AQR Capital Management LLC Acquires 36,177 Shares of Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA)

AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) by 531.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,980 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 36,177 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Strategic Education were worth $4,726,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in Strategic Education during the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Strategic Education during the 2nd quarter valued at $36,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in Strategic Education by 2,650.0% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 330 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in Strategic Education during the second quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new position in Strategic Education during the second quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors own 93.27% of the company’s stock.

Strategic Education Trading Up 0.6 %

NASDAQ STRA opened at $88.73 on Friday. Strategic Education, Inc. has a 12 month low of $76.94 and a 12 month high of $123.62. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $95.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $105.32. The stock has a market cap of $2.18 billion, a PE ratio of 21.03, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The health services provider reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.14. Strategic Education had a net margin of 9.84% and a return on equity of 7.47%. The business had revenue of $312.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $308.16 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Strategic Education Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 6th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 6th. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.87%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Viet D. Dinh purchased 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $95.59 per share, for a total transaction of $477,950.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 20,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,913,711.80. This represents a 0.00 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 3.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Thursday, September 26th. StockNews.com lowered Strategic Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Strategic Education from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Strategic Education has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $132.25.

Strategic Education Profile

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.