Stride (LRN)
NYSE:LRN
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Stride (LRN) AI Stock Analysis

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LRN

Stride

(NYSE:LRN)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$72.00
▲(9.74% Upside)
Stride's overall stock score is driven by strong financial performance and attractive valuation. However, technical analysis indicates bearish momentum, and platform implementation issues present near-term challenges. The earnings call provided mixed signals, with strong growth tempered by operational hurdles.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Stride's consistent revenue growth reflects strong market demand and effective business strategies, indicating potential for sustained expansion.
Enrollment Increase
Record enrollment growth demonstrates Stride's competitive position in the online education sector, supporting long-term revenue potential.
Career Learning Growth
Significant growth in Career Learning indicates successful product diversification, enhancing Stride's market presence and resilience.
Negative Factors
Platform Implementation Issues
Platform issues could undermine customer satisfaction and retention, posing risks to Stride's growth and brand reputation.
Enrollment Growth Challenges
Missed enrollment targets due to platform and strategic issues may impact revenue growth and market confidence in the near term.
Gross Margin Decline
Declining gross margins suggest rising costs or pricing pressures, which could affect profitability if not addressed.

Stride (LRN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Stride Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionStride (LRN) is an education technology company that focuses on providing digital learning solutions and educational resources for K-12 students. The company operates primarily in the online education sector, offering a range of products and services including online school management, curriculum development, and personalized learning platforms. Stride partners with various educational institutions to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes through innovative technologies and resources.
How the Company Makes MoneyStride generates revenue through a combination of tuition fees from students enrolled in its online schools, sales of educational products and services to school districts, and software licensing fees for its learning management systems. The company also benefits from partnerships with local and state education agencies, allowing it to expand its reach and influence in the education sector. Additionally, Stride may receive funding from grants and educational initiatives aimed at improving online learning opportunities.

Stride Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 27, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlights a strong financial performance with significant revenue and income growth, along with robust enrollment figures and positive market recognition. However, the company faces challenges with an impairment in the Galvanize business and hurdles in the Adult Learning segment. Contractual issues in New Mexico were addressed with new district agreements. The overall sentiment is mixed but leans towards positive due to the strong financial and enrollment metrics.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Full year revenue of $2.4 billion was up 18% from last year.
Significant Increase in Operating Income
Adjusted operating income of $466.2 million, up nearly 60% from last year.
Enrollment Growth
General Education enrollment totaled 137,700, up 13%. Career Learning and middle and high school revenues were $876.3 million, up 35% with enrollments totaling 96,300, up 33%.
Awards and Recognition
Stride was named one of America's best midsize companies by TIME, 2024 Company of the Year by BIG Awards for Business, and Best EdTech Company by the Global EdTech Awards.
Favorable Funding Environment
The funding environment for FY '26 looks positive with some states increasing funding, and no significant negative impact expected from federal funding changes.
Negative Updates
Galvanize Business Impairment
A one-time noncash impairment charge of $59.5 million related to the Galvanize business due to the continued IT software business decline and co-working business struggles.
Challenges in Adult Learning Segment
The Adult Learning segment faced demand challenges, particularly in the technology area, affecting performance.
Contractual Challenges in New Mexico
The Gallup-McKinley school district terminated their contract, affecting 4,000 students, although the company managed to secure new contracts with other districts.
Company Guidance
During Stride's fourth quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call, the company provided robust guidance and insights into their performance. Stride reported a full-year revenue of $2.4 billion, reflecting an 18% increase from the previous year, with adjusted operating income up nearly 60% to $466.2 million. Enrollment growth was a key highlight, with Career Learning and middle and high school revenues increasing by 35%, coupled with a 33% rise in enrollments to 96,300. General Education revenue also grew by 12%, with enrollments up 13% to 137,700. Despite some state funding variations, the overall funding environment remains positive, and Stride anticipates a 10% to 15% enrollment growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. Gross margins improved by 180 basis points to 39.2%, although the company expects a slower pace of margin expansion due to planned investments in products and services. Adjusted earnings per share for the year reached $8.10, up 48% from fiscal year 2024. With cash reserves exceeding $1 billion, Stride remains confident in sustaining its growth momentum into fiscal year 2026.

