Lazard Asset Management LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) by 10.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 75,019 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 6,921 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in American Public Education were worth $1,618,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in American Public Education by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 761,534 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,426,000 after acquiring an additional 34,817 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in American Public Education by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 750,912 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,197,000 after acquiring an additional 63,103 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in American Public Education by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 507,716 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,951,000 after acquiring an additional 37,492 shares during the period. Bastion Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in American Public Education in the 4th quarter valued at $9,563,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in American Public Education by 379.5% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 282,325 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,090,000 after acquiring an additional 223,447 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

American Public Education Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of APEI opened at $27.85 on Monday. American Public Education, Inc. has a 52-week low of $11.80 and a 52-week high of $30.09. The company has a quick ratio of 2.65, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $23.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $21.86. The stock has a market cap of $502.30 million, a PE ratio of 49.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.56.

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.26. American Public Education had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 6.96%. The company had revenue of $164.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $161.92 million. Research analysts forecast that American Public Education, Inc. will post 0.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

APEI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. William Blair raised shares of American Public Education from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Barrington Research lifted their price target on shares of American Public Education from $24.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of American Public Education from $24.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Lake Street Capital lifted their target price on shares of American Public Education from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Public Education has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $31.25.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 60,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,329,783.71. The trade was a 5.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Nuno S. Fernandes sold 7,272 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.11, for a total transaction of $197,143.92. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 85,459 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,316,793.49. The trade was a 7.84% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 17.54% of the company’s stock.

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.