American Public Education, Inc. (APEI)

In the past six months, APEI stock has experienced significant positive movement, increasing by 30.5% and reaching a new 52-week high. Key events contributing to this performance include strong Q3 2025 financial results, robust enrollment growth, the sale of Graduate School USA, analyst optimism, and revised guidance. The company's third-quarter results exceeded guidance across all metrics. Consolidated revenue rose 7% year-over-year to $163.2 million, net income available to common stockholders surged to $5.6 million, EPS was $0.30, and Adjusted EBITDA increased by 60% to $20.7 million. Q3 2025 saw robust enrollment growth, with APUS registrations up 8%, Rasmussen enrollments up 10%, and Hondros College of Nursing enrollments increasing 18% year-over-year. In July 2025, APEI completed the sale of Graduate School USA. Northland selected APEI as a top investment choice for 2026 on January 7, 2026, assigning an "Outperform" rating and a $46 price target. Despite strong Q3 results, the company revised its full-year 2025 revenue guidance downward to $640 million-$644 million and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $75 million-$79 million.

APEI's demand exhibits some seasonality, with the first quarter potentially being weaker. Enrollment is driven by high-demand fields, particularly nursing and healthcare, and its ability to provide flexible and accessible education to adult learners, military personnel, and veterans.

American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) operates in the Consumer Services sector, specifically in the Education & Training Services industry, delivering career-focused education through its subsidiaries: American Public University System (APUS), which includes American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) offering online postsecondary education; Rasmussen University (RU), specializing in nursing and health sciences education; and Hondros College of Nursing (HCN), providing nursing education.

APEI's geographic footprint combines extensive online offerings with strategically located physical campuses. Its headquarters are in Charles Town, West Virginia. APUS operates entirely online, contributing to a lower carbon footprint. Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing offer flexible programs with in-person attendance at conveniently located campuses to meet regional demands for hands-on training, particularly in healthcare.

APEI has maintained a reputation rooted in its mission to provide accessible, affordable, and quality higher education, particularly for military, veteran, and working adult communities. APUS is a signatory to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, actively working towards carbon neutrality and integrating sustainability into its curriculum. The company conducts engagement surveys to improve the overall employee experience. Analyst sentiment has been generally positive, with a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating and Northland selecting APEI as a top pick for 2026.

American Public Education, Inc. is predominantly owned by institutional investors, who collectively hold approximately 79.62% of the company's stock. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc., and 325 Capital Llc. Individual insider stakes are comparatively smaller.