American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: APEI) Sees Positive Outlook from William Blair Upgrade

• William Blair upgraded NASDAQ:APEI to "Outperform," indicating strong confidence in its financial health and growth prospects.
• APEI reported quarterly earnings of $0.63 per share, surpassing estimates and demonstrating the company's ability to exceed expectations.
• The company's revenue for the quarter ending December 2024 was $164.11 million, marking consistent growth and surpassing consensus revenue estimates.

American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI) is a prominent player in the education sector, providing online and on-campus education to over 125,000 students through its subsidiaries, including the American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company has shown resilience and growth in a competitive market, with a focus on improving its educational offerings and financial performance.

On March 7, 2025, William Blair upgraded APEI's stock to "Outperform," with the stock priced at $22.35. This upgrade reflects confidence in APEI's financial health and growth prospects. The stock has seen a notable increase of 15.79%, reaching a high of $25.35 during the day, indicating positive investor sentiment.

APEI's recent financial performance supports this optimism. The company reported quarterly earnings of $0.63 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.54 per share. Although slightly lower than the $0.64 per share from the previous year, the earnings surprise of 16.67% demonstrates APEI's ability to exceed expectations. In the previous quarter, APEI achieved an even more impressive earnings surprise of 300%.

Revenue figures further bolster APEI's strong performance. For the quarter ending December 2024, the company posted $164.11 million in revenue, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.57%. This marks an increase from the $152.8 million reported in the same quarter the previous year. APEI has surpassed consensus revenue estimates twice in the last four quarters, showcasing consistent growth.

APEI's market capitalization stands at approximately $394.8 million, with a trading volume of 171,284 shares. The company's strategic focus on simplifying and streamlining operations, as highlighted by CEO Angela Selden, positions it well for continued success in 2025. With a 4% increase in revenue and a 21% growth in adjusted EBITDA compared to 2023, APEI is on a promising trajectory.