Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC Boosts Stake in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its stake in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) by 5.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,897 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,583 shares during the quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC owned about 0.30% of American Public Education worth $1,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in American Public Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Public Education in the 4th quarter worth approximately $121,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of American Public Education by 16.2% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,155 shares of the company’s stock worth $176,000 after acquiring an additional 1,134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position 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 valued at $136,000 after acquiring an additional 5,187 shares during the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have issued reports on APEI. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $24.00 price target on shares of American Public Education in a report on Friday, March 7th. Truist Financial upped their target price on American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. B. Riley started coverage on American Public Education in a research note on Friday, March 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $28.00 price target for the company. William Blair upgraded American Public Education from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $25.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Public Education news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 60,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,329,783.71. This trade represents a 5.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 11.38% of the company’s stock.

American Public Education Stock Performance

Shares of APEI opened at $21.99 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $21.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a current ratio of 2.65. The stock has a market cap of $395.73 million, a P/E ratio of 39.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.47. American Public Education, Inc. has a one year low of $11.80 and a one year high of $25.60.

American Public Education 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.