Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 773,367 shares, a decrease of 14.4% from the December 31st total of 903,762 shares. Currently, 3.4% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 249,513 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 249,513 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.1 days. Currently, 3.4% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Strategic Education

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 188.6% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 245,296 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $20,882,000 after buying an additional 160,303 shares during the last quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. raised its holdings in Strategic Education by 155.7% in the 3rd quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 234,719 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $20,188,000 after acquiring an additional 142,915 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in Strategic Education by 115.4% during the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 216,117 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $18,588,000 after acquiring an additional 115,801 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Strategic Education during the second quarter valued at about $9,615,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Strategic Education by 1,939.3% during the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 114,954 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,786,000 after acquiring an additional 109,317 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on STRA. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Strategic Education in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $105.00 price target on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Monday, January 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $99.33.

Strategic Education Stock Up 1.1%

NASDAQ STRA opened at $85.96 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.02 billion, a PE ratio of 17.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.55. Strategic Education has a 12-month low of $72.25 and a 12-month high of $104.51. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $81.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $80.68.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The health services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $319.95 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $315.40 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 9.08% and a return on equity of 8.18%. Strategic Education’s quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.16 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Strategic Education will post 4.79 EPS for the current year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.90%.

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.