Zacks Research Has Positive Forecast for STRA Q2 Earnings

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q2 2026 EPS estimates for shares of Strategic Education in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, May 7th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the health services provider will post earnings per share of $1.77 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $1.73. Zacks Research has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Strategic Education’s current full-year earnings is $7.12 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Strategic Education’s Q3 2026 earnings at $1.85 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.01 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $7.05 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.01 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.05 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.31 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $8.05 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.20 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $9.70 EPS.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The health services provider reported $1.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by ($0.09). Strategic Education had a return on equity of 8.78% and a net margin of 10.21%.The business had revenue of $305.93 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $329.81 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.30 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on STRA. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Strategic Education from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, April 26th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Strategic Education from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 27th. Barrington Research cut their target price on shares of Strategic Education from $105.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Strategic Education from $95.00 to $86.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $87.00.

Strategic Education Trading Up 0.6%

STRA opened at $79.09 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.79 billion, a PE ratio of 13.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.52. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $81.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $80.52. Strategic Education has a 12-month low of $69.70 and a 12-month high of $93.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Strategic Education

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STRA. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in Strategic Education by 62,355.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,467,702 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $117,710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,465,352 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Strategic Education by 188.6% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 245,296 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $20,882,000 after acquiring an additional 160,303 shares during the period. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. boosted its stake in Strategic Education by 155.7% during the 3rd quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 234,719 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $20,188,000 after purchasing an additional 142,915 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake 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 purchasing an additional 115,801 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter worth $9,615,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Strategic Education

In related news, CFO Daniel Wayne Jackson sold 13,000 shares of Strategic Education stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.37, for a total value of $1,070,810.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 100,096 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,244,907.52. This trade represents a 11.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Robert S. Silberman purchased 718 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $80.82 per share, for a total transaction of $58,028.76. Following the purchase, the chairman directly owned 319,870 shares in the company, valued at $25,851,893.40. This trade represents a 0.22% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 62,420 shares of company stock worth $4,843,218 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 3.60% of the company’s stock.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 22nd will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 22nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.40%.

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.