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American Public Education's (APEI) Q4 Earnings Top Estimates
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American Public Education, Inc. (APEI - Free Report) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2018 results, wherein earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while revenues missed the same.
The company reported earnings of 55 cents per share, surpassing the consensus mark of 52 cents by 5.8%. Also, the reported figure increased 7.8% on a year-over-year basis.
American Public Education, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Total revenues of $76.9 million lagged the consensus estimate of $77.5 million by 0.7%. Also, the reported figure decreased 1% from $78.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Lower contribution from Hondros College of Nursing (“HCN”) and American Public University System (“APUS”) impacted overall results.
Total revenues in the APUS segment came in at $66.9 million, down 1.6% from the year-ago quarter. The fall was mainly due to lower enrollments and net course registrations by new students. Total net course registration declined 1% from the year-ago quarter to 79,400. Net course registrations by new students fell 1% year over year to 9,800. As of Dec 31, 2018, APUS student enrollment declined 2% to 81,400 from the year-ago figure of 83,400.
HCN’s revenues decreased 0.8% from a year ago to $10.1 million in the reported quarter owing to reduced enrollments. Total enrollment in HCN was in line with the prior-year figure of 2,110 students, while new student enrollment fell 4% to 660 students. The decline was mainly due to the implementation of multiple changes to its curriculum, course retake policies and admission requirements.
Operating Highlights
Total costs and expenses during the quarter inched up 0.7% year over year to $65.5 million. The rise in cost and expenses was primarily due to increased compensation costs in the HCN segment, higher advertising expenses and stock-based compensation costs across its segments. The negative impact from the same was offset by a decline in instructional material costs and employee compensation expenses in its APEI segment.
General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenues, grew 200 basis points, mainly due to higher compensation costs across segments.
Financials
As of Dec 31, 2018, total cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $212.1 million compared with $179.2 million in the corresponding period of 2017. Capital expenditures amounted to roughly $9.4 million in 2018 compared with $14.8 million a year ago.
Full-Year 2018 Review
For full-year 2018, the company reported adjusted earnings of $1.54 per share, up 19.4% from the year-ago figure of $1.29. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings (excluding nearly $1.7 million in pre-tax expenses related to the voluntary reduction in force program and tax adjustment) came in at $1.62 per share. Revenues of $297.7 million decreased slightly from the year-ago figure of $299.2 million.
First-Quarter 2019 Guidance
For first-quarter 2019, the company expects total revenues in the range of flat to down 5%. Earnings are anticipated in the range of 29-34 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents.
Net course registrations at APUS are projected to increase 1% and registrations by new students are expected to grow 8% from the prior-year level.
At HCN, total student enrollment is likely to decline 15% from the year-ago quarter and new student enrollment is estimated to fall about 30%. Revenues at HCN are likely to add approximately 10% to APEI's consolidated revenues in the first quarter of 2019.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Currently, American Public Education carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Schools industry are Career Education Corporation (CECO - Free Report) , Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE - Free Report) and K12 Inc. (LRN - Free Report) . While Career Education sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Adtalem and K12 carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Career Education is expected to record an EPS growth rate of 9.5% in the current year.
Adtalem has an expected earnings growth rate of 2.5% for fiscal 2019.
K12’s earnings per share are expected to increase 16.2% in fiscal 2018.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 – 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%.
This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs.
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American Public Education's (APEI) Q4 Earnings Top Estimates
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI - Free Report) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2018 results, wherein earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while revenues missed the same.
The company reported earnings of 55 cents per share, surpassing the consensus mark of 52 cents by 5.8%. Also, the reported figure increased 7.8% on a year-over-year basis.
American Public Education, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
American Public Education, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | American Public Education, Inc. Quote
Revenues & Enrollment Discussion
Total revenues of $76.9 million lagged the consensus estimate of $77.5 million by 0.7%. Also, the reported figure decreased 1% from $78.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Lower contribution from Hondros College of Nursing (“HCN”) and American Public University System (“APUS”) impacted overall results.
Total revenues in the APUS segment came in at $66.9 million, down 1.6% from the year-ago quarter. The fall was mainly due to lower enrollments and net course registrations by new students. Total net course registration declined 1% from the year-ago quarter to 79,400. Net course registrations by new students fell 1% year over year to 9,800. As of Dec 31, 2018, APUS student enrollment declined 2% to 81,400 from the year-ago figure of 83,400.
HCN’s revenues decreased 0.8% from a year ago to $10.1 million in the reported quarter owing to reduced enrollments. Total enrollment in HCN was in line with the prior-year figure of 2,110 students, while new student enrollment fell 4% to 660 students. The decline was mainly due to the implementation of multiple changes to its curriculum, course retake policies and admission requirements.
Operating Highlights
Total costs and expenses during the quarter inched up 0.7% year over year to $65.5 million. The rise in cost and expenses was primarily due to increased compensation costs in the HCN segment, higher advertising expenses and stock-based compensation costs across its segments. The negative impact from the same was offset by a decline in instructional material costs and employee compensation expenses in its APEI segment.
General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenues, grew 200 basis points, mainly due to higher compensation costs across segments.
Financials
As of Dec 31, 2018, total cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $212.1 million compared with $179.2 million in the corresponding period of 2017. Capital expenditures amounted to roughly $9.4 million in 2018 compared with $14.8 million a year ago.
Full-Year 2018 Review
For full-year 2018, the company reported adjusted earnings of $1.54 per share, up 19.4% from the year-ago figure of $1.29. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings (excluding nearly $1.7 million in pre-tax expenses related to the voluntary reduction in force program and tax adjustment) came in at $1.62 per share. Revenues of $297.7 million decreased slightly from the year-ago figure of $299.2 million.
First-Quarter 2019 Guidance
For first-quarter 2019, the company expects total revenues in the range of flat to down 5%. Earnings are anticipated in the range of 29-34 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents.
Net course registrations at APUS are projected to increase 1% and registrations by new students are expected to grow 8% from the prior-year level.
At HCN, total student enrollment is likely to decline 15% from the year-ago quarter and new student enrollment is estimated to fall about 30%. Revenues at HCN are likely to add approximately 10% to APEI's consolidated revenues in the first quarter of 2019.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Currently, American Public Education carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Schools industry are Career Education Corporation (CECO - Free Report) , Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE - Free Report) and K12 Inc. (LRN - Free Report) . While Career Education sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Adtalem and K12 carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Career Education is expected to record an EPS growth rate of 9.5% in the current year.
Adtalem has an expected earnings growth rate of 2.5% for fiscal 2019.
K12’s earnings per share are expected to increase 16.2% in fiscal 2018.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 – 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%.
This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs.
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