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American Public Education Inc (APEI)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/28/2025: APEI (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
1 Year Target Price $35.8
1 Year Target Price $35.8
3 | Strong Buy |
1 | Buy |
1 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 89.98% | Avg. Invested days 35 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 551.95M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 28.82 | 1Y Target Price 35.8 |
Price to earnings Ratio 28.82 | 1Y Target Price 35.8 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 5 | Beta 1.6 | 52 Weeks Range 13.45 - 32.23 | Updated Date 08/28/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 13.45 - 32.23 | Updated Date 08/28/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 1.06 |
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 2025-08-06 | When - | Estimate 0.05 | Actual -0.02 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 4.44% | Operating Margin (TTM) 4.34% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 5.95% | Return on Equity (TTM) 10.2% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 28.82 | Forward PE 33.67 | Enterprise Value 574299985 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.86 |
Enterprise Value 574299985 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.86 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.89 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 9.6 | Shares Outstanding 18067100 | Shares Floating 13434540 |
Shares Outstanding 18067100 | Shares Floating 13434540 | ||
Percent Insiders 4.82 | Percent Institutions 104.25 |
Upturn AI SWOT
American Public Education Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) was founded in 1991. It began as a distance learning provider for military personnel and has expanded to serve a broader range of students. Significant milestones include its IPO in 2005 and subsequent acquisitions of other educational institutions.
Core Business Areas
- American Public University System (APUS): APUS is the largest segment, offering online undergraduate and graduate programs primarily to military and veteran students, as well as civilian students. Programs span various fields like business, IT, and security.
- Rasmussen University: Rasmussen University provides career-focused education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels across various fields, with a focus on healthcare, nursing, and business.
- Hondros College of Nursing: Hondros College of Nursing offers nursing education programs.
Leadership and Structure
The leadership team includes Angela Karim Blaxton as the President and CEO. The organizational structure includes various departments overseeing academic affairs, marketing, finance, and operations.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Online Degree Programs (APUS): APUS offers a wide array of online degree programs, catering to military personnel and civilians. Market share is difficult to pinpoint exactly, but APUS is a leading provider in online education for the military community. Competitors include University of Phoenix, Liberty University, and Southern New Hampshire University.
- Career-Focused Programs (Rasmussen University): Rasmussen University's career-focused programs, particularly in healthcare and nursing, are a key offering. While specific market share data is not readily available, Rasmussen is a significant player in vocational education. Competitors include DeVry University and Strayer University.
- Nursing Programs (Hondros College of Nursing): Hondros College of Nursing offers programs focused on nursing education. Competitors include Chamberlain University and Galen College of Nursing. Specific market share data is unavailable.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The higher education industry is undergoing significant changes due to increasing competition, technological advancements (online learning), regulatory scrutiny, and evolving student demographics and preferences. There is increasing demand for flexible, career-focused education programs.
Positioning
APEI is positioned as a provider of accessible and career-relevant education, particularly for military and veteran students. Its competitive advantages include its online platform, strong brand recognition within the military community, and focus on career-oriented programs.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for higher education in the US is estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars annually. APEI's TAM is the portion focusing on career-oriented online education, a market that is growing significantly. Their positioning allows them to capture a reasonable percentage of that market.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong brand recognition among military and veteran students
- Extensive online learning platform
- Focus on career-oriented programs
- Diversified program offerings through multiple institutions
- Accreditations and approvals
Weaknesses
- Dependence on military and veteran student population
- Regulatory scrutiny and compliance challenges
- Negative publicity related to for-profit education industry
- High marketing expenses
- Student loan defaults
Opportunities
- Expanding partnerships with employers and government agencies
- Developing new online programs in high-demand fields
- Increasing international student enrollment
- Leveraging technology to enhance the student learning experience
- Acquiring other educational institutions
Threats
- Increased competition from other online education providers
- Changes in government regulations and funding for higher education
- Economic downturn affecting student enrollment
- Negative perceptions of for-profit education
- Cybersecurity threats
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- STRA (Stride, Inc.)
- LRN (Stride, Inc.)
- CECO (Career Education Corporation)
Competitive Landscape
APEI faces competition from both traditional universities and other for-profit education companies. Its advantages include its focus on military students and its online platform. However, it faces challenges from larger, more diversified competitors.
Major Acquisitions
Rasmussen University
- Year: 2021
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 303
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded APEI's program offerings and broadened its student base by including a strong brand with a focus on career-oriented programs, particularly in nursing and health sciences.
Hondros College of Nursing
- Year: 2023
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 80
- Strategic Rationale: Bolstered APEI's presence in the high-demand nursing education market, increasing its capacity and geographic reach in a critical healthcare field.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Placeholder
Future Projections: Placeholder
Recent Initiatives: Placeholder
Summary
American Public Education, Inc. is a significant player in the online education market, particularly for military and veteran students. Its strengths lie in its brand recognition and online platform, but it faces challenges from competition and regulatory scrutiny. The acquisitions of Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing diversify its offerings and offer increased growth potential, though the overall for-profit higher education sector remains highly competitive.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company filings
- Industry reports
- Market research
Disclaimers:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market share and TAM estimates are approximate. Financial data placeholders used due to the delay in obtaining up-to-date information.
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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