Bastion Asset Management Inc. Boosts Position in Strategic Education Inc. $STRA

Bastion Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) by 409.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 71,209 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 57,228 shares during the period. Strategic Education accounts for about 3.1% of Bastion Asset Management Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Bastion Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Strategic Education were worth $5,644,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd increased its stake in Strategic Education by 158.3% in the 3rd quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 25,438 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,188,000 after buying an additional 15,588 shares during the period. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. increased its stake in Strategic Education by 155.7% in the 3rd quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 234,719 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $20,188,000 after buying an additional 142,915 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its stake in Strategic Education by 302.6% in the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 63,667 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $5,106,000 after buying an additional 47,853 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in Strategic Education by 438.8% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 61,531 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,935,000 after buying an additional 50,110 shares during the period. Finally, Ellsworth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Strategic Education in the 4th quarter worth about $6,057,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Michael Thawley purchased 665 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $72.71 per share, for a total transaction of $48,352.15. Following the acquisition, the director owned 12,154 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $883,717.34. This represents a 5.79% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Daniel Wayne Jackson sold 13,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.37, for a total transaction of $1,070,810.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 100,096 shares in the company, valued at $8,244,907.52. This represents a 11.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 62,420 shares of company stock worth $4,843,218. Insiders own 3.60% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on STRA shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $95.00 to $86.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Zacks Research raised shares of Strategic Education from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Barrington Research reduced their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $105.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Strategic Education in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $87.00.

Strategic Education Stock Performance

NASDAQ STRA opened at $80.04 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.52. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $80.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $80.32. Strategic Education Inc. has a one year low of $69.70 and a one year high of $93.45.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The health services provider reported $1.42 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $305.93 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $329.81 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 8.78%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Strategic Education Inc. will post 7.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 22nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.40%.

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.