(APEI) American Public Education - Overview
Sector: Consumer Defensive | Industry: Education & Training Services | Exchange: NASDAQ (USA) | Market Cap: 978m USD | Total Return: 85.2% in 12m
Online Degrees, Nursing Education, Certificate Programs, Career Training
Total Rating 78
Safety 88
Buy Signal 1.14
Education & Training Services
Industry Rotation: +18.2
Industry Rotation: +18.2
Market Cap:
978M
Avg Turnover: 15.2M
Avg Turnover: 15.2M
Risk 3d forecast
Volatility58.0%
VaR 5th Pctl8.74%
VaR vs Median-10.7%
Reward TTM
Sharpe Ratio1.68
Rel. Str. IBD90
Rel. Str. Peer Group90.6
Character TTM
Beta0.726
Beta Downside0.799
Hurst Exponent0.417
Drawdowns 3y
Max DD40.52%
CAGR/Max DD2.65
CAGR/Mean DD10.24
EPS (Earnings per Share)
EPS CAGR: -16.33%
EPS Trend: 32.5%
EPS Trend: 32.5%
Last SUE: 2.32
Qual. Beats: 3
Qual. Beats: 3
Revenue
Rev. CAGR: 4.23%
Rev. Trend: 85.1%
Rev. Trend: 85.1%
Last SUE: 0.39
Qual. Beats: 0
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
No concerns identified
Tailwinds
Shakeout, Leader, Tailwind, Pullback Swing
Description: APEI American Public Education
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) is a provider of online and campus-based postsecondary education, primarily serving military, public service, and healthcare professionals. The company operates through three distinct segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing, offering a combined 181 degree programs and 110 certificate programs.
The business model focuses heavily on specialized career training, particularly in nursing and national security, which often see stable demand regardless of broader economic cycles. Within the Education Services sub-industry, providers like APEI frequently rely on Title IV federal student aid and Department of Defense tuition assistance as primary revenue drivers.
Investors should review the detailed financial metrics available on ValueRay to better understand the companys valuation. Headquartered in West Virginia, the company maintains a diverse portfolio ranging from vocational nursing diplomas to master’s degrees and leadership training for the federal workforce.
- Military enrollment fluctuations drive American Public University System revenue growth
- Nursing student retention rates impact Rasmussen University segment profitability
- Federal student aid policy changes pose significant regulatory compliance risks
- Higher labor costs for nursing educators pressure consolidated operating margins
- Military tuition assistance funding levels dictate core organic revenue trajectory
Piotroski VR‑10 (Strict)
8.0
| Net Income: 40.4m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.14 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 5.70 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 28.46% < 20% (prev 29.79%; Δ -1.33% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.16 > 3% & CFO 88.3m > Net Income 40.4m |
| Net Debt (-150.7m) to EBITDA (73.9m): -2.04 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 2.98 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (18.8m) vs 12m ago 2.10% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 53.72% > 18% (prev 0.53%; Δ 5.32k% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 118.0% > 50% (prev 109.7%; Δ 8.37% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: 14.16 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 73.9m / Interest Expense TTM 4.07m) |
Altman Z''
2.98
| A: 0.35 (Total Current Assets 282.1m - Total Current Liabilities 94.5m) / Total Assets 537.9m |
| B: 0.00 (Retained Earnings 231k / Total Assets 537.9m) |
| C: 0.10 (EBIT TTM 57.6m / Avg Total Assets 558.3m) |
| D: 0.00 (Book Value of Equity 415k / Total Liabilities 231.7m) |
| Altman-Z'' Score: 2.98 = A |
Beneish M
-3.19
| DSRI: 0.89 (Receivables 38.7m/41.9m, Revenue 659.0m/634.7m) |
| GMI: 0.99 (GM 53.72% / 53.01%) |
| AQI: 1.01 (AQ_t 0.25 / AQ_t-1 0.24) |
| SGI: 1.04 (Revenue 659.0m / 634.7m) |
| TATA: -0.09 (NI 40.4m - CFO 88.3m) / TA 537.9m) |
| Beneish M-Score: -3.19 (Cap -4..+1) = AA |
What is the price of APEI shares?
As of May 19, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 54.42 with a total of 269,136 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by -3.46%, over one month by -10.58%, over three months by +22.98% and over the past year by +85.23%.
