American Public Education (APEI) vs Perdoceo Education (PRDO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
American Public Education (APEI) has outperformed Perdoceo Education (PRDO) over the past year, gaining 24.4% versus a loss of 7.0%. Over five years, PRDO leads with a +196.4% price change compared with +82.9% for APEI. Perdoceo Education is the larger company by market cap ($2.01 billion vs $842.8 million), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, Perdoceo Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 12.2x for American Public Education). Perdoceo Education pays a dividend yielding 1.93%, 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 | PRDO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $46.05 | $32.19 |
| Market cap | $842.79M | $2.01B |
| 1-day change | -0.37% | +0.41% |
| YTD return | +21.83% | +9.75% |
| 1-year return | +24.43% | -7.05% |
| 5-year return | +82.88% | +196.41% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.57 | 11.71 |
| Forward P/E | 12.25 | 9.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $2.75 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.93% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.62 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $38.50 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $26.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.23% | -16.39% |
| Analyst consensus | — | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +36.69% |
| Average volume | 300.73K | 721.34K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 62.58M |
| Employees | — | 6,000 |
| 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
- Perdoceo Education is about 2.4 times larger than American Public Education by market value ($2.01B vs $842.79M).
- APEI has outperformed PRDO by 31.5 percentage points over the past year.
- American Public Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.6x vs 11.7x trailing P/E).
- Perdoceo Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.93% vs 0.00%).
About Perdoceo Education
PRDO stock →Perdoceo Education Corporation provides postsecondary education through online, campus-based, and blended learning programs in the United States. It operates through three segments: Colorado Technical University (CTU), The American InterContinental University System (AIUS), and University of St.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 6,000 employees
APEI vs PRDO FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Perdoceo Education?
Perdoceo Education (PRDO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.01B compared with $842.79M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or PRDO?
APEI returned +24.43% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.05% for PRDO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or PRDO?
PRDO has the lower trailing P/E at 11.7, versus 18.6 for APEI. 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 Perdoceo Education?
Perdoceo Education pays a dividend yielding 1.93%, while American Public Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Public Education and Perdoceo Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.