📊 APEI Key Takeaways
Is American Public Education Inc. (APEI) a Good Investment?
APEI demonstrates solid fundamental health with strong liquidity (3.46x current ratio), improving profitability (net income +24.7% YoY, EPS +147.3% YoY), and robust free cash flow generation ($46.1M). The company maintains reasonable leverage (0.32x debt/equity) while generating positive operating cash flow despite modest revenue growth of 3.9%, indicating operational efficiency improvements.
American Public Education shows improving fundamental momentum, with modest revenue growth translating into much stronger earnings, positive free cash flow, and solid returns on equity and assets. The balance sheet is healthy, supported by strong liquidity, ample cash, and manageable leverage, which gives the company flexibility even though margins remain moderate and top-line growth is not especially high.
Why Buy American Public Education Inc. Stock? APEI Key Strengths
- Exceptional earnings growth with EPS up 147.3% YoY and net income up 24.7% YoY
- Strong liquidity position with 3.46x current ratio and $174.1M cash equivalents
- Healthy free cash flow generation of $46.1M with 7.1% FCF margin covering capex 2.9x
- Conservative capital structure with 0.32x debt/equity ratio and 6.6x interest coverage
- Operating margin of 7.4% on modest revenue base of $648.9M
- Net income growth of 24.7% materially outpaced revenue growth of 3.9%, indicating improving operating efficiency and earnings quality
- Strong financial health with $174.09M in cash, a 3.46x current ratio, and low debt-to-equity of 0.32x
- Positive operating cash flow of $61.97M and free cash flow of $46.10M support reinvestment and balance sheet resilience
APEI Stock Risks: American Public Education Inc. Investment Risks
- Modest revenue growth at 3.9% YoY suggests limited top-line expansion in competitive education sector
- Low operating margin of 7.4% leaves limited cushion for operational stress or unexpected cost pressures
- Educational services sector faces regulatory risks and demographic headwinds affecting enrollment
- ROE of 10.7% and ROA of 6.1% indicate moderate capital efficiency relative to equity base
- Significant insider activity (22 Form 4 filings in 90 days) warrants monitoring for potential insider motivations
- Revenue growth of 3.9% is relatively modest, which could limit earnings expansion if margin gains slow
- Operating margin of 7.4% and net margin of 4.9% leave limited room for execution missteps or enrollment pressure
- Interest coverage of 6.6x is acceptable but not exceptionally strong, so higher borrowing costs or weaker profits could tighten coverage
Key Metrics to Watch
- Revenue growth acceleration - critical to validate if 3.9% growth is sustainable or temporary
- Operating margin expansion - monitor ability to drive margin improvement beyond current 7.4%
- Free cash flow sustainability - ensure $46.1M FCF is repeatable and not benefiting from working capital timing
- Enrollment trends - track student acquisition and retention as leading indicator for future revenue
- Debt paydown trajectory - monitor if company maintains financial flexibility while managing $94.7M long-term debt
- Revenue growth and student enrollment trends
- Operating margin and free cash flow conversion
American Public Education Inc. (APEI) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Strong liquidity with a 3.46x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.
APEI Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
APEI vs Services Sector: How American Public Education Inc. Compares
How American Public Education Inc. compares to Services sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is American Public Education Inc. Stock Overvalued? APEI Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, American Public Education Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Services sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
American Public Education Inc. Balance Sheet: APEI Debt, Cash & Liquidity
APEI Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: American Public Education Inc.'s revenue has grown significantly by 55% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $-2.93 indicates the company is currently unprofitable.
APEI Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
APEI Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $153.1M | $371.0K | $0.04 |
| Q2 2025 | $152.9M | $371.0K | $-0.02 |
| Q1 2025 | $154.4M | $516.0K | $-0.06 |
| Q3 2024 | $150.8M | $371.0K | $0.04 |
| Q2 2024 | $147.2M | $371.0K | $-0.06 |
| Q1 2024 | $149.7M | $516.0K | $-0.06 |
| Q3 2023 | $149.5M | -$3.3M | $-0.20 |
| Q2 2023 | $147.2M | $5.3M | $-2.93 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
American Public Education Inc. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
APEI SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for American Public Education Inc. (CIK: 0001201792)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about APEI
What is the AI rating for APEI?
American Public Education Inc. (APEI) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 74% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are APEI's key strengths?
Claude: Exceptional earnings growth with EPS up 147.3% YoY and net income up 24.7% YoY. Strong liquidity position with 3.46x current ratio and $174.1M cash equivalents. ChatGPT: Net income growth of 24.7% materially outpaced revenue growth of 3.9%, indicating improving operating efficiency and earnings quality. Strong financial health with $174.09M in cash, a 3.46x current ratio, and low debt-to-equity of 0.32x.
What are the risks of investing in APEI?
Claude: Modest revenue growth at 3.9% YoY suggests limited top-line expansion in competitive education sector. Low operating margin of 7.4% leaves limited cushion for operational stress or unexpected cost pressures. ChatGPT: Revenue growth of 3.9% is relatively modest, which could limit earnings expansion if margin gains slow. Operating margin of 7.4% and net margin of 4.9% leave limited room for execution missteps or enrollment pressure.
What is APEI's revenue and growth?
American Public Education Inc. reported revenue of $648.9M.
Does APEI pay dividends?
American Public Education Inc. pays dividends, with $93.8M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find APEI SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for American Public Education Inc. (CIK: 0001201792) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is APEI's EPS?
American Public Education Inc. has a diluted EPS of $1.36.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is APEI a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, American Public Education Inc. has a BUY rating with 74% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is APEI stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for APEI: ROE of 10.7% (sector avg: 16%), net margin of 4.9% (sector avg: 10%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
Should I buy APEI stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives American Public Education Inc. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is APEI's free cash flow?
American Public Education Inc.'s operating cash flow is $62.0M, with capital expenditures of $15.9M. FCF margin is 7.1%.
How does APEI compare to other Services stocks?
Vs Services sector averages: Net margin 4.9% (avg: 10%), ROE 10.7% (avg: 16%), current ratio 3.46 (avg: 1.5).