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Upturn AI Summary - 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
10/01/2026: APEI (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
American Public Education Inc. operates a portfolio of higher education institutions, with a strong historic focus on military personnel and a growing emphasis on nursing and healthcare training. The company's primary strength lies in its specialized niches and its recent efforts to scale healthcare-focused programs to meet workforce demands. Its main growth story centers on successfully integrating its diverse segments and leveraging corporate partnerships to drive enrollment. However, investors must monitor regulatory risks, intense competition, and the costs associated with operational restructuring. This stock may suit investors willing to accept volatility in exchange for potential gains from a successful long-term operational turnaround in the education sector.
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 company is in a transition phase, making long-term growth dependent on the successful integration of its nursing programs. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock lacks consistent upward price momentum and is currently tied to long-term operational turnarounds. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | While valuation may appear attractive, the underlying business risks and integration challenges require careful assessment. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | APEI does not pay a dividend and prioritizes capital allocation for internal growth and debt management. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | The volatility inherent in the education sector and company-specific regulatory risks make this a higher-risk investment. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | High | The stock is susceptible to sharp moves based on enrollment data and regulatory updates. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Investors face risk if growth expectations for nursing programs are not met. |
| Competition risk (sector saturation) | Medium / high | Intense competition from non-profit and other for-profit players pressures pricing and margins. |
| Business quality | Medium | APEI relies on specialized niches that are sensitive to policy changes. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | There is no dividend income to provide a buffer during market downturns. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Success depends on the complex integration of varied educational institutions and systems. |
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 28% | Avg. Invested days 36 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/01/2026 |
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 771.96M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 17.08 | 1Y Target Price 62.83 |
Price to earnings Ratio 17.08 | 1Y Target Price 62.83 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 267.2K shares | Beta 1.39 | 52 Weeks Range 30.20 - 61.59 | Updated Date 10/01/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 30.20 - 61.59 | Updated Date 10/01/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.47 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| APUS | Online tuition and fees for degree programs mainly for military students. | The core, stable engine of the business. |
| Rasmussen | Tuition from nursing and health science programs. | A key growth driver focused on high-demand healthcare jobs. |
| Corporate/Other | Professional development and training services. | A smaller, niche contributor to total revenue. |
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 17.08 | Forward PE 14.53 | Enterprise Value 743.17M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.16 |
Enterprise Value 743.17M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.16 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.11 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 9.48 | Shares Outstanding 18.30M | Shares Floating 14.94M |
Shares Outstanding 18.30M | Shares Floating 14.94M | ||
Percent Insiders 4.95 | Percent Institutions 109.65 |
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.
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