Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) Shares Gap Up – Time to Buy?

Shares of Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $88.10, but opened at $98.38. Strategic Education shares last traded at $96.01, with a volume of 27,850 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on STRA. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Strategic Education from $145.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Strategic Education from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Strategic Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, October 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $126.00.

Strategic Education Stock Up 9.4 %

The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $90.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $103.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock has a market cap of $2.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.57.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, September 6th were issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 6th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.49%. Strategic Education’s payout ratio is 49.28%.

Institutional Trading of Strategic Education

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 2,650.0% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 330 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new stake in shares of Strategic Education in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Strategic Education

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.