Afya (AFYA) vs American Public Education (APEI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
American Public Education (APEI) has outperformed Afya (AFYA) over the past year, gaining 28.4% versus a loss of 5.4%. Over five years, APEI leads with a +89.7% price change compared with -29.1% for AFYA. Afya is the larger company by market cap ($1.25 billion vs $874.3 million), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Afya trades at a lower forward P/E (7.2x vs 12.7x for American Public Education). Afya pays a dividend yielding 24.36%, while American Public Education does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AFYA | APEI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.15 | $47.77 |
| Market cap | $1.25B | $874.26M |
| 1-day change | +1.80% | +3.74% |
| YTD return | -8.18% | +26.38% |
| 1-year return | -5.41% | +28.41% |
| 5-year return | -29.11% | +89.71% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.63 | 19.26 |
| Forward P/E | 7.24 | 12.70 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.64 | $2.48 |
| Dividend yield | 24.36% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $3.45 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $16.16 | $61.59 |
| 52-week low | $11.62 | $30.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.44% | -22.44% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.38% | +31.53% |
| Average volume | 240.93K | 300.48K |
| Shares outstanding | 49.90M | 18.30M |
| Employees | 9,395 | 2,360 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Other Consumer Services | Other Consumer Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- APEI has outperformed AFYA by 33.8 percentage points over the past year.
- American Public Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.3x vs 8.6x trailing P/E).
- Afya offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (24.36% vs 0.00%).
About Afya
AFYA stock →Afya Limited operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates in three segments: Undergraduate, Continuing Education, and Medical Practice Solutions.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 9,395 employees
About American Public Education
APEI stock →American Public Education, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education services in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 2,360 employees
AFYA vs APEI FAQ
Which is bigger, Afya or American Public Education?
Afya (AFYA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.25B compared with $874.26M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AFYA or APEI?
APEI returned +28.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.41% for AFYA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AFYA or APEI?
AFYA has the lower trailing P/E at 8.6, versus 19.3 for APEI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Afya or American Public Education?
Afya pays a dividend yielding 24.36%, while American Public Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Afya and American Public Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.