State of Alaska Department of Revenue Sells 359 Shares of Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA)

State of Alaska Department of Revenue reduced its stake in shares of Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) by 2.6% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 13,470 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 359 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenue’s holdings in Strategic Education were worth $1,130,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of STRA. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Strategic Education by 394.8% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 383 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Strategic Education by 809.1% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 700 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 623 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Strategic Education by 44.0% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,431 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $134,000 after buying an additional 437 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in Strategic Education during the 4th quarter worth approximately $222,000. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Strategic Education by 13.4% during the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,777 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 329 shares during the period. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Strategic Education

In related news, Director Robert R. Grusky sold 1,494 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.27, for a total value of $119,923.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,349 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $910,984.23. This trade represents a 11.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 3.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Strategic Education Stock Down 1.7%

NASDAQ STRA opened at $85.06 on Thursday. Strategic Education Inc. has a 12-month low of $74.28 and a 12-month high of $121.60. The company has a market capitalization of $2.06 billion, a PE ratio of 18.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.54. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $86.04 and its 200-day moving average is $89.28.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.29. Strategic Education had a net margin of 9.14% and a return on equity of 7.29%. The company had revenue of $303.59 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $300.67 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.11 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Strategic Education Inc. will post 4.79 EPS for the current year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd were paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.82%. Strategic Education’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Strategic Education from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Truist Financial set a $105.00 price objective on shares of Strategic Education in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Strategic Education from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th.

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.