Laureate Education (LAUR) vs Strategic Education (STRA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Laureate Education (LAUR) has outperformed Strategic Education (STRA) over the past year, gaining 31.0% versus a gain of 0.6%. Over five years, LAUR leads with a +122.9% price change compared with +13.2% for STRA. Laureate Education is the larger company by market cap ($5.31 billion vs $1.79 billion), about 3.0 times the size.
On valuation, Strategic Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.6x vs 15.9x for Laureate Education). Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.97%, while Laureate 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 | LAUR | STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $38.56 | $80.68 |
| Market cap | $5.31B | $1.79B |
| 1-day change | +0.81% | +1.08% |
| YTD return | +14.52% | +0.60% |
| 1-year return | +31.02% | +0.60% |
| 5-year return | +122.89% | +13.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.53 | 13.47 |
| Forward P/E | 15.87 | 9.55 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.20 | $5.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.70B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.64% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $281.63M | — |
| Gross margin | 28.33% | — |
| Operating margin | 25.33% | — |
| Net margin | 16.55% | — |
| 52-week high | $40.93 | $89.73 |
| 52-week low | $24.98 | $69.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.78% | -10.09% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +6.87% | +19.82% |
| Average volume | 1.03M | 294.03K |
| Shares outstanding | 137.75M | 22.21M |
| Employees | 33,900 | 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
- Laureate Education is about 3.0 times larger than Strategic Education by market value ($5.31B vs $1.79B).
- LAUR has outperformed STRA by 30.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Laureate Education trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.5x vs 13.5x trailing P/E).
- Strategic Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 0.00%).
About Laureate Education
LAUR stock →Laureate Education, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, offers higher education programs and services to students through a portfolio of higher education institutions in Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The company offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and specialized degree programs in the areas of medicine and health sciences, engineering and information technology, and business and management through campus-based, online, and hybrid programs.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services · 33,900 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
LAUR vs STRA FAQ
Which is bigger, Laureate Education or Strategic Education?
Laureate Education (LAUR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.31B compared with $1.79B for Strategic Education (STRA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LAUR or STRA?
LAUR returned +31.02% 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, LAUR or STRA?
STRA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.5, versus 17.5 for LAUR. 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, Laureate Education or Strategic Education?
Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.97%, while Laureate Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Laureate Education and Strategic Education in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.