Analysts Set American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) Target Price at $47.14

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nine research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $47.1429.

Several brokerages have weighed in on APEI. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of American Public Education from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Northland Securities set a $51.00 target price on shares of American Public Education in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. B. Riley Financial upped their target price on shares of American Public Education from $40.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Griffin Securities set a $53.00 price target on American Public Education in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Zacks Research raised American Public Education from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th.

American Public Education Stock Performance

Shares of APEI opened at $45.64 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.84, a current ratio of 2.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.81. The stock has a market cap of $825.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.58, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.71. American Public Education has a 52 week low of $18.76 and a 52 week high of $46.06.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Public Education

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new position in shares of American Public Education in the third quarter worth $40,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. purchased a new stake in American Public Education in the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of American Public Education by 5,909.5% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,241 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in shares of American Public Education by 84.1% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,616 shares of the company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 738 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in shares of American Public Education by 40.5% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 1,914 shares of the company’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 552 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

American Public Education Company Profile

American Public Education, Inc operates as a provider of online postsecondary education, offering degree and certificate programs through its wholly owned subsidiary, American Public University System (APUS). The company designs and delivers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business administration, information technology, criminal justice, homeland security, health sciences, and education. Its curriculum is developed to meet the needs of working adults, military personnel, veterans and civilian students seeking flexible, career-relevant learning opportunities.

APUS is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and employs a proprietary online learning platform that supports asynchronous instruction, digital course materials and interactive learning tools.