Strategic Education’s (STRA) Outperform Rating Reiterated at Barrington Research

Barrington Research reissued their outperform rating on shares of Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) in a report published on Thursday, Benzinga reports. Barrington Research currently has a $135.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Strategic Education from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $132.25.

Strategic Education Stock Performance

Shares of STRA stock opened at $92.72 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Strategic Education has a 52 week low of $74.43 and a 52 week high of $123.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.28 billion, a PE ratio of 21.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.56. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $98.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.74.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The health services provider reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.14. Strategic Education had a net margin of 9.84% and a return on equity of 7.47%. The company had revenue of $312.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $308.16 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.82 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Strategic Education will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th were issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 6th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.59%. Strategic Education’s payout ratio is 56.87%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Viet D. Dinh purchased 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $95.59 per share, for a total transaction of $477,950.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 20,020 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,913,711.80. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 3.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Strategic Education

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of STRA. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth $13,511,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in Strategic Education by 103.6% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 253,390 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $23,406,000 after acquiring an additional 128,961 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter worth $12,231,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Strategic Education by 64.9% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 251,778 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $27,862,000 after acquiring an additional 99,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Strategic Education by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,447,810 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $160,212,000 after acquiring an additional 48,462 shares in the last quarter. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Strategic Education

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.