American Public Education (APEI) vs Youdao (DAO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Youdao (DAO) has outperformed American Public Education (APEI) over the past year, gaining 62.2% versus a gain of 28.4%. Over five years, APEI leads with a +89.7% price change compared with +45.9% for DAO. Youdao is the larger company by market cap ($2.10 billion vs $876.1 million), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Public Education trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 39.9x for Youdao).
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 | DAO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.87 | $17.40 |
| Market cap | $876.09M | $2.10B |
| 1-day change | +0.21% | +6.68% |
| YTD return | +26.38% | +72.62% |
| 1-year return | +28.41% | +62.16% |
| 5-year return | +89.71% | +45.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.22 | 87.00 |
| Forward P/E | 12.73 | 39.94 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.49 | $0.20 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $844.98M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +9.63% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $13.88M |
| Gross margin | — | 44.29% |
| Operating margin | — | 3.75% |
| Net margin | — | 1.64% |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $18.94 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $8.38 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.28% | -8.13% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.25% | +1.15% |
| Average volume | 300.48K | 60.06K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 32.65M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 3,595 |
| 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
- Youdao is about 2.4 times larger than American Public Education by market value ($2.10B vs $876.09M).
- DAO has outperformed APEI by 33.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Youdao trades at a higher earnings multiple (87.0x vs 19.2x trailing P/E).
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 Youdao
DAO stock →Youdao, Inc., an internet technology company, provides online services in the fields of content, community, communication, and commerce in the People's Republic of China. It operates through three segments: Learning Services, Smart Devices, and Online Marketing Services.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 3,595 employees
APEI vs DAO FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Youdao?
Youdao (DAO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.10B compared with $876.09M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or DAO?
DAO returned +62.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +28.41% for APEI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or DAO?
APEI has the lower trailing P/E at 19.2, versus 87.0 for DAO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are American Public Education and Youdao in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.