106,008 Shares in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) Bought by Pacific Ridge Capital Partners LLC

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 106,008 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,287,000. Pacific Ridge Capital Partners LLC owned 0.60% of American Public Education at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in APEI. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings 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 buying an additional 1,120 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in American Public Education by 16.2% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,155 shares of the company’s stock worth $176,000 after acquiring an additional 1,134 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System bought a new position in American Public Education during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its stake in American Public Education by 3.0% in the third quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 51,314 shares of the company’s stock valued at $757,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517 shares during the period. Finally, R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on APEI shares. StockNews.com upgraded American Public Education from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $24.00 price target on shares of American Public Education in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, William Blair raised shares of American Public Education from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $24.33.

American Public Education Trading Up 0.4 %

NASDAQ APEI opened at $22.93 on Thursday. American Public Education, Inc. has a 52 week low of $11.80 and a 52 week high of $25.60. 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’s 50 day moving average price is $21.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $412.65 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.95, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.30.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total value of $81,659.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 60,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,329,783.71. This trade represents a 5.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 11.38% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

American Public Education Company Profile

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.