Over the past week, the price has changed by -3.46%, over one month by -10.58%, over three months by +22.98% and over the past year by +85.23%.
Is APEI a buy, sell or hold?
American Public Education has received a consensus analysts rating of 4.40.
Therefore, it is recommended to buy APEI.
- StrongBuy: 3
- Buy: 1
- Hold: 1
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 0
What are the forecasts/targets for the APEI price?
| Analysts Target Price | 62.2 | 14.2% |
American Public Education (APEI) - Fundamental Data Overview
as of 18 May 2026
P/E Trailing = 27.6269 P/E Forward = 23.9808
P/S = 1.4841
P/B = 3.5207
P/EG = 1.5991
Revenue TTM = 659.0m USD
EBIT TTM = 57.6m USD
EBITDA TTM = 73.9m USD
Long Term Debt = 94.7m USD (from longTermDebt, last fiscal year)
Short Term Debt = 16.2m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 110.9m USD (corrected: LT Debt 94.7m + ST Debt 16.2m)
Net Debt = -150.7m USD (from netDebt column, last quarter)
Enterprise Value = 868.0m USD (978.1m + Debt 110.9m - CCE 221.0m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 14.16 (Ebit TTM 57.6m / Interest Expense TTM 4.07m)
EV/FCF = 11.76x (Enterprise Value 868.0m / FCF TTM 73.8m)
FCF Yield = 8.50% (FCF TTM 73.8m / Enterprise Value 868.0m)
FCF Margin = 11.20% (FCF TTM 73.8m / Revenue TTM 659.0m)
Net Margin = 6.13% (Net Income TTM 40.4m / Revenue TTM 659.0m)
Gross Margin = 53.72% ((Revenue TTM 659.0m - Cost of Revenue TTM 305.0m) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 54.91% (prev 53.85%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 1.61 (Enterprise Value 868.0m / Total Assets 537.9m)
Interest Expense / Debt = 0.65% (Interest Expense 725k / Debt 110.9m)
Taxrate = 7.87% (1.51m / 19.2m)
NOPAT = 53.1m (EBIT 57.6m * (1 - 7.87%))
Current Ratio = 2.98 (Total Current Assets 282.1m / Total Current Liabilities 94.5m)
Debt / Equity = 0.36 (Debt 110.9m / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 306.2m)
Debt / EBITDA = -2.04 (Net Debt -150.7m / EBITDA 73.9m)
Debt / FCF = -2.04 (Net Debt -150.7m / FCF TTM 73.8m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 288.1m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 7.24% (Net Income 40.4m / Total Assets 537.9m)
RoE = 14.02% (Net Income TTM 40.4m / Total Stockholder Equity 288.1m)
RoCE = 15.05% (EBIT 57.6m / Capital Employed (Equity 288.1m + L.T.Debt 94.7m))
RoIC = 14.10% (NOPAT 53.1m / Invested Capital 376.5m)
WACC = 7.73% (E(978.1m)/V(1.09b) * Re(8.54%) + D(110.9m)/V(1.09b) * Rd(0.65%) * (1-Tc(0.08)))
Discount Rate = 8.54% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 73.33 | Cagr: 2.22%
[DCF] Terminal Value 82.47% ; FCFF base≈62.8m ; Y1≈77.5m ; Y5≈132.2m
[DCF] Fair Price = 139.3 (EV 2.40b - Net Debt -150.7m = Equity 2.56b / Shares 18.3m; r=7.73% [WACC]; 5y FCF grow 25.0% → 3.0% )
EPS Correlation: 32.46 | EPS CAGR: -16.33% | SUE: 2.32 | # QB: 3
Revenue Correlation: 85.15 | Revenue CAGR: 4.23% | SUE: 0.39 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=0.47 | Chg30d=-5.00% | Revisions=+33% | Analysts=2
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.61 | Chg30d=-1.61% | Revisions=+33% | Analysts=2
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=3.00 | Chg30d=+4.90% | Revisions=+33% | GrowthEPS=+36.8% | GrowthRev=+6.5%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=3.73 | Chg30d=+0.00% | Revisions=+33% | GrowthEPS=+24.5% | GrowthRev=+6.3%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: +33%