American Public Education (APEI) vs Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
American Public Education (APEI) has outperformed Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) over the past year, gaining 24.4% versus a loss of 7.2%. Over five years, APEI leads with a +82.9% price change compared with +31.9% for DFIN. Donnelley Financial Solutions is the larger company by market cap ($1.22 billion vs $842.8 million), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Donnelley Financial Solutions trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 12.2x for American Public Education).
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 | DFIN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $46.05 | $49.80 |
| Market cap | $842.79M | $1.22B |
| 1-day change | -0.37% | +0.46% |
| YTD return | +21.83% | +6.66% |
| 1-year return | +24.43% | -7.21% |
| 5-year return | +82.88% | +31.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.57 | 34.11 |
| Forward P/E | 12.25 | 9.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $1.46 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $56.26 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $36.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.23% | -11.48% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +36.44% | +28.51% |
| Average volume | 300.63K | 236.73K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 24.59M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 1,750 |
| 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 DFIN by 31.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Donnelley Financial Solutions trades at a higher earnings multiple (34.1x vs 18.6x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: American Public Education in Real Estate and Donnelley Financial Solutions 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 Donnelley Financial Solutions
DFIN stock →Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. provides compliance and regulatory software and services in the United States, Asia, Europe, Canada, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Consumer Services · 1,750 employees
APEI vs DFIN FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Donnelley Financial Solutions?
Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.22B compared with $842.79M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or DFIN?
APEI returned +24.43% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.21% for DFIN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or DFIN?
APEI has the lower trailing P/E at 18.6, versus 34.1 for DFIN. 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 Donnelley Financial Solutions in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.