American Public Education (APEI) vs Phoenix Education Partners (PXED)
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 Phoenix Education Partners (PXED) over the past year, gaining 24.4% versus a loss of 32.6%. Phoenix Education Partners is the larger company by market cap ($921.4 million vs $860.6 million), about 1.1 times the size. On valuation, Phoenix Education Partners trades at a lower forward P/E (5.5x vs 12.5x for American Public Education).
Phoenix Education Partners pays a dividend yielding 2.46%, 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 | PXED |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.03 | $25.56 |
| Market cap | $860.63M | $921.37M |
| 1-day change | +2.12% | -0.62% |
| YTD return | +21.83% | -15.12% |
| 1-year return | +24.43% | -32.58% |
| 5-year return | +82.88% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.96 | 11.02 |
| Forward P/E | 12.51 | 5.55 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $2.32 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.46% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.63 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $47.08 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $23.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.65% | -45.71% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.61% | +60.41% |
| Average volume | 300.63K | 105.93K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 36.05M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 3,400 |
| 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 PXED by 57.0 percentage points over the past year.
- American Public Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.0x vs 11.0x trailing P/E).
- Phoenix Education Partners offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.46% vs 0.00%).
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 Phoenix Education Partners
PXED stock →Phoenix Education Partners, Inc., through its subsidiary, The University of Phoenix, Inc., provides online higher education for working adults in the United States. It develops talent solutions programs for employers, including a talent-sourcing platform that connects employers with students whose skills profiles align with job postings; and an AI-powered tool that scans an employer's inventory of sought-after skills and designs development pathways to internal job opportunities.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 3,400 employees
APEI vs PXED FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Phoenix Education Partners?
Phoenix Education Partners (PXED) is larger, with a market capitalization of $921.37M compared with $860.63M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or PXED?
APEI returned +24.43% over the past 12 months, compared with -32.58% for PXED (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or PXED?
PXED has the lower trailing P/E at 11.0, versus 19.0 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 Phoenix Education Partners?
Phoenix Education Partners pays a dividend yielding 2.46%, while American Public Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Public Education and Phoenix Education Partners in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.