Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Tuesday morning.

A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on LOPE. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $181.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Barrington Research lifted their target price on Grand Canyon Education from $180.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

NASDAQ:LOPE opened at $178.18 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $172.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $156.58. The stock has a market cap of $5.12 billion, a PE ratio of 23.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.74. Grand Canyon Education has a one year low of $126.17 and a one year high of $192.18.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.93 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $292.57 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $289.62 million. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 30.67% and a net margin of 21.90%. As a group, analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education will post 8.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total value of $249,105.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 21,174 shares in the company, valued at $3,516,366.18. This represents a 6.62 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.