Congress Asset Management Co. Buys Shares of 1,799 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)

Congress Asset Management Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,799 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $295,000.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Creative Planning grew its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 2.4% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 4,723 shares of the company’s stock worth $670,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 138.7% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,451 shares of the company’s stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 843 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 66,160 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,385,000 after purchasing an additional 5,902 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 14,085.2% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 21,136 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,980,000 after purchasing an additional 20,987 shares during the period. Finally, Riverwater Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 134.3% in the third quarter. Riverwater Partners LLC now owns 29,636 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,175,000 after buying an additional 16,985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total value of $249,105.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 21,174 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,516,366.18. This represents a 6.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $180.00 target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Monday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com cut Grand Canyon Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th.

Grand Canyon Education Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:LOPE opened at $185.52 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.74. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 1-year low of $126.17 and a 1-year high of $185.66. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $169.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $154.74.

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.