Laureate Education, Inc. (LAUR)

Over the past six months, Laureate Education's stock has shown an increase of 6.17%, and a 41.03% increase over the past year. In Q4 2025, Laureate delivered strong performance with revenue reaching $1.7 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $519 million. Several research firms have weighed in on LAUR, with JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and BMO Capital Markets increasing their target prices. The company has been actively repurchasing shares, completing $105 million in share buybacks in Q1 2026. Laureate reported Q1 2026 revenue of $273 million and a net loss of $22 million, with new enrollment intake growing 9% year-over-year. As of May 5, 2026, the stock price was $32.30, with a market capitalization of $4.52 billion.

Laureate Education experiences demand seasonality, with the first quarter typically being a seasonally low period. The company is seeing strong growth in its fully online programs, which helps to broaden the total addressable market and can potentially mitigate some of the traditional seasonality associated with campus-based education. The "C2" intake in June-July has shown high single-digit growth, indicating sustained demand from this segment. Despite the growth in online programs, they can also come with a higher attrition rate, which may impact total enrollment growth.

Laureate Education, Inc. is a leading international network of degree-granting higher education institutions offering undergraduate, graduate, specialized degrees, technical and vocational training, and high school education through campus-based, online, and hybrid learning models. The company operates within the Academic & Educational Services sector, specifically in the Miscellaneous Educational Service Providers industry, and provides higher education programs across various disciplines, operating distinct university brands in key markets like Mexico and Peru.

Laureate Education, Inc. primarily focuses its operations in Mexico and Peru, serving approximately 472,000 students across five institutions as of December 31, 2024, and reaching 507,000 students as of March 31, 2026. The company has streamlined its portfolio to concentrate on these key markets.

Laureate Education's institutions have received positive recognition in their operating regions, with UPC in Peru ranked the #1 education brand for the fifth consecutive year by MERCO and receiving a 5-star global university rating by QS Stars. In Mexico, UVM was ranked the second-best private university by Reader's Digest 2025 ranking. All of Laureate's institutions in Mexico and Peru have earned QS Stars 5-star ratings for employability, online learning, and social impact. The company highlights its social impact, reporting that 50% of newly enrolled students are first-generation college students.

Laureate Education, Inc. has a high percentage of institutional ownership, standing at approximately 92.20% as of March 31, 2025, and 91.60% as of May 1, 2026. Major institutional owners include Fmr Llc, BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, CPV Partners, LLC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp, and Wengen Alberta, LP. Other notable institutional shareholders include Alliancebernstein L.p., Van Berkom & Associates Inc., Geode Capital Management, Llc, and State Street Corp.