American Public Education (APEI) vs CRA International (CRAI)
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 CRA International (CRAI) over the past year, gaining 28.4% versus a loss of 2.5%. Over five years, APEI leads with a +89.7% price change compared with +65.9% for CRAI. CRA International is the larger company by market cap ($1.10 billion vs $874.3 million), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, American Public Education trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 18.4x for CRA International). CRA International pays a dividend yielding 1.25%, 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 | APEI | CRAI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.77 | $175.55 |
| Market cap | $874.26M | $1.10B |
| 1-day change | 0.00% | -1.13% |
| YTD return | +26.38% | -11.53% |
| 1-year return | +28.41% | -2.54% |
| 5-year return | +89.71% | +65.88% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.26 | 23.41 |
| Forward P/E | 12.70 | 18.36 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $7.50 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.25% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.20 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $227.29 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $132.17 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.44% | -22.76% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.53% | +42.69% |
| Average volume | 300.48K | 135.63K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 6.28M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 968 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Consumer Discretionary |
| 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 CRAI by 30.9 percentage points over the past year.
- CRA International offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.25% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: American Public Education in Real Estate and CRA International in Consumer Discretionary.
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
About CRA International
CRAI stock →CRA International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides economic, financial, and management consulting services worldwide. It advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings; and guide corporations through business strategy and performance-related issues.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Consumer Services · 968 employees
APEI vs CRAI FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or CRA International?
CRA International (CRAI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.10B compared with $874.26M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or CRAI?
APEI returned +28.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.54% for CRAI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or CRAI?
APEI has the lower trailing P/E at 19.3, versus 23.4 for CRAI. 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, American Public Education or CRA International?
CRA International pays a dividend yielding 1.25%, while American Public Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Public Education and CRA International in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.