Stride Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Stride exhibits strong financial health with consistent revenue and profit growth, efficient operational management, and a stable balance sheet. Despite a recent decline in free cash flow growth, the overall cash flow generation remains strong.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Stride has demonstrated consistent revenue growth with a TTM revenue growth rate of 2.9%. The company maintains strong profitability metrics, with a gross profit margin of 39.2% and a net profit margin of 12.8% in the TTM period. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also robust at 17.1% and 21.8%, respectively, indicating efficient operational management. Overall, Stride's income statement reflects solid growth and profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Stride's balance sheet shows a healthy debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, indicating a conservative leverage position. The return on equity is strong at 22.0%, reflecting effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio stands at 65.5%, suggesting a solid equity base relative to total assets. Overall, the balance sheet is stable with a good balance between debt and equity.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Stride's cash flow statement shows a decline in free cash flow growth by 9.8% in the TTM period, which could be a concern. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy at 1.56, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also robust at 0.95. Despite the recent decline in free cash flow growth, the company maintains strong cash flow metrics overall.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.48B2.41B2.04B1.84B1.69B1.54B
Gross Profit970.19M943.92M763.60M647.07M596.48M534.90M
EBITDA510.82M508.39M386.18M291.31M253.26M203.36M
Net Income315.86M287.94M204.18M126.87M107.13M71.45M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.33B2.29B1.92B1.76B1.64B1.58B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments715.10M985.27M692.29M410.81M389.40M386.08M
Total Debt588.03M549.76M528.21M543.81M565.67M466.28M
Total Liabilities805.71M814.34M744.44M813.37M830.96M772.65M
Stockholders Equity1.53B1.48B1.18B947.30M812.58M804.65M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow361.80M431.04M217.21M136.60M139.26M81.89M
Operating Cash Flow379.04M432.82M278.80M203.15M206.88M134.15M
Investing Cash Flow-91.82M-88.00M-139.87M-118.24M-110.76M-165.44M
Financing Cash Flow-86.54M-62.94M-49.12M-63.50M-93.31M204.58M

Stride Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price65.61
Price Trends
50DMA
130.97
Negative
100DMA
137.94
Negative
200DMA
138.55
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-21.65
Positive
RSI
19.26
Positive
STOCH
15.96
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LRN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 65.61 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 105.29, below the 50-day MA of 130.97, and below the 200-day MA of 138.55, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -21.65 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 19.26 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 15.96 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LRN.

Stride Risk Analysis

Stride disclosed 45 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Stride reported the most risks in the "Tech & Innovation" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Stride Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$9.13B24.309.28%7.22%-2.84%
75
Outperform
$7.07B39.824.77%44.57%147.78%
73
Outperform
$3.46B14.4917.38%12.24%52.97%
73
Outperform
$4.37B21.7120.15%2.01%-13.82%
71
Outperform
$2.88B10.1323.04%17.25%30.15%
68
Neutral
$4.75B22.9127.77%7.05%-2.63%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LRN
Stride
65.61
-34.01
-34.14%
ATGE
Adtalem Global Education
96.86
12.04
14.19%
LOPE
Grand Canyon Education
169.82
4.94
3.00%
EDU
New Oriental Education Tech
54.91
-0.14
-0.25%
TAL
TAL Education Group
11.62
2.17
22.96%
LAUR
Laureate Education
31.13
12.83
70.11%

Stride Corporate Events

Stock Buyback
Stride Announces $500 Million Stock Buyback Program
Positive
Nov 3, 2025

On November 3, 2025, Stride, Inc. announced the approval of a stock repurchase program authorizing the buyback of up to $500 million of its common stock until October 31, 2026. This move reflects the company’s confidence in its long-term growth prospects and robust financial position, with the flexibility to repurchase shares depending on market conditions, aiming to create long-term value for shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (LRN) stock is a Hold with a $77.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stride stock, see the LRN Stock Forecast page.

Stride, Inc. Earnings Call: Growth Amid Challenges
Oct 30, 2025

Stride, Inc. Earnings Call Reveals Mixed Sentiment Amidst Growth and Challenges

Stride, Inc. Reports Strong Q1 2026 Financial Growth
Oct 29, 2025

Stride, Inc. is a leading technology-based education company that offers innovative learning solutions across primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings, serving learners in all 50 states and over 100 countries. In its first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Stride, Inc. reported robust financial results driven by strong demand, with revenue reaching $620.9 million, marking a 12.7% increase compared to the previous year. The company also saw significant improvements in income from operations and net income, which rose by 45.7% and 68.3%, respectively.

Executive/Board Changes
Stride Expands Board with New Director Appointment
Neutral
Sep 19, 2025

On September 16, 2025, Stride, Inc. announced the election of Robert E. Knowling, Jr. to its Board of Directors, expanding the board from seven to eight members. Mr. Knowling will also serve on the Audit and Compensation Committees. His compensation includes an annual restricted stock award of $250,000 and cash retainers for his board and committee roles.

The most recent analyst rating on (LRN) stock is a Hold with a $153.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stride stock, see the LRN Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 11, 2025