Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Announces $0.60 Quarterly Dividend

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a dividend of 0.60 per share by the health services provider on Monday, March 16th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th.

Strategic Education has raised its dividend by an average of 0.0%annually over the last three years. Strategic Education has a dividend payout ratio of 35.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Strategic Education to earn $5.64 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.40 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 42.6%.

Strategic Education Stock Up 1.0%

STRA stock traded up $0.80 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $79.21. The company had a trading volume of 105,678 shares, compared to its average volume of 226,197. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a PE ratio of 16.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.55. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $81.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $80.68. Strategic Education has a fifty-two week low of $72.17 and a fifty-two week high of $93.45.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $311.46 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $322.29 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 9.08% and a return on equity of 8.18%. Strategic Education’s quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.27 EPS. Research analysts predict that Strategic Education will post 4.79 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Strategic Education news, CEO Raymond Karl Mcdonnell sold 38,840 shares of Strategic Education stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.35, for a total transaction of $2,926,594.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 106,332 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,012,116.20. The trade was a 26.75% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 3.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Strategic Education

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of STRA. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC boosted its position in Strategic Education by 1.4% during the third quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 9,367 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $806,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 4,538 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $364,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 88.5% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 294 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in shares of Strategic Education by 54.3% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 395 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Strategic Education by 85.2% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 387 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Strategic Education

Strategic Education, Inc is a publicly traded higher education services holding company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Through its primary operating subsidiaries, Strayer University and Capella University, the company delivers degree programs and professional development opportunities to working adults. Its offerings span undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, continuing education, and workforce training in fields such as business, technology, health services, education, and public administration.

Strayer University, with a network of physical campuses across the United States complemented by an online platform, provides associate’s through doctoral degrees designed to accommodate non-traditional students.