What is Northland Securities’ Forecast for APEI Q3 Earnings?

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) – Stock analysts at Northland Securities lowered their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for American Public Education in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, August 11th. Northland Securities analyst L. Horton now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.24 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.41. The consensus estimate for American Public Education’s current full-year earnings is $2.62 per share. Northland Securities also issued estimates for American Public Education’s Q4 2026 earnings at $0.87 EPS.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on APEI. B. Riley Financial raised their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. Barrington Research boosted their target price on shares of American Public Education from $56.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 13th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, July 12th. Lake Street Capital raised their price target on shares of American Public Education from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $64.00 price target on shares of American Public Education in a report on Monday, June 1st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, American Public Education presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.38.

American Public Education Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:APEI opened at $45.13 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $52.46 and its 200 day moving average is $51.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 2.98 and a current ratio of 2.98. The company has a market capitalization of $825.88 million, a P/E ratio of 18.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.38. American Public Education has a fifty-two week low of $28.34 and a fifty-two week high of $61.59.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.16. American Public Education had a return on equity of 15.56% and a net margin of 6.84%.The firm had revenue of $171.73 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $170.88 million. American Public Education has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.790 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.180-0.290 EPS.

Insider Transactions at American Public Education

In related news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.00, for a total value of $108,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 52,172 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,817,288. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Corporate insiders own 10.60% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Public Education

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. No Street GP LP bought a new stake in shares of American Public Education during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,365,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in American Public Education by 122.9% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 294,386 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,619,000 after buying an additional 162,318 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in American Public Education by 1,025.5% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 130,600 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,937,000 after buying an additional 118,996 shares in the last quarter. Manatuck Hill Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Public Education during the second quarter valued at about $3,503,000. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 63.3% in the second quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 286,313 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,721,000 after buying an additional 111,026 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

Key American Public Education News

Here are the key news stories impacting American Public Education this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings beat expectations. APEI reported adjusted earnings of $0.52 per share, above the $0.36 analyst consensus, while revenue of $171.73 million also slightly exceeded expectations. The company maintained a profitable outlook, supported by a 6.84% net margin and 15.56% return on equity. American Public Education Q2 Earnings Snapshot
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst earnings estimates increased. Northland Securities raised its FY2026 EPS forecast to $2.58 from $2.53 and its FY2027 estimate to $3.06 from $3.05. The FY2027 forecast is well above the broader current-year consensus of $2.59, suggesting expectations for continued earnings growth. Northland Securities Estimate Changes
• Positive Sentiment: New Salesforce-powered AI platform could improve student retention and efficiency. APEI is developing a platform designed to unify the student experience through personalized support, proactive advising and connected services. The rollout is expected to begin in early 2027, creating a potential longer-term growth catalyst. American Public Education Unveils AI-Powered Student Lifecycle Platform
• Positive Sentiment: Management provided a substantial revenue outlook. APEI expects 2026 revenue of approximately $690 million to $698 million, reinforcing expectations for continued expansion. APEI 2026 Revenue Outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Value-oriented investors may find the stock attractive. Zacks highlighted APEI as a strong value stock, but the report is based primarily on valuation and style metrics rather than a new business development. Why American Public Education Is a Strong Value Stock

About American Public Education

American Public Education, Inc operates as a provider of online postsecondary education, offering degree and certificate programs through its wholly owned subsidiary, American Public University System (APUS). The company designs and delivers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business administration, information technology, criminal justice, homeland security, health sciences, and education. Its curriculum is developed to meet the needs of working adults, military personnel, veterans and civilian students seeking flexible, career-relevant learning opportunities.

APUS is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and employs a proprietary online learning platform that supports asynchronous instruction, digital course materials and interactive learning tools.