Insider Buying: Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Director Acquires 600 Shares of Stock

Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Director Michael A. Mcrobbie purchased 600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $81.80 per share, with a total value of $49,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,135 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $501,843. This trade represents a 10.84 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Strategic Education Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:STRA opened at $79.14 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $94.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $93.95. Strategic Education, Inc. has a 12 month low of $78.43 and a 12 month high of $123.62.

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

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Strategic Education’s payout ratio is currently 51.39%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Strategic Education

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Strategic Education in the third quarter worth about $37,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 394.8% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 809.1% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $96,000. 93.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

About Strategic Education

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.