Stride, Inc. (LRN) AI Stock Analysis
LRN AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchStride, Inc. (LRN) is an education service provider delivering online curriculum, software systems, and career learning programs. In FY2026, the company generated $2.52B in revenue and $338.2M in net income, delivering an operating margin of 17.9%. It holds a net cash position of $412.0M alongside a trailing P/E of 11.5x.
- Market cap
- $3.42B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $2.52B
- P/E
- 11.5x fwd 8.6x
- 1Y return
- -41.4% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $107.50 30.5% vs last close
Bull case
- Net income expanded to $338.2M in FY2026, up from $107.1M in FY2022, lifting the operating margin to 17.9%.
- The balance sheet is supported by $958.0M in cash and short-term investments, providing $412.0M in net cash.
- Stride trades at a forward P/E of 8.6x and an EV/EBITDA of 4.9x, well below the US-listed Consumer Defensive medians of 14.3x and 11.7x.
Bear case
- Quarterly revenue fell 2.7% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026.
- Shares dropped 41.4% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
- Short interest stands at 27.5% of float, indicating substantial short positioning against the stock.
What Stride does
Stride, Inc. provides proprietary and third-party online curriculum, software systems, and educational services to support personalized learning for K-12 students. Its solutions span student enrollment, individualized instruction, progress tracking, and support across subjects such as mathematics, science, and history in virtual and blended environments. Outside K-12, Stride delivers career learning programs focused on IT, healthcare, and business. Through brands including Galvanize, Tech Elevator, and MedCerts, it offers adult learners post-secondary career training in software engineering and medical fields, alongside staffing and talent development services for corporate employers.
Growth and profitability
Stride grew revenue from $1.69B in FY2022 to $2.52B in FY2026, producing a five-year revenue CAGR of 10.4%. Net income increased from $107.1M in FY2022 to $338.2M in FY2026, with diluted EPS expanding from $2.53 to $8.44. Operating margin widened from 9.3% in FY2022 to 17.9% in FY2026, while gross margin was 37.8% in FY2026. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue fell 2.7% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 69.6%. Free cash flow reached $355.0M in FY2026, supported by operating cash flow of $433.8M.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Stride held $958.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $546.0M, resulting in net cash of $412.0M. The company reported a current ratio of 5.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, with shareholders' equity of $1.63B. In FY2026, Stride directed $78.8M toward capital expenditures and used $188.7M for share buybacks, while share count grew 12.8% over the past five years.
Valuation and performance
Stride trades at a trailing P/E of 11.5x and a forward P/E of 8.6x, compared to medians of 18.6x and 14.3x for its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers. Its EV/EBITDA multiple is 4.9x, lower than the peer median of 11.7x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 1.4x exceeds the peer median of 0.7x. The company has an enterprise value of $2.85B and a PEG ratio of 0.43. Over the past year, Stride shares fell 41.4%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, but gained 140.3% over five years versus 83.0% for the index.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage comprises 1 Buy and 2 Hold ratings, with zero Sell ratings. The mean price target of $107.50 implies upside of 30.5% over the last close of $82.39. Stride beat EPS estimates in all 4 of the last 4 quarters. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, analysts estimate EPS of $8.73 on revenue of $2.57B. For the following fiscal year, 3 analysts project revenue of $2.70B and EPS of $9.28. The next earnings date is October 20, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Full-year revenue growth decelerated to 4.7% in FY2026 compared to 17.9% in FY2025.
- The stock price of $82.39 sits well below its 52-week high of $155.06, reflecting elevated volatility.
- A short percent of float of 27.5% introduces elevated market skepticism and potential share volatility.
- Total debt stands at $546.0M against total assets of $2.44B.
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 LRN AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Stride, Inc. (LRN). 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: LRN income statement, LRN balance sheet, LRN key metrics, LRN analyst forecast, LRN chart. See the LRN stock overview for the latest quote and news.
LRN AI stock analysis FAQ
Does Stride pay a dividend?
Stride does not pay a dividend. The company returned capital to shareholders through $188.7M in share buybacks during FY2026.
What is Stride's revenue and earnings outlook?
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, consensus estimates project revenue of $2.57B and EPS of $8.73. For the next fiscal year, 3 analysts estimate revenue of $2.70B and EPS of $9.28.
How is Stride valued relative to peers?
Stride trades at a trailing P/E of 11.5x and an EV/EBITDA of 4.9x, compared to medians of 18.6x and 11.7x among its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers.
What is Stride's debt and cash position?
As of June 30, 2026, Stride held $958.0M in cash and short-term investments and $546.0M in total debt, giving it a net cash position of $412.0M.