist Financial increased their price target on American Public Education from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, B. Riley upped their price objective on American Public Education from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th.

American Public Education Trading Down 0.7 %

APEI stock opened at $18.32 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $324.30 million, a PE ratio of 32.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 2.83 and a current ratio of 2.65. American Public Education has a one year low of $5.41 and a one year high of $21.04. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $15.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.29.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Public Education news, Director Michael David Braner acquired 17,872 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 30th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $16.77 per share, for a total transaction of $299,713.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,922,610 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $32,242,169.70. The trade was a 0.94 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In the last 90 days, insiders have bought 117,983 shares of company stock worth $1,747,393. Company insiders own 11.38% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Public Education

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of American Public Education by 94.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 4,666 shares of the company’s stock worth $82,000 after purchasing an additional 2,261 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in American Public Education during the first quarter valued at approximately $130,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Public Education by 129.1% during the third quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 9,206 shares of the company’s stock worth $136,000 after buying an additional 5,187 shares during the period. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of American Public Education in the 1st quarter valued at $141,000. 79.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Public Education Company Profile

American Public Education, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education and career learning in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 184 degree programs and 134 certificate programs in various fields of study, including nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning opportunities in leadership, finance, human resources, and other fields of study critical to the federal government workforce.