Youdao (DAO) 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
Youdao (DAO) has outperformed Strategic Education (STRA) over the past year, gaining 66.0% versus a gain of 0.6%. Over five years, DAO leads with a +41.4% price change compared with +13.2% for STRA. Youdao is the larger company by market cap ($1.99 billion vs $1.83 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Strategic Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 37.9x for Youdao). Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.91%, while Youdao 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 | DAO | STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.52 | $82.39 |
| Market cap | $1.99B | $1.83B |
| 1-day change | +0.36% | +2.12% |
| YTD return | +67.36% | +0.60% |
| 1-year return | +66.04% | +0.60% |
| 5-year return | +41.41% | +13.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 86.92 | 13.75 |
| Forward P/E | 37.90 | 9.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.19 | $5.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.91% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.40 |
| 52-week high | $18.94 | $89.73 |
| 52-week low | $8.38 | $69.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.80% | -8.18% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +6.57% | +17.33% |
| Average volume | 60.79K | 296.34K |
| Shares outstanding | 32.65M | 22.21M |
| Employees | 3,595 | 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
- DAO has outperformed STRA by 65.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Youdao trades at a higher earnings multiple (86.9x vs 13.8x trailing P/E).
- Strategic Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.91% vs 0.00%).
About Youdao
DAO stock →Youdao, Inc., an internet technology company, provides online services in the fields of content, community, communication, and commerce in the People's Republic of China. It operates through three segments: Learning Services, Smart Devices, and Online Marketing Services.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 3,595 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
DAO vs STRA FAQ
Which is bigger, Youdao or Strategic Education?
Youdao (DAO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.99B compared with $1.83B for Strategic Education (STRA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAO or STRA?
DAO returned +66.04% 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, DAO or STRA?
STRA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.8, versus 86.9 for DAO. 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, Youdao or Strategic Education?
Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.91%, while Youdao does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Youdao and Strategic Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.