Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Sets New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $182.23 and last traded at $180.89, with a volume of 155782 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $179.16.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com cut Grand Canyon Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th.

Grand Canyon Education Trading Up 1.0 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $167.00 and a 200 day moving average of $152.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.77, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.74.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $238.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.69 million. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 31.01% and a net margin of 22.09%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Grand Canyon Education

In other Grand Canyon Education news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total transaction of $249,105.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer now directly owns 21,174 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,516,366.18. This trade represents a 6.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Grand Canyon Education

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. bought a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

About Grand Canyon Education

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.