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

Barrington Research restated their outperform rating on shares of Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) in a research note released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. Barrington Research currently has a $105.00 price objective on the health services provider’s stock.

STRA has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Strategic Education from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Strategic Education in a research report on Monday, September 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $99.33.

Strategic Education Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ STRA opened at $80.42 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $1.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.57. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $79.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.90. Strategic Education has a one year low of $72.25 and a one year high of $104.51.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The health services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.33. Strategic Education had a return on equity of 8.18% and a net margin of 9.08%.The company had revenue of $319.95 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $315.40 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.16 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Strategic Education will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.90%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Strategic Education

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of Strategic Education by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 9,367 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $806,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. MSH Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in Strategic Education by 1.2% in the second quarter. MSH Capital Advisors LLC now owns 11,314 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $963,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in Strategic Education by 88.5% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 294 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 54.3% in the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 395 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 85.2% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 387 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Strategic Education Company Profile

Strategic Education, Inc is a publicly traded higher education services holding company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Through its primary operating subsidiaries, Strayer University and Capella University, the company delivers degree programs and professional development opportunities to working adults. Its offerings span undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, continuing education, and workforce training in fields such as business, technology, health services, education, and public administration.

Strayer University, with a network of physical campuses across the United States complemented by an online platform, provides associate’s through doctoral degrees designed to accommodate non-traditional students.