American Public Education (APEI) vs Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)
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 Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) over the past year, gaining 28.4% versus a gain of 6.1%. Over five years, LINC leads with a +244.3% price change compared with +89.7% for APEI. American Public Education is the larger company by market cap ($874.3 million vs $737.2 million), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, American Public Education trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 22.2x for Lincoln Educational Services).
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 | LINC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.77 | $23.24 |
| Market cap | $874.26M | $737.21M |
| 1-day change | +3.74% | +2.20% |
| YTD return | +26.38% | -3.77% |
| 1-year return | +28.41% | +6.12% |
| 5-year return | +89.71% | +244.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.59 | 31.84 |
| Forward P/E | 12.70 | 22.22 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.57 | $0.73 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $56.34 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $17.29 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.44% | -58.75% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.53% | +107.40% |
| Average volume | 300.48K | 874.93K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 31.72M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 2,190 |
| 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 LINC by 22.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Lincoln Educational Services trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.8x vs 18.6x 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 Lincoln Educational Services
LINC stock →Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides various career-oriented postsecondary education services to high school graduates and working adults in the United States. It operates in two segments, Campus Operations and Transitional.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 2,190 employees
APEI vs LINC FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Lincoln Educational Services?
American Public Education (APEI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $874.26M compared with $737.21M for Lincoln Educational Services (LINC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or LINC?
APEI returned +28.41% over the past 12 months, compared with +6.12% for LINC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or LINC?
APEI has the lower trailing P/E at 18.6, versus 31.8 for LINC. 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 Lincoln Educational Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.