American Public Education (APEI) vs Strategic Education (STRA)
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 Strategic Education (STRA) over the past year, gaining 24.4% versus a gain of 0.6%. Over five years, APEI leads with a +82.9% price change compared with +13.2% for STRA. Strategic Education is the larger company by market cap ($1.81 billion vs $865.5 million), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Strategic Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.7x vs 12.6x for American Public Education). Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.94%, 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 | STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.29 | $81.67 |
| Market cap | $865.48M | $1.81B |
| 1-day change | +2.69% | +1.23% |
| YTD return | +21.83% | +0.60% |
| 1-year return | +24.43% | +0.60% |
| 5-year return | +82.88% | +13.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.07 | 13.63 |
| Forward P/E | 12.58 | 9.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $5.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.94% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.40 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $89.73 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $69.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.22% | -8.98% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.86% | +18.37% |
| Average volume | 300.63K | 296.34K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 22.21M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 3,683 |
| 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
- Strategic Education is about 2.1 times larger than American Public Education by market value ($1.81B vs $865.48M).
- APEI has outperformed STRA by 23.8 percentage points over the past year.
- American Public Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.1x vs 13.6x trailing P/E).
- Strategic Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.94% 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 Strategic Education
STRA stock →Strategic Education, Inc. provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 3,683 employees
APEI vs STRA FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Strategic Education?
Strategic Education (STRA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.81B compared with $865.48M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or STRA?
APEI returned +24.43% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.60% for STRA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or STRA?
STRA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.6, versus 19.1 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 Strategic Education?
Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.94%, while American Public Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Public Education and Strategic Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.