Perdoceo Education Corporation
- Open
- 33.11
- Day high
- 34.05
- Day low
- 33.11
- Prev close
- 33.24
- Volume
- 59K
- Mkt cap
- $2.1B
- P/E (TTM)
- 12.2
- EPS (TTM)
- $2.79
- P/B
- 2.1
- P/S
- 2.5
- Yield
- 1.76%
- Per share
- $0.60
- ▼Insiders net selling -$682K over the last 3 months (0 open-market buys, 2 sales)
- 🏛Institutions accumulating (13F)
Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is a Consumer Defensive company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is up 1% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 2 sales (SEC Form 4). Drillr has 1 published research article covering PRDO.
Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
PRDO earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2026 | $0.75 | $0.77 | +2.7% | $213M | +0.4% |
| May 7, 2026 | $0.84 | $0.90 | +7.1% | $222M | +1.5% |
| Feb 19, 2026 | $0.54 | $0.59 | +9.3% | $212M | +0.8% |
| Nov 4, 2025 | $0.61 | $0.65 | +6.6% | $212M | +0.9% |
| Jul 31, 2025 | $0.65 | $0.67 | +3.1% | $210M | +1.2% |
| May 1, 2025 | $0.66 | $0.70 | +6.1% | $213M | +2.4% |
| Feb 18, 2025 | $0.48 | $0.50 | +4.2% | $176M | +0.8% |
| Jul 31, 2024 | $0.58 | $0.60 | +3.4% | $167M | +3.6% |
| May 1, 2024 | $0.53 | $0.60 | +13.2% | $168M | +3.0% |
| Feb 21, 2024 | $0.23 | $0.27 | +17.4% | $148M | +1.2% |
| Nov 2, 2023 | $0.49 | $0.64 | +30.6% | $180M | +7.4% |
| Aug 3, 2023 | $0.52 | $0.61 | +17.3% | $187M | +4.0% |
PRDO insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | Jackson Gregory L.director, other: Chairman | Option | 11,271 | $9.69 |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Jackson Gregory L.director, other: Chairman | Sell | 11,271 | $31.78 |
| Jun 5, 2026 | GONZALES KENDA Bdirector | Sell | 9,308 | $34.79 |
| Jun 5, 2026 | GONZALES KENDA Bdirector | Option | 9,308 | $7.22 |
| May 26, 2026 | Jackson Gregory L.director, other: Chairman | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | HANSEN WILLIAM DEANdirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | GROSS PATRICK Wdirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | Wheat Alan Dupreedirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | Thornton Leslie Tdirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | GONZALES KENDA Bdirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | CHOOKASZIAN DENNISdirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 26, 2026 | Skandera Hannadirector | Grant | 3,987 | — |
| May 13, 2026 | GROSS PATRICK Wdirector | Sell | 3,647 | $34.98 |
| May 13, 2026 | GROSS PATRICK Wdirector | Option | 21,129 | $5.96 |
| May 13, 2026 | Peppers Michele Aofficer: Principal Accounting Officer | Sell | 14,000 | $34.50 |
Source: PRDO SEC Form 4 filings, latest Aug 12, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full PRDO insider & 13F page →Perdoceo Education Corporation company profile
Overview
Perdoceo Education Corporation (NASDAQ:PRDO) is a for-profit postsecondary education company that provides career-focused degree programs primarily through online and blended learning formats. Originally incorporated in 1994 as Career Education Corporation, the company rebranded to Perdoceo Education Corporation in January 2020. Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, Perdoceo has evolved from its traditional campus-based origins to become a predominantly online education provider, serving approximately 40,400 students across its portfolio of institutions as of recent reporting periods.
Business
Perdoceo operates in the for-profit higher education sector, which provides career-oriented degree programs designed to prepare students for specific professional fields. The company's educational offerings focus on disciplines with strong employment demand, including business and management, nursing, healthcare management, computer science, engineering, information systems and technology, project management, cybersecurity, and criminal justice. The company operates through three primary institutional segments. Colorado Technical University (CTU) represents the largest segment, generating approximately 67% of total revenue in 2024 with $456.9 million. CTU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs with a strong emphasis on technology and engineering fields, serving students primarily through online delivery methods with some campus-based options. American InterContinental University (AIU) System contributes roughly 31% of revenue at $213.5 million in 2024. AIU focuses on business, design, and technology programs, offering both associate and bachelor's degree programs through online and campus-based formats. This segment has experienced enrollment challenges in recent years due to regulatory compliance adjustments. The newest addition is the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, acquired in December 2024 for approximately $142-144 million. This acquisition expands Perdoceo's presence in the growing healthcare education market, offering graduate and postgraduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and nursing. With approximately 3,800 students and 2023 revenues of around $170 million, this segment represents the company's strategic expansion into high-demand healthcare professions. The company utilizes proprietary technology platforms including intellipath, a personalized learning system that adapts to individual student learning patterns, and mobile applications with two-way messaging capabilities to enhance student engagement and support.
