American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) AI Stock Analysis
APEI AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchAmerican Public Education, Inc. (APEI) provides postsecondary online and campus-based education through APUS, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $668.0M in revenue, an operating margin of 7.9%, and diluted EPS of $2.48. Its shares have returned 32.9% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 index return of 16.8%.
- Market cap
- $900.3M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $668.0M
- P/E
- 19.8x fwd 14.5x
- 1Y return
- 32.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $62.83 27.7% vs last close
Bull case
- Quarterly earnings jumped 129.3% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, alongside quarterly revenue growth of 5.5%.
- Free cash flow expanded from $27.8M in FY2024 to $46.1M in FY2025, enabling the company to fund $47.5M in share buybacks.
- Analyst estimates call for 37.9% EPS growth in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 to $3.02, supported by 4 consecutive quarters of earnings beats.
Bear case
- The balance sheet carries total debt of $147.8M and net debt of $71.6M relative to $76.3M in cash and short-term investments as of June 30, 2026.
- Short interest accounts for 14.4% of the float, indicating meaningful market skepticism despite recent earnings improvements.
- The stock's price-to-sales ratio of 1.3x trades above the median of its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers of 0.7x.
What American Public Education does
American Public Education, Inc., founded in 1991 and headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia, operates postsecondary education programs through three segments. American Public University System offers 130 degree programs and 111 certificate programs spanning fields like business administration, health science, national security, and criminal justice. Rasmussen University specializes in nursing and health sciences education, providing diplomas in practical nursing and associate degrees in nursing and medical laboratory technology. Hondros College of Nursing focuses on nursing education, preparing students for licensure and healthcare careers. Together, the company offers online and campus-based learning nationwide.
Growth and profitability
Revenue increased from $418.8M in FY2021 to $606.3M in FY2022, declined 1.0% to $600.5M in FY2023, and expanded to $624.6M in FY2024 and $648.9M in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 15.1% from FY2020 to FY2025. Operating margin shifted from 7.3% in FY2021 to -22.7% in FY2022 and -8.0% in FY2023, before recovering to 5.3% in FY2024 and 8.3% in FY2025. Net income was -$115.0M in FY2022 and -$47.3M in FY2023, turning positive to $16.1M in FY2024 and $31.6M in FY2025. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $668.0M, supported by quarterly revenue growth of 5.5% and quarterly earnings growth of 129.3%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, American Public Education held $76.3M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $147.8M, resulting in net debt of $71.6M. The balance sheet reflects shareholders' equity of $314.1M, total assets of $537.7M, a current ratio of 3.25, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Operating cash flow reached $62.0M and free cash flow stood at $46.1M in FY2025. Capital allocation during FY2025 included $15.9M in capital expenditures, $47.5M for share buybacks, and $2.8M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
American Public Education trades at a trailing P/E of 19.8x and a forward P/E of 14.5x, compared to medians of 18.6x and 14.3x for its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers. Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.5x sits below the median of its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers of 11.7x. The company trades at a price-to-sales multiple of 1.3x versus the peer median of 0.7x, and holds a PEG ratio of 0.97. Over the past year, the stock gained 32.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%, and rose 95.4% over 5 years against 83.0% for the index.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts cover the stock with 5 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 1 Hold, 0 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $62.83 represents a 27.7% premium over the last close of $49.19. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $693.5M and EPS of $3.02, reflecting projected EPS growth of 37.9%. The company has exceeded EPS expectations in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is scheduled for November 9, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Operating performance has shown past volatility, with operating margins falling to -22.7% in FY2022 and -8.0% in FY2023.
- The stock has a beta of 1.41 and has experienced a wide trading range between a 52-week low of $30.20 and a 52-week high of $61.59.
- The company must manage $147.8M in total debt with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47 as of June 30, 2026.
- Institutional ownership is high at 109.0%, which can lead to magnified price movements if institutional holders adjust positions.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this APEI AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: APEI income statement, APEI balance sheet, APEI key metrics, APEI analyst forecast, APEI chart. See the APEI stock overview for the latest quote and news.
APEI AI stock analysis FAQ
When is American Public Education's next earnings report date?
American Public Education is scheduled to release its next quarterly financial results on November 9, 2026.
What is the consensus analyst target price for APEI stock?
The mean analyst price target for APEI is $62.83, which sits 27.7% above the last closing price of $49.19.
How much debt does American Public Education have?
As of June 30, 2026, the company carried total debt of $147.8M and cash and short-term investments of $76.3M, yielding net debt of $71.6M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47.
What were American Public Education's revenue and earnings in FY2025?
In FY2025, American Public Education generated revenue of $648.9M, operating income yielding an 8.3% margin, net income of $31.6M, and diluted EPS of $2.24.