American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) Sees Large Drop in Short Interest

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 697,600 shares, a drop of 7.7% from the December 15th total of 756,200 shares. Currently, 4.1% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 118,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.9 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on APEI. StockNews.com raised American Public Education from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of American Public Education from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. B. Riley boosted their price target on shares of American Public Education from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Barrington Research lifted their price objective on shares of American Public Education from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th.

Institutional Trading of American Public Education

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in American Public Education by 94.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 4,666 shares of the company’s stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 2,261 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education in the fourth quarter worth $121,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in American Public Education by 129.1% during the third quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 9,206 shares of the company’s stock valued at $136,000 after buying an additional 5,187 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in American Public Education during the third quarter worth about $165,000. Finally, FMR LLC increased its stake in American Public Education by 350.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 11,658 shares of the company’s stock worth $172,000 after acquiring an additional 9,069 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.62% of the company’s stock.

American Public Education Stock Up 0.3 %

APEI stock opened at $21.51 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.55. American Public Education has a twelve month low of $10.15 and a twelve month high of $23.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $380.94 million, a PE ratio of 38.41, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a quick ratio of 2.65, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

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.