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American Public Education Inc (APEI)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
07/14/2025: APEI (4-star) is a STRONG-BUY. BUY since 64 days. Profits (32.75%). Updated daily EoD!
1 Year Target Price $32.8
1 Year Target Price $32.8
3 | Strong Buy |
1 | Buy |
1 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 103.65% | Avg. Invested days 33 | Today’s Advisory Strong Buy |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 572.22M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 31.1 | 1Y Target Price 32.8 |
Price to earnings Ratio 31.1 | 1Y Target Price 32.8 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 5 | Beta 1.59 | 52 Weeks Range 11.80 - 32.17 | Updated Date 07/13/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 11.80 - 32.17 | Updated Date 07/13/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 1.02 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 3.86% | Operating Margin (TTM) 8.51% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 5.23% | Return on Equity (TTM) 8.18% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 31.1 | Forward PE 27.32 | Enterprise Value 649019205 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.9 |
Enterprise Value 649019205 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.9 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.02 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.13 | Shares Outstanding 18039700 | Shares Floating 12360960 |
Shares Outstanding 18039700 | Shares Floating 12360960 | ||
Percent Insiders 4.77 | Percent Institutions 95.68 |
Upturn AI SWOT
American Public Education Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) was founded in 1991 to provide online education to military personnel. It has since expanded to serve a broader range of students, offering various degree programs and professional certifications.
Core Business Areas
- American Public University System (APUS): APUS is the primary provider of online education, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs across various disciplines. It serves military, veteran, and civilian students.
- Hondros College of Nursing (HCON): HCON offers pre-licensure nursing programs focused on preparing students for careers as registered nurses.
- Rasmussen University: Rasmussen University offers career-focused educational programs across multiple campuses and online.
Leadership and Structure
APEI is led by a CEO and a senior management team. The organizational structure consists of various departments overseeing academic affairs, student services, marketing, finance, and operations.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Undergraduate Degrees (APUS): A wide range of online undergraduate degrees are offered. Competitors include other online universities such as Grand Canyon Education (LOPE) and Strayer Education (STRA).
- Graduate Degrees (APUS): Master's and doctoral degrees are available online. Competitors include 2U Inc (TWOU) which partners with universities to provide online degrees.
- Nursing Programs (HCON and Rasmussen): Pre-licensure nursing programs. Competitors include Chamberlain University (owned by Adtalem Global Education ATGE).
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The higher education industry is undergoing significant changes, with increasing demand for online learning and a focus on career-oriented programs. Regulatory scrutiny and competition are also increasing.
Positioning
APEI focuses on providing accessible and affordable education, particularly to underserved populations like military personnel. It competes on price, convenience, and program relevance.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The global e-learning market is projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars. APEI is positioned to capture a share of this market by focusing on specific segments and delivering value-driven education.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong brand recognition among military personnel
- Established online education platform
- Focus on career-oriented programs
- Relatively low tuition costs
Weaknesses
- Reliance on military and veteran student enrollment
- Sensitivity to regulatory changes in higher education
- High marketing expenses
- Competition from larger, more established universities
Opportunities
- Expansion into new program areas
- Increased partnerships with employers
- Growth in the online education market
- Strategic acquisitions of smaller institutions
Threats
- Changes in government funding for military education
- Increased competition from other online education providers
- Economic downturn affecting student enrollment
- Negative publicity from regulatory issues
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- LOPE
- STRA
- ATGE
- TWOU
Competitive Landscape
APEI's advantages include its focus on military education and lower tuition costs. Disadvantages include its smaller scale and reliance on specific student populations. LOPE has a larger market capitalization and greater brand recognition. STRA offers a broader range of programs. ATGE has a strong presence in healthcare education. TWOU focuses on partnering with top-tier universities.
Major Acquisitions
Rasmussen Education
- Year: 2021
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 328
- Strategic Rationale: Expand APEI's career-focused education offerings and increase its student base.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historical growth trends can be assessed based on past revenue, enrollment, and profitability figures.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates for future revenue, earnings, and enrollment growth would be used to project future growth.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives could include new program launches, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships.
Summary
American Public Education, Inc. is a niche player in online education, specializing in military and career-focused programs. Its strengths lie in its affordability and accessibility, but faces challenges from larger, more diversified competitors. Growth opportunities exist through expansion into new markets and strategic partnerships, but regulatory risks and economic factors must be carefully monitored. Strategic acquisitions like Rasmussen help drive growth and product expansion
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Analyst reports
- Industry publications
- Company website
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Investors should conduct their own due diligence before making any investment decisions.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About American Public Education Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Charles Town, WV, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2007-11-09 | President, CEO & Director Ms. Angela K. Selden | ||
Sector Consumer Defensive | Industry Education & Training Services | Full time employees 2493 | Website https://www.apei.com |
Full time employees 2493 | Website https://www.apei.com |
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 182 degree programs and 136 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. It also provides nursing-and health sciences-focused postsecondary education, pre-licensure nursing programs, diploma in practical nursing, and an associate degree in nursing. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.

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