Strayer Education Inc. (STRA - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 95 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16 by 18.1%. Also, adjusted earnings decreased 21.5% year over year.
Full-year 2016 earnings came in at $2.98 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.23 and down from $3.70 reported a year ago.
Revenues
Revenues increased 5% to $119.3 million, primarily buoyed by increased enrollment which was however partly offset by lower revenue per student.
In 2016, revenues increased 2% to $441.1 million, below analysts’ expectation of $442.2 million.
Enrollment Details
Total enrollment at Strayer University for the winter term of 2017 increased 6.2% to 43,387 students compared with 40,872 students for the winter term of 2016. New student enrollments rose by 8% and continuing student enrollments increased by 6%.
Operating Results
Operating margin decreased 260 basis points (bps) to 16.5%. Adjusted operating margin came in at 15.4%. Bad debt expenses, as a percentage of revenues, were 4.6% in the fourth quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 130 bps.
Financial Details
Strayer Education ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $129.2 million, as of Dec 31, 2016, compared with $106.9 million as of Dec 31, 2015.
The company generated $44.5 million in cash from operating activities in 2016 compared with $77.5 million a year ago. Capital expenditures totaled $13.2 million in 2016, compared with $12.7 million in 2015.
The company had a $70 million worth of share repurchase authorization as of Sep 30, 2016. Notably, no shares were repurchased in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Strayer Education currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Peer Releases
DeVry Education Group Inc. (DV - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter fiscal 2017 results, with earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and revenues almost meeting the mark. Adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents by 16.4%.
Capella Education Company reported adjusted earnings of 97 cents in the fourth quarter of 2016, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents by 2.1%. Adjusted earnings per share decreased 7.6% year over year.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI - Free Report) reported adjusted loss of 9 cents per share in the first quarter of 2017, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents by 10%. In the year-ago quarter, the company had posted loss per share of 3 cents. Quarterly earnings in the first quarter have been adjusted for severance costs.
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Strayer Education Inc. (STRA - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 95 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16 by 18.1%. Also, adjusted earnings decreased 21.5% year over year.
Full-year 2016 earnings came in at $2.98 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.23 and down from $3.70 reported a year ago.
Revenues
Revenues increased 5% to $119.3 million, primarily buoyed by increased enrollment which was however partly offset by lower revenue per student.
In 2016, revenues increased 2% to $441.1 million, below analysts’ expectation of $442.2 million.
Enrollment Details
Total enrollment at Strayer University for the winter term of 2017 increased 6.2% to 43,387 students compared with 40,872 students for the winter term of 2016. New student enrollments rose by 8% and continuing student enrollments increased by 6%.
Operating Results
Operating margin decreased 260 basis points (bps) to 16.5%. Adjusted operating margin came in at 15.4%. Bad debt expenses, as a percentage of revenues, were 4.6% in the fourth quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 130 bps.
Financial Details
Strayer Education ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $129.2 million, as of Dec 31, 2016, compared with $106.9 million as of Dec 31, 2015.
The company generated $44.5 million in cash from operating activities in 2016 compared with $77.5 million a year ago. Capital expenditures totaled $13.2 million in 2016, compared with $12.7 million in 2015.
The company had a $70 million worth of share repurchase authorization as of Sep 30, 2016. Notably, no shares were repurchased in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Strayer Education currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Peer Releases
DeVry Education Group Inc. (DV - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter fiscal 2017 results, with earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and revenues almost meeting the mark. Adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents by 16.4%.
Capella Education Company reported adjusted earnings of 97 cents in the fourth quarter of 2016, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents by 2.1%. Adjusted earnings per share decreased 7.6% year over year.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI - Free Report) reported adjusted loss of 9 cents per share in the first quarter of 2017, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents by 10%. In the year-ago quarter, the company had posted loss per share of 3 cents. Quarterly earnings in the first quarter have been adjusted for severance costs.
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In this latest Special Report, Zacks’ Aggressive Growth Strategist Brian Bolan explores a full-blown technological breakthrough in the making – autonomous cars. He also spotlights 8 stocks with tremendous gain potential to feed off this phenomenon. Click to see the stocks right now >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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