Grand Canyon Education (LOPE) vs Unifirst (UNF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Unifirst (UNF) has outperformed Grand Canyon Education (LOPE) over the past year, gaining 57.8% versus a loss of 24.0%. Over five years, LOPE leads with a +78.3% price change compared with +22.5% for UNF. Unifirst is the larger company by market cap ($4.69 billion vs $4.18 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Grand Canyon Education is growing revenue faster (+7.1% vs +0.2%).
On valuation, Grand Canyon Education trades at a lower forward P/E (14.2x vs 32.1x for Unifirst). Unifirst pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Grand Canyon Education does not currently pay one. Grand Canyon Education converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.5% versus 6.1%.
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 | LOPE | UNF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $160.30 | $259.60 |
| Market cap | $4.18B | $4.69B |
| 1-day change | +2.97% | +2.89% |
| YTD return | -3.61% | +34.58% |
| 1-year return | -24.03% | +57.78% |
| 5-year return | +78.27% | +22.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.41 | 41.01 |
| Forward P/E | 14.17 | 32.10 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.26 | $6.33 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.56% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.45 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.11B | $2.43B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.07% | +0.20% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $216.17M | $148.27M |
| Gross margin | — | 36.59% |
| Operating margin | 24.04% | 7.59% |
| Net margin | 19.54% | 6.10% |
| 52-week high | $223.04 | $306.67 |
| 52-week low | $134.27 | $147.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.13% | -15.35% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +21.02% | +5.29% |
| Average volume | 329.58K | 247.31K |
| Shares outstanding | 26.07M | 14.53M |
| Employees | — | 16,000 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Industrials |
| Industry | Other Consumer Services | Specialty Business 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
- UNF has outperformed LOPE by 81.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Unifirst trades at a higher earnings multiple (41.0x vs 19.4x trailing P/E).
- Grand Canyon Education is more profitable, keeping 19.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.1 cents for Unifirst.
- Grand Canyon Education grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.07% vs +0.20%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Grand Canyon Education in Real Estate and Unifirst in Industrials.
About Grand Canyon Education
LOPE stock →Grand Canyon Education, Inc. operates as an education services company in the United States.
Real Estate · Other Consumer Services
About Unifirst
UNF stock →UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in the United States, Europe, and Canada. It operates in three segments: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions; First Aid & Safety Solutions; and Other.
Industrials · Specialty Business Services · 16,000 employees
LOPE vs UNF FAQ
Which is bigger, Grand Canyon Education or Unifirst?
Unifirst (UNF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.69B compared with $4.18B for Grand Canyon Education (LOPE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOPE or UNF?
UNF returned +57.78% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.03% for LOPE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LOPE or UNF?
LOPE has the lower trailing P/E at 19.4, versus 41.0 for UNF. 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, Grand Canyon Education or Unifirst?
Unifirst pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Grand Canyon Education does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Grand Canyon Education and Unifirst in the same industry?
No. Grand Canyon Education is in the Real Estate sector, while Unifirst is in Industrials.