B. Riley Has Optimistic Outlook of APEI FY2024 Earnings

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) – Equities research analysts at B. Riley increased their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for American Public Education in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, November 13th. B. Riley analyst R. Sharma now forecasts that the company will earn $0.51 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $0.48. B. Riley currently has a “Buy” rating and a $25.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for American Public Education’s current full-year earnings is $0.49 per share. B. Riley also issued estimates for American Public Education’s Q4 2024 earnings at $0.58 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $1.67 EPS.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. StockNews.com cut American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial increased their target price on American Public Education from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Barrington Research lifted their target price on American Public Education from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday.

American Public Education Price Performance

Shares of APEI opened at $18.45 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $16.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.83 and a quick ratio of 2.83. American Public Education has a 1-year low of $5.41 and a 1-year high of $21.04. The stock has a market cap of $326.57 million, a PE ratio of 32.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.24.

Insider Activity

In other American Public Education news, Director Michael David Braner bought 59,179 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 20th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $14.05 per share, for a total transaction of $831,464.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,788,688 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,131,066.40. The trade was a 3.42 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 117,983 shares of company stock worth $1,747,393. Corporate insiders own 11.38% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Public Education

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Public Education in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Quarry LP increased its stake in American Public Education by 94.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 4,666 shares of the company’s stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 2,261 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in American Public Education during the 1st quarter worth $130,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Public Education by 129.1% in the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 9,206 shares of the company’s stock worth $136,000 after acquiring an additional 5,187 shares during the period. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the first quarter valued at about $141,000. 79.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About American Public Education

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.