Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC Increases Stock Position in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its position in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) by 5.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 53,897 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,583 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC’s holdings in American Public Education were worth $1,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of American Public Education by 10.0% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 12,321 shares of the company’s stock valued at $266,000 after purchasing an additional 1,120 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in American Public Education by 16.2% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,155 shares of the company’s stock valued at $176,000 after purchasing an additional 1,134 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of American Public Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in American Public Education by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 404,168 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,963,000 after acquiring an additional 2,573 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

APEI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. William Blair upgraded shares of American Public Education from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. B. Riley assumed coverage on shares of American Public Education in a research report on Friday, March 28th. They set a “buy” rating and a $28.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com upgraded American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of American Public Education in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $25.33.

American Public Education Price Performance

NASDAQ:APEI opened at $21.99 on Friday. American Public Education, Inc. has a one year low of $11.80 and a one year high of $25.60. The stock has a market cap of $395.73 million, a PE ratio of 39.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a current ratio of 2.65. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $21.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.57.

Insider Activity

In other American Public Education news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of American Public Education stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 60,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,329,783.71. The trade was a 5.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 11.38% of the company’s stock.

About American Public Education

American Public Education, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education and career learning in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 184 degree programs and 134 certificate programs in various fields of study, including nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning opportunities in leadership, finance, human resources, and other fields of study critical to the federal government workforce.