American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) Short Interest Update

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 753,600 shares, a decrease of 22.6% from the October 15th total of 973,800 shares. Currently, 4.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 143,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.3 days.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Michael David Braner bought 59,179 shares of American Public Education stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 20th. The shares were bought at an average price of $14.05 per share, for a total transaction of $831,464.95. Following the purchase, the director now owns 1,788,688 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,131,066.40. This trade represents a 3.42 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In the last ninety days, insiders have purchased 117,983 shares of company stock worth $1,747,393. Company insiders own 11.38% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in American Public Education by 329.5% during the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 425,064 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,473,000 after purchasing an additional 326,091 shares during the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. bought a new position in American Public Education in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,159,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in American Public Education by 14.5% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,004,011 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,651,000 after purchasing an additional 127,000 shares during the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the third quarter valued at about $1,691,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of American Public Education by 43.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 351,644 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,182,000 after purchasing an additional 106,689 shares in the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

APEI has been the subject of several analyst reports. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of American Public Education from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Barrington Research boosted their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday. B. Riley raised their target price on shares of American Public Education from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com cut American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday.

American Public Education Stock Down 0.7 %

American Public Education stock opened at $18.32 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $15.15 and a 200-day moving average of $16.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $324.30 million, a PE ratio of 32.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a quick ratio of 2.83, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. American Public Education has a twelve month low of $5.41 and a twelve month high of $21.04.

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.