Strategic Education (STRA) vs Universal Technical Institute (UTI)
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 Universal Technical Institute (UTI) over the past year, gaining 0.6% versus a loss of 33.7%. Over five years, UTI leads with a +195.5% price change compared with +13.2% for STRA. Strategic Education is the larger company by market cap ($1.83 billion vs $1.11 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Strategic Education trades at a lower forward P/E (9.7x vs 21.7x for Universal Technical Institute). Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.92%, while Universal Technical Institute 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 | STRA | UTI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $82.25 | $20.21 |
| Market cap | $1.83B | $1.11B |
| 1-day change | +1.95% | +1.61% |
| YTD return | +0.60% | -23.88% |
| 1-year return | +0.60% | -33.70% |
| 5-year return | +13.24% | +195.54% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.73 | 33.13 |
| Forward P/E | 9.74 | 21.73 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.99 | $0.61 |
| Dividend yield | 2.92% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.40 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $89.73 | $51.34 |
| 52-week low | $69.70 | $18.02 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.34% | -60.63% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.53% | +92.13% |
| Average volume | 296.34K | 1.64M |
| Shares outstanding | 22.21M | 55.10M |
| Employees | 3,683 | 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
- STRA has outperformed UTI by 34.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Universal Technical Institute trades at a higher earnings multiple (33.1x vs 13.7x trailing P/E).
- Strategic Education offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.92% vs 0.00%).
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
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
STRA vs UTI FAQ
Which is bigger, Strategic Education or Universal Technical Institute?
Strategic Education (STRA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.83B compared with $1.11B for Universal Technical Institute (UTI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, STRA or UTI?
STRA returned +0.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -33.70% for UTI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, STRA or UTI?
STRA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.7, versus 33.1 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, Strategic Education or Universal Technical Institute?
Strategic Education pays a dividend yielding 2.92%, while Universal Technical Institute does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Strategic Education and Universal Technical Institute in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Other Consumer Services industry within the Real Estate sector.