Short Interest in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) Rises By 28.9%

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) saw a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,100,968 shares, an increase of 28.9% from the February 12th total of 854,308 shares. Approximately 4.1% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 413,379 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.7 days. Based on an average trading volume of 413,379 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.7 days. Approximately 4.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 70.7% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 157 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC bought a new position in Grand Canyon Education in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on LOPE. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Grand Canyon Education from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $220.00.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Down 0.7%

NASDAQ:LOPE traded down $1.18 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $162.79. 170,884 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 330,842. Grand Canyon Education has a 12 month low of $149.37 and a 12 month high of $223.04. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $167.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $180.28. The company has a market capitalization of $4.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.72.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $3.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.19 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $308.12 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $307.92 million. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 33.28% and a net margin of 19.54%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.95 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Grand Canyon Education will post 8.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides a suite of higher‐education services through a long-term agreement with Grand Canyon University (GCU), one of the nation’s largest private Christian universities. The company’s offerings encompass a full range of academic and operational support functions, including enrollment management, student recruitment, curriculum development, instructional delivery, and technology infrastructure. Through its online program management capabilities, Grand Canyon Education helps design, market and deliver undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to meet the needs of both traditional and non‐traditional learners.

Core services include digital marketing, admissions support, student success coaching, learning management systems and faculty recruitment.