Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Reaches New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $183.86 and last traded at $182.91, with a volume of 40134 shares. The stock had previously closed at $182.11.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $180.00 price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Grand Canyon Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th.

Grand Canyon Education Trading Up 0.4 %

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $169.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $154.32. The stock has a market cap of $5.35 billion, a PE ratio of 24.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.74.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total transaction of $249,105.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 21,174 shares in the company, valued at $3,516,366.18. This represents a 6.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Grand Canyon Education

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LOPE. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 4th quarter worth $57,838,000. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,066,000. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,513,249 shares of the company’s stock valued at $247,870,000 after purchasing an additional 189,843 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 68.6% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 392,954 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,786,000 after purchasing an additional 159,827 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wasatch Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 15.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 513,767 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,878,000 after purchasing an additional 68,579 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

About Grand Canyon Education

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.