Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
How It Works 
News - Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Revenue
- Valuation
- About
American Public Education Inc(APEI)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for APEI
09/17/2026: APEI (4-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) is a holding company operating in the post-secondary education sector, known for its niche focus on military-affiliated students through APUS and its expanding portfolio of healthcare and nursing programs. The company's primary investment story centers on its strategic pivot to capture demand in the nursing workforce. While it benefits from a defensible military education foundation, it faces execution risks in scaling nursing operations and intense competition from non-profit institutions. The stock is best suited for investors comfortable with sector-specific regulatory and competitive volatility. Key developments to monitor include enrollment trends in nursing and nursing campus capacity growth.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The potential growth in nursing education is offset by the slower, more mature nature of the company's core online military education business. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock has experienced extended periods of sideways consolidation, lacking the consistent strong uptrend signal typically sought by momentum players. |
| Value investor | Strong fit while signal remains positive | The company is often priced based on its underlying assets and steady cash flows, which may appeal to value investors looking for a turnaround or intrinsic value. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | APEI does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for investors seeking regular income. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | The regulatory and execution risks inherent in the for-profit education sector create a high-volatility environment. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock is susceptible to fluctuations based on enrollment news and sector-wide regulatory sentiment. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Valuation is sensitive to future earnings projections tied to the success of nursing program expansion. |
| Competition risk (online education) | High | Increased competition from well-funded public universities continues to pressure enrollment and marketing costs. |
| Business quality | Medium | While the company has strong niche positions, the overall business faces ongoing headwinds in a challenging higher-ed landscape. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | The company does not provide income returns to shareholders. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Successful scaling of nursing campuses requires complex execution and regulatory compliance. |
Price Behavior
Rolling Over
The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 179.62% | Avg. Invested days 41 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  4.0 | Stock Returns Performance  5.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/17/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 813.23M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 18.14 | 1Y Target Price 62.83 |
Price to earnings Ratio 18.14 | 1Y Target Price 62.83 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 278.9K shares | Beta 1.39 | 52 Weeks Range 30.20 - 61.59 | Updated Date 09/17/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 30.20 - 61.59 | Updated Date 09/17/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.45 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Military-Affiliated Online Education | Tuition and fees from the American Public University System. | This is the stable, core segment that serves military and veteran students. |
| Nursing & Healthcare Education | Tuition from Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing. | This is the primary growth engine, focused on high-demand vocational healthcare training. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 18.14 | Forward PE 14.58 | Enterprise Value 751.04M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.22 |
Enterprise Value 751.04M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.22 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.12 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 9.58 | Shares Outstanding 18.30M | Shares Floating 14.94M |
Shares Outstanding 18.30M | Shares Floating 14.94M | ||
Percent Insiders 4.95 | Percent Institutions 109.64 |
Upturn AI Summary
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.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About American Public Education Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters 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 2360 | Website https://www.apei.com |
Full time employees 2360 | Website https://www.apei.com | ||
American Public Education, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education services in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 181 degree programs, 110 certificate programs, and four diploma programs in various fields of study, including public service-focused fields, such as nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, and homeland security, as well as traditional academic fields comprising business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning and leadership training in-person and online to the federal workforce. It also provides nursing-and health sciences-focused postsecondary education; and pre-licensure nursing education services focusing on a diploma in practical nursing and associate degree in nursing, as well as a bachelor of science in nursing. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.
All company names, trademarks, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and logos does not imply endorsement by their respective owners.