American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) Coverage Initiated at B. Riley

Equities researchers at B. Riley began coverage on shares of American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) in a research note issued to investors on Friday. The firm set a “buy” rating and a $28.00 price target on the stock. B. Riley’s price target suggests a potential upside of 21.05% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Truist Financial increased their price target on American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. StockNews.com raised American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. William Blair raised American Public Education from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $24.00 price target on shares of American Public Education in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $25.33.

American Public Education Stock Performance

APEI opened at $23.13 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 2.65. The firm has a market cap of $416.25 million, a P/E ratio of 41.30, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.30. American Public Education has a 1-year low of $11.80 and a 1-year high of $25.60.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Public Education news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 60,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,329,783.71. This trade represents a 5.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 11.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in American Public Education by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 761,534 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,426,000 after purchasing an additional 34,817 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 750,912 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,197,000 after buying an additional 63,103 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 507,716 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,951,000 after buying an additional 37,492 shares during the last quarter. Bastion Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education during the 4th quarter valued at about $9,563,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 404,168 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,963,000 after acquiring an additional 2,573 shares during the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About American Public Education

American Public Education, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education and career learning in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 184 degree programs and 134 certificate programs in various fields of study, including nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning opportunities in leadership, finance, human resources, and other fields of study critical to the federal government workforce.