Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) 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
Strategic Education (STRA) has outperformed Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) over the past year, gaining 0.6% versus a loss of 32.9%. Over five years, STRA leads with a +13.2% price change compared with -59.2% for BFAM. Bright Horizons Family Solutions is the larger company by market cap ($3.35 billion vs $1.83 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, Strategic Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 11.7x for Bright Horizons Family Solutions). Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.91%, while Bright Horizons Family Solutions 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 | BFAM | STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $68.89 | $82.39 |
| Market cap | $3.35B | $1.83B |
| 1-day change | +3.07% | +2.12% |
| YTD return | -34.08% | +0.60% |
| 1-year return | -32.88% | +0.60% |
| 5-year return | -59.20% | +13.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.80 | 13.75 |
| Forward P/E | 11.68 | 9.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.16 | $5.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.91% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.93B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.22% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $193.12M | — |
| Gross margin | 23.77% | — |
| Operating margin | 10.73% | — |
| Net margin | 6.58% | — |
| 52-week high | $109.86 | $89.73 |
| 52-week low | $57.63 | $69.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -37.29% | -8.18% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +27.90% | +17.33% |
| Average volume | 828.35K | 296.34K |
| Shares outstanding | 48.64M | 22.21M |
| Employees | 32,200 | 3,683 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | 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
- STRA has outperformed BFAM by 33.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions trades at a higher earnings multiple (21.8x vs 13.8x trailing P/E).
- Strategic Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.91% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Bright Horizons Family Solutions in Consumer Discretionary and Strategic Education in Real Estate.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions
BFAM stock →Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. provides early education and childcare, comprehensive back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Consumer Services · 32,200 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
BFAM vs STRA FAQ
Which is bigger, Bright Horizons Family Solutions or Strategic Education?
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.35B compared with $1.83B for Strategic Education (STRA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BFAM or STRA?
STRA returned +0.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -32.88% for BFAM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BFAM or STRA?
STRA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.8, versus 21.8 for BFAM. 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, Bright Horizons Family Solutions or Strategic Education?
Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.91%, while Bright Horizons Family Solutions does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bright Horizons Family Solutions and Strategic Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.