My recommendation for Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE ) is a buy rating. My view is that ATGE is able to fill the gap for the long-term shortage of healthcare workers, and with a Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities ...

Group 1 - Government influence over educational institutions has become a significant point of social and political debate [1] - Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE) is actively engaging in this discourse [1] Group 2 - The article reflects the author's personal experiences and insights related to teaching and consulting in the education sector [1]

Core Insights - The primary purpose of a business is to generate profits for reinvestment or shareholder rewards, with net profit margin being a key metric for measuring profitability [1][3] - A higher net profit margin indicates a company's efficiency in converting sales into actual profits and reflects operational management [2][4] Net Profit Margin Analysis - Net profit margin is calculated as Net Profit/Sales * 100, representing the amount retained after all expenses [3] - Companies like Natural Gas Services Group, Ardmore Shipping, Adtalem Global Education, and RGC Resources exhibit strong net profit margins, indicating solid profitability [2][9] Investment Criteria - A healthy net profit margin and solid earnings per share (EPS) growth are essential for a robust business model [7] - Screening parameters include a net margin of at least 0%, positive EPS growth, and a broker rating of 1, indicating strong bullish sentiment [8] Company Performance - Natural Gas Services (NGS) has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A, with a revised earnings estimate of $1.40 per share for 2025, reflecting an 18.6% upward revision [12][11] - Ardmore Shipping (ASC) also holds a Zacks Rank of 1, with a revised earnings estimate of $1.36 per share, showing a 5.2% average surprise in earnings [13][14] - Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a revised earnings estimate of $6.52 per share, with an 18.4% average surprise [15] - RGC Resources has a Zacks Rank of 2, with a revised earnings estimate of $1.25 per share and a 34.9% average surprise [16]

Company Performance - Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) has gained approximately 41.4% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the average gain of 11.2% in the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATGE's full-year earnings has increased by 5.1% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and earnings outlook [4] - Adtalem Global Education holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable investment outlook [3] Industry Context - Adtalem Global Education is part of the Schools industry, which ranks 10 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 10.4% this year [6] - The Consumer Discretionary group, which includes 255 companies, currently ranks 9 within the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - Fox (FOXA), another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, has returned 16.9% year-to-date and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]

Company Performance - Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) has returned approximately 32% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the average gain of 5.8% in the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATGE's full-year earnings has increased by 5.1% over the past three months, indicating improved analyst sentiment and earnings outlook [4] - Adtalem Global Education is ranked 2 (Buy) in the Zacks Rank, suggesting strong potential for future performance [3] Industry Comparison - Adtalem Global Education is part of the Schools industry, which ranks 17 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 6% this year, indicating that ATGE is performing better than its industry peers [6] - In contrast, Fox (FOXA), another