SG Capital Management LLC Buys New Shares in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)

SG Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 30,139 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,980,000. Grand Canyon Education comprises about 1.2% of SG Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Grand Canyon Education during the fourth quarter worth approximately $54,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 120.2% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 425 shares of the company’s stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Grand Canyon Education by 208.6% during the fourth quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 429 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 41.2% in the fourth quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 497 shares of the company’s stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $101,000. 94.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

Shares of Grand Canyon Education stock traded down $1.23 during trading on Friday, reaching $142.92. 168,762 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 165,917. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $138.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $134.85. The company has a market cap of $4.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.99, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.64. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 1-year low of $99.65 and a 1-year high of $156.56.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.22 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $274.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $272.42 million. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 31.81% and a net margin of 21.66%. Grand Canyon Education’s revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.00 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 7.8 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Grand Canyon Education news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.65, for a total transaction of $198,975.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 25,674 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,405,656.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Director Lisa Graham Keegan sold 270 shares of Grand Canyon Education stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.96, for a total value of $39,949.20. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,635 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $389,874.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $132.65, for a total transaction of $198,975.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 25,674 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,405,656.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 3,270 shares of company stock valued at $462,724. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LOPE has been the subject of several research reports. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, Barrington Research boosted their price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.