Afya (AFYA) vs Strategic Education (STRA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Strategic Education (STRA) has outperformed Afya (AFYA) over the past year, gaining 0.6% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, STRA leads with a +13.2% price change compared with -30.4% for AFYA. Strategic Education is the larger company by market cap ($1.79 billion vs $1.23 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Afya trades at a lower forward P/E (7.1x vs 9.6x for Strategic Education). Afya offers the higher dividend yield (24.80% vs 2.97%).
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 | STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $13.90 | $80.68 |
| Market cap | $1.23B | $1.79B |
| 1-day change | -0.11% | +1.08% |
| YTD return | -9.80% | +0.60% |
| 1-year return | -7.95% | +0.60% |
| 5-year return | -30.36% | +13.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.48 | 13.47 |
| Forward P/E | 7.11 | 9.55 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.64 | $5.99 |
| Dividend yield | 24.80% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $3.45 | $2.40 |
| 52-week high | $16.16 | $89.73 |
| 52-week low | $11.62 | $69.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.99% | -10.09% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.62% | +19.82% |
| Average volume | 233.40K | 294.03K |
| Shares outstanding | 49.90M | 22.21M |
| Employees | 9,395 | 3,683 |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training 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
- Strategic Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.5x vs 8.5x trailing P/E).
- Afya offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (24.80% vs 2.97%).
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.
Consumer Defensive · Education & Training Services · 9,395 employees
About Strategic Education
STRA stock →Strategic Education, Inc. provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills.
Consumer Defensive · Education & Training Services · 3,683 employees
AFYA vs STRA FAQ
Which is bigger, Afya or Strategic Education?
Strategic Education (STRA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.79B compared with $1.23B for Afya (AFYA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AFYA or STRA?
STRA returned +0.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.95% for AFYA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AFYA or STRA?
AFYA has the lower trailing P/E at 8.5, versus 13.5 for STRA. 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 Strategic Education?
Afya has the higher yield at 24.80%, compared with 2.97% for Strategic Education.
Are Afya and Strategic Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Education & Training Services industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.