Revenue model
Perdoceo generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in its degree programs. The business model is fundamentally based on product sales where education services are sold directly to students, with payment often facilitated through federal financial aid programs including Title IV federal student loans and grants. The company's paying customers are individual students seeking career-focused education, though an increasing portion of revenue comes from corporate partnership programs where employers sponsor or reimburse employee education costs. These corporate relationships provide a more stable revenue stream and often result in higher student retention rates. Revenue recognition follows an academic calendar structure, with students typically enrolling in terms throughout the year. The online delivery model allows for more flexible start dates and program completion timelines compared to traditional semester-based institutions, enabling more consistent revenue flow throughout the year. Several factors significantly impact the company's margins and profitability. Regulatory compliance costs represent a substantial ongoing expense, as for-profit education institutions face extensive federal oversight regarding student outcomes, job placement rates, and financial aid administration. Changes in federal education policy or Title IV funding availability can dramatically affect enrollment and revenue. Marketing and student acquisition costs are major margin drivers, typically representing 15-20% of revenue. The company has refined its marketing processes using data analytics to identify prospective students more likely to succeed, improving both cost efficiency and student outcomes. Student retention rates directly impact profitability since the cost of acquiring new students is significantly higher than retaining existing ones. Competition from traditional universities expanding online offerings and other for-profit institutions creates pricing pressure and increases marketing costs. However, the company's focus on career-oriented programs in high-demand fields like healthcare, technology, and cybersecurity provides some insulation from broader higher education enrollment trends. Technology infrastructure investments represent both a cost and competitive advantage, as effective online learning platforms and student support systems are essential for maintaining quality and retention in the digital education market.
Competitive moat
Perdoceo's competitive moat is relatively narrow, reflecting the challenges inherent in the for-profit education sector. The company's primary defensive characteristics center around regulatory compliance expertise and operational scale in online education delivery. The company has developed substantial institutional knowledge in navigating the complex regulatory environment governing for-profit education, including Title IV compliance, accreditation maintenance, and state authorization requirements. This regulatory expertise creates barriers for new entrants, as compliance failures can result in loss of federal financial aid eligibility, which would be fatal for most for-profit institutions. Operational scale and technology infrastructure provide some competitive advantages through economies of scale in content development, technology platforms, and student support services. The company's proprietary intellipath learning platform and data analytics capabilities for student success prediction represent modest technological differentiation. However, the moat faces significant challenges. Brand perception issues plague the entire for-profit education sector, with ongoing scrutiny regarding student outcomes, debt levels, and employment placement rates. Traditional universities have rapidly expanded online offerings, often with stronger brand recognition and lower cost structures due to their non-profit status and diverse revenue sources. Competitive threats include not only traditional higher education institutions but also emerging alternative education providers, professional certification programs, and employer-sponsored training initiatives. The rise of massive open online courses (MOOCs), coding bootcamps, and industry-specific certification programs provides students with alternative pathways that may offer better cost-benefit ratios. The company's recent acquisition of University of St. Augustine represents an attempt to strengthen its moat by entering the healthcare education market, where regulatory barriers and clinical training requirements create higher barriers to entry. However, this segment also faces intense competition from established healthcare education providers. Overall, Perdoceo operates in a structurally challenging industry with limited sustainable competitive advantages, requiring continuous investment in technology, marketing, and regulatory compliance to maintain market position.
Risks & safety
Perdoceo demonstrates a strong margin of safety from a financial stability perspective, though valuation metrics suggest limited upside potential. Financial Strength: - Cash position: $132 million with minimal debt (debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13) - Current ratio: 4.46, indicating strong liquidity position - Free cash flow generation: $63.4 million in Q1 2025, demonstrating consistent cash generation - No significant solvency risk given strong balance sheet and cash flow characteristics Valuation Metrics: - Price-to-earnings ratio: 9.46 (relatively attractive for current earnings) - EV/EBITDA: 6.19 (reasonable for a mature education services company) - Price-to-book ratio: 1.70 (modest premium to book value) - Graham number: $14.87 vs current price of $25.17 (suggests potential overvaluation) Other Considerations: - Regulatory risk remains elevated in for-profit education sector - Enrollment trends show mixed signals across segments - Recent acquisition integration risk with St. Augustine purchase - Dividend yield provides some downside protection for income-focused investors
Recent development
Over the past several years, Perdoceo has executed a strategic transformation focused on operational efficiency, technology enhancement, and selective expansion. The company has significantly refined its marketing and student acquisition processes, leveraging data analytics and machine learning to identify prospective students more likely to succeed academically and professionally. This approach has improved both cost efficiency and student retention rates across its institutions. Technology investments have been a central theme, with the company redesigning its learning management system, updating mobile applications, and implementing AI-based student support solutions. The proprietary intellipath platform has been enhanced to provide more personalized learning experiences, while chatbot technologies and two-way messaging platforms have improved student engagement and support accessibility. The most significant strategic development was the December 2024 acquisition of University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, representing a $142-144 million investment to expand into the high-growth healthcare education market. This acquisition adds approximately 3,800 students and $170 million in annual revenue, focusing on graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and nursing. Corporate partnership programs have become an increasingly important growth driver, particularly at Colorado Technical University. These relationships with employers provide more stable enrollment patterns and higher retention rates, as students receive employer support and have clear career advancement paths. The company has also implemented significant capital allocation changes, initiating a quarterly dividend program in 2023 and implementing share repurchase programs. The dividend was increased by 18.2% in 2024, reflecting management's confidence in cash flow generation and commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Regulatory compliance improvements have been another focus area, particularly at the AIU System, which experienced enrollment challenges due to compliance adjustments. The company has normalized operations and expects double-digit enrollment growth recovery in this segment.
PRDO company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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