Strategic Education Inc (STRA)
NASDAQ:STRA
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Strategic Education (STRA) AI Stock Analysis

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STRA

Strategic Education

(NASDAQ:STRA)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$83.00
▲(3.91% Upside)
Strategic Education's overall stock score reflects its strong financial performance and positive earnings call, highlighting growth in key segments and margin expansion. However, technical indicators suggest a bearish trend, and challenges in international markets pose risks. The valuation is fair, with an attractive dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective business strategies, supporting long-term financial stability.
Education Technology Services Expansion
Significant growth in ETS enhances Strategic Education's competitive edge in the education technology sector, driving future profitability.
New Innovation Initiative
The Signal Labs initiative fosters innovation and strengthens Strategic Education's position in the education sector by enhancing student and workforce outcomes.
Negative Factors
Decline in U.S. Higher Education Enrollment
Enrollment decline in U.S. Higher Education could impact revenue and market share, posing a challenge to growth in this segment.
Australia and New Zealand Enrollment Challenges
Regulatory restrictions in ANZ affecting enrollment may limit growth opportunities and revenue potential in this region.
Strayer University Enrollment Pressure
Enrollment challenges at Strayer University could hinder Strategic Education's ability to maintain market share and revenue growth.

Strategic Education (STRA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Strategic Education Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionStrategic Education, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. It operates through three segments: U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services. The company operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration, accounting, information technology, education, health services administration, public administration, and criminal justice 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 an executive MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute. It also operates Capella University, an online post-secondary education institution that provides various bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs to working adults in arts and sciences, business and technology, counseling and human services, education, nursing and health sciences, psychology, and public service leadership. The company operates Torrens University, which offers undergraduate, graduate, higher degree by research, and specialized degree courses primarily in business, design and creative technology, health, hospitality, and education fields through online and on physical campuses located in Australia; Think Education, a vocational training organization; and Media Design School, which provides industry-endorsed courses in 3D animation and visual effects, game art and programming, graphic and motion design, digital media artificial intelligence, and creative advertising in New Zealand. It also offers Workforce Edge, a platform to employers that provides education benefits administration solutions; and Sophia Learning, which enables lower cost education benefits programs. The company was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyStrategic Education generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from students enrolled in its online degree programs. The company has a diverse revenue model that includes direct payments from students as well as federal financial aid, which is a significant source of funding for many of its enrolled students. Additionally, Strategic Education benefits from partnerships with employers and organizations that provide tuition reimbursement programs, further enhancing its revenue streams. The company also explores opportunities in workforce development and corporate training, which contribute to its earnings by offering tailored educational solutions to businesses seeking to enhance employee skills and competencies.

Strategic Education Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook for Strategic Education, with significant growth in the Education Technology Services segment and strong financial performance. However, challenges remain due to decreased enrollment in Australia and New Zealand and regulatory restrictions on international students.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Growth in Education Technology Services
Revenue and operating income in the Education Technology Services division increased by 46% and 48% from the prior year, respectively.
Operating Income and Margin Expansion
Operating income grew by 39% with a 400 basis point margin expansion. Adjusted earnings increased by 41% from the prior year.
Sophia Learning Growth
Sophia Learning saw a 42% growth in both average and total subscribers and revenue, driven by consumer and employer-affiliated subscribers.
U.S. Higher Education Enrollment and Income
Employer-affiliated enrollment increased by approximately 8%, with operating income almost doubling to $23 million and a 520 basis point margin increase.
Capital Allocation and Share Repurchase
Repurchased approximately 429,000 shares for $34 million during the quarter, with $134 million remaining on the share repurchase authorization.
Negative Updates
Decreased Enrollment in Australia and New Zealand
Third quarter total enrollment in Australia and New Zealand decreased by 2%, with revenue decreasing by 2% in constant currency terms.
Impact of Regulatory Restrictions on International Students
Continued regulatory restrictions on international student enrollment in Australia, affecting the overall growth potential.
Company Guidance
During the third quarter of 2025, Strategic Education reported a 5% increase in revenue on an adjusted constant currency basis compared to the previous year, driven by a 46% jump in revenue and a 48% rise in operating income within the Education Technology Services (ETS) division, reaching $38 million and $16 million, respectively. The company achieved a 400 basis point margin expansion and a significant 39% growth in operating income, partially due to restructuring costs associated with productivity initiatives. Adjusted earnings surged by 41% to $1.64, up from $1.16 the prior year. U.S. Higher Education experienced a 3% revenue increase, with employer-affiliated enrollment rising by 8%, representing 33% of total enrollments. The health care portfolio also saw a 7% increase in total enrollment. Meanwhile, the Australia and New Zealand segment faced a 2% drop in total enrollment, reflecting regulatory restrictions, with revenue similarly decreasing by 2% to $70 million. The company repurchased approximately 429,000 shares for $34 million during the quarter, leaving $134 million remaining in its share repurchase authorization.

Strategic Education Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strategic Education demonstrates strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and profitability. The balance sheet is solid with low leverage, and cash flows are improving, although there is potential for better cash conversion.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Strategic Education shows a solid revenue growth trajectory with a TTM revenue growth rate of 1.13%. The company maintains a healthy net profit margin of 9.08% in the TTM, indicating strong profitability. However, the gross profit margin has significantly decreased to 11.51% in the TTM, which could indicate rising costs or pricing pressures. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are stable, reflecting efficient operational management.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The company has a strong balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07 in the TTM, suggesting low financial leverage and risk. Return on equity is moderate at 6.88%, indicating decent profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio is robust, reflecting a strong capital structure with a significant portion of assets financed by equity.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive free cash flow growth rate of 5.79% in the TTM, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.62, suggesting that operating cash flows are adequately covering net income. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.75 indicates some room for improvement in converting income into cash.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.26B1.22B1.13B1.07B1.13B1.03B
Gross Profit602.42M569.43M509.02M468.16M523.42M494.99M
EBITDA213.95M201.65M170.43M137.12M214.00M244.69M
Net Income114.04M112.68M69.79M46.67M55.09M86.27M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.11B2.05B2.13B2.16B2.31B2.30B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments181.20M184.02M208.21M222.82M275.42M195.07M
Total Debt117.65M125.23M213.32M259.28M331.46M282.78M
Total Liabilities455.86M387.24M472.69M525.96M591.89M547.49M
Stockholders Equity1.66B1.66B1.65B1.64B1.71B1.75B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow131.66M128.75M80.18M82.88M131.09M96.09M
Operating Cash Flow174.91M169.33M117.12M126.05M180.53M142.91M
Investing Cash Flow-49.73M-64.36M-48.55M-31.36M-33.09M-642.19M
Financing Cash Flow-170.14M-136.77M-113.61M-142.36M-67.89M279.19M

Strategic Education Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price79.88
Price Trends
50DMA
81.36
Negative
100DMA
80.38
Negative
200DMA
83.18
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.02
Negative
RSI
51.35
Neutral
STOCH
73.91
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STRA, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 79.88 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 79.55, below the 50-day MA of 81.36, and below the 200-day MA of 83.18, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.02 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 73.91 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for STRA.

Strategic Education Risk Analysis

Strategic Education disclosed 43 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Strategic Education reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Strategic Education Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$2.01B13.3716.14%1.78%24.23%17.56%
72
Outperform
$1.63B26.3423.11%14.56%127.02%
71
Outperform
$1.84B16.316.76%3.19%3.74%-8.40%
68
Neutral
$569.11M29.8611.20%6.75%141.11%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
53
Neutral
$669.16M46.717.94%16.90%41.11%
52
Neutral
$590.62M-10.31%3.85%-208.51%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STRA
Strategic Education
79.88
-14.14
-15.04%
APEI
American Public Education
34.96
16.51
89.49%
PRDO
Perdoceo Education
31.29
5.47
21.19%
LINC
Lincoln Edu
21.16
5.74
37.22%
UTI
Universal Technical Institute
29.97
10.43
53.38%
KLC
KinderCare Learning Companies Inc
5.00
-19.53
-79.62%

Strategic Education Corporate Events

Strategic Education Reports Strong Q3 2025 Growth
Nov 7, 2025

Strategic Education, Inc. is a company focused on enhancing economic mobility through higher education, primarily serving working adult students globally with services in education technology, U.S. higher education, and Australia/New Zealand operations.

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 07, 2025