Empirical Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. $LOPE

Empirical Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) by 20.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,550 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Grand Canyon Education were worth $671,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education in the 1st quarter worth $35,000. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education in the 1st quarter worth $44,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. lifted its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 58.2% in the 1st quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 261 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 2,172.7% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 250 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on LOPE shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research note on Tuesday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Grand Canyon Education from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $230.00 target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $222.00 to $210.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Grand Canyon Education from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $208.67.

Grand Canyon Education Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ:LOPE opened at $208.41 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.23, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.76. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 12 month low of $130.69 and a 12 month high of $220.79. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $207.06 and its 200 day moving average is $190.41.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $247.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $240.90 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 22.15% and a return on equity of 31.50%. The firm’s revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.19 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

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.