Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Hits New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $176.77 and last traded at $172.66, with a volume of 27878 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $171.00.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on LOPE shares. Barrington Research upped their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Grand Canyon Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th.

Grand Canyon Education Trading Up 0.9 %

The business has a 50 day moving average of $164.99 and a 200-day moving average of $150.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.70, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.75.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $238.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $239.69 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 22.09% and a return on equity of 31.01%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Grand Canyon Education

In other news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of Grand Canyon Education stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total transaction of $249,105.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 21,174 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,516,366.18. This trade represents a 6.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Grand Canyon Education

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth $31,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth $60,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 66.0% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 420 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the third quarter worth $86,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

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.