Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) Sets New 52-Week Low – Should You Sell?

Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $77.53 and last traded at $79.15, with a volume of 15266 shares. The stock had previously closed at $81.07.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on STRA. StockNews.com lowered shares of Strategic Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $114.00 to $97.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Barrington Research reduced their price objective on Strategic Education from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th.

Strategic Education Trading Up 5.6 %

The firm has a market cap of $2.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.58. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $88.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $92.00.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.10). Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 7.61%. The company had revenue of $311.46 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $315.18 million. Research analysts predict that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio is currently 51.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Strategic Education

In other Strategic Education news, General Counsel Lizette Benedi Herraiz sold 1,452 shares of Strategic Education stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.21, for a total transaction of $119,368.92. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 61,716 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,073,672.36. The trade was a 2.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Raymond Karl Mcdonnell sold 31,855 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total value of $3,116,374.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 140,281 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,723,690.23. This represents a 18.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 39,332 shares of company stock worth $3,825,169 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 3.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Strategic Education

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Strategic Education in the fourth quarter worth about $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Strategic Education by 394.8% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 383 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 809.1% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 700 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 623 shares during the period. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth about $96,000. Institutional investors own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Strategic Education Company Profile

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.