Coursera (NYSE:COUR) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Coursera (NYSE:COUR) posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.11 by $0.06, FiscalAI reports. Coursera had a negative net margin of 15.39% and a negative return on equity of 2.08%. The firm had revenue of $298.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $298.65 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.12 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 59.6% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Coursera’s conference call:

• 2026 outlook raised: Coursera increased its full-year revenue guidance to $1.22–$1.245 billion and lifted its adjusted EBITDA margin target to approximately 14%, with Q4 margin expected to exceed 16%.
• The Udemy integration is progressing faster than planned, with expected annual run-rate net synergies raised to at least $85 million by year-end 2026; the company remains on track toward its $150 million target.
• Q2 revenue reached $299 million, but normalized revenue declined 1% year over year. Consumer subscription revenue and paid subscribers grew strongly, while transactional offerings and disciplined paid marketing weighed on overall normalized consumer growth; enterprise net revenue retention was 91% amid pressure on corporate learning budgets.
• Coursera and Udemy are accelerating an AI-native unified learning platform targeted for initial rollout in the first half of 2027, featuring personalized learning paths, interactive role-play, skills mapping, and verified proof of mastery.
• Coursera invested $100 million for roughly one-third of LearnVector, an AI learning company founded by Coursera Chairman Andrew Ng. Management views the investment as an innovation accelerator, but it is a related-party transaction, will not be consolidated, and competes with other potential uses of capital such as share repurchases.

Coursera Trading Down 3.1%

NYSE:COUR opened at $5.11 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $864.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.62, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.23. Coursera has a 1-year low of $5.00 and a 1-year high of $12.93. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $5.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.85.

Coursera declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Monday, May 18th that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to buy up to 55.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Coursera

In other news, SVP Alan B. Cardenas sold 9,139 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.52, for a total value of $50,447.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 255,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,412,755.68. This represents a 3.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Insight Holdings Group, Llc sold 1,466,372 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.24, for a total transaction of $7,683,789.28. Following the sale, the insider owned 419,784 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,199,668.16. This represents a 77.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 2,009,139 shares of company stock valued at $10,643,180 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 16.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in COUR. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in shares of Coursera by 38.8% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 55,891 shares of the company’s stock valued at $372,000 after acquiring an additional 15,610 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Coursera by 36.8% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 581,879 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,875,000 after purchasing an additional 156,566 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Coursera by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 104,795 shares of the company’s stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 2,847 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in Coursera in the 1st quarter worth about $273,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Coursera by 29.0% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 277,568 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,431,000 after purchasing an additional 62,371 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.55% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on COUR shares. KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Coursera in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $7.00 price target on shares of Coursera in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. Zacks Research upgraded Coursera from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Coursera from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, July 25th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Coursera from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $8.50.

Coursera News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Coursera this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Coursera reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.17 per share, exceeding the $0.11 analyst consensus and improving from $0.12 a year earlier. Revenue rose 59.6% year over year to $298.6 million, broadly matching expectations. Coursera Q2 earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects approximately a 14% adjusted EBITDA margin for 2026 and at least $85 million in annualized run-rate synergies by year-end, signaling potential for stronger profitability as integration benefits develop. Coursera EBITDA and synergy outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Coursera committed $100 million for roughly a one-third stake in LearnVector, an artificial-intelligence startup associated with chairman Andrew Ng. The investment could strengthen Coursera’s AI-learning offerings and long-term growth prospects, although it also increases execution and capital-allocation risk. Coursera invests in LearnVector
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgraded COUR to Rank #1, Strong Buy, citing improving earnings expectations and momentum. UNESCO also partnered with Coursera on a free AI ethics course, supporting the company’s global brand and institutional reach. Coursera Strong Buy upgrade
• Neutral Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue guidance of $364 million to $372 million brackets the $366.5 million consensus, while full-year revenue guidance of approximately $1.2 billion is generally in line with expectations. The outlook therefore offered limited upside surprise. Coursera guidance and core revenue
• Negative Sentiment: The main pressure on Coursera (COUR) came from lower second-quarter core revenue and a lack of meaningful upward guidance revisions. Investors appear to be looking past the EPS beat toward the sustainability of growth and the company’s still-negative net margin of 15.39%. Coursera shares react to Q2 results

Coursera Company Profile

Coursera, Inc (NYSE:COUR) operates a leading online learning platform that delivers courses, specializations, professional certificates and fully accredited degree programs in collaboration with top universities and industry partners. Founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera’s mission is to provide universal access to world-class education and bridge skill gaps in a rapidly evolving job market.

The platform features more than 6,000 offerings created by over 275 academic institutions and corporate entities, spanning fields such as data science, business, technology, health care and the arts.