American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.06 EPS

American Public Education (NASDAQ:APEI) issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.06, FiscalAI reports. American Public Education had a net margin of 6.84% and a return on equity of 15.30%. The business had revenue of $169.14 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $165.79 million.

Here are the key takeaways from American Public Education’s conference call:

• APEI exceeded third-quarter guidance on revenue, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and diluted EPS, and raised its full-year outlook across those measures. Full-year revenue guidance is now $695 million–$701 million, with diluted EPS guidance of $2.59–$2.84.
• Core demand remained solid: Military+ net course registrations rose 3.8%, while Health+ revenue increased 9%, led by campus nursing and online healthcare. However, weakness in non-healthcare online programs is weighing on Health+’s overall enrollment growth.
• Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA fell to $17.5 million from $20.7 million a year earlier, and margin declined to 10.4% from 12.7%. Higher marketing costs and bad-debt expense related to delayed Title IV processing contributed; management said the delays were temporary, and about $6 million of Military+ revenue shifted into Q4.
• APEI repurchased about $9 million of shares in the quarter and reported $128.7 million of cash and short-term investments in excess of debt. Management reiterated its long-term growth plan, including targeted recurring cost synergies from the institutional combination and a Health+ Student Lifecycle Platform launch in early 2027.

American Public Education Trading Up 4.9%

APEI opened at $39.09 on Tuesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $44.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 3.25 and a current ratio of 3.25. The firm has a market cap of $715.35 million, a PE ratio of 16.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.49. American Public Education has a twelve month low of $31.13 and a twelve month high of $61.59.

Key American Public Education News

Here are the key news stories impacting American Public Education this week:

• Positive Sentiment: APEI earned $0.32 per share, above the $0.26 analyst consensus, while revenue of $169.14 million exceeded estimates of $165.79 million. Revenue, net income, EPS and adjusted EBITDA also surpassed company guidance. American Public Education Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 guidance across key metrics and outlined diluted EPS of $2.59 to $2.84, signaling improved expectations for the full year. American Public Education outlines 2026 diluted EPS of $2.59-$2.84 amid raised full-year guidance

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on APEI shares. Lake Street Capital boosted their target price on shares of American Public Education from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of American Public Education from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. DA Davidson raised shares of American Public Education to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Zacks Research lowered shares of American Public Education from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of American Public Education from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Public Education currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $59.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider James Kenigsberg sold 1,256 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.69, for a total value of $59,898.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 43,473 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,073,227.37. The trade was a 2.81% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 10.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About American Public Education

American Public Education, Inc (NASDAQ: APEI) is an education services company that provides postsecondary instruction and career-focused training through a group of institutions. Its portfolio includes American Public University System, Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing.

American Public University System offers undergraduate and graduate programs primarily through online and distance-learning formats. Its institutions serve military personnel, veterans, working adults and other students, with academic offerings spanning areas such as business, public service, health care, technology, security and liberal arts.

Rasmussen University provides undergraduate and graduate education through online and campus-based programs, with a focus on health sciences, nursing, business, technology and other career-oriented fields.