American Public Education (APEI) vs Universal Technical Institute (UTI)
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 Universal Technical Institute (UTI) over the past year, gaining 28.4% versus a loss of 33.3%. Over five years, UTI leads with a +201.8% price change compared with +89.7% for APEI. Universal Technical Institute is the larger company by market cap ($1.14 billion vs $872.4 million), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, American Public Education trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 22.2x for Universal Technical Institute).
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 | UTI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.67 | $20.64 |
| Market cap | $872.43M | $1.14B |
| 1-day change | -0.21% | +1.60% |
| YTD return | +26.38% | -22.27% |
| 1-year return | +28.41% | -33.34% |
| 5-year return | +89.71% | +201.78% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.22 | 33.83 |
| Forward P/E | 12.68 | 22.19 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.48 | $0.61 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $61.59 | $51.34 |
| 52-week low | $30.20 | $18.02 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.60% | -59.81% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.80% | +88.18% |
| Average volume | 300.48K | 1.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 18.30M | 55.10M |
| Employees | 2,360 | 4,100 |
| 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 UTI by 61.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Universal Technical Institute trades at a higher earnings multiple (33.8x vs 19.2x 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 Universal Technical Institute
UTI stock →Universal Technical Institute, Inc. provides transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare education programs in the United States.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 4,100 employees
APEI vs UTI FAQ
Which is bigger, American Public Education or Universal Technical Institute?
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.14B compared with $872.43M for American Public Education (APEI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APEI or UTI?
APEI returned +28.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -33.34% for UTI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, APEI or UTI?
APEI has the lower trailing P/E at 19.2, versus 33.8 for UTI. 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 Universal Technical Institute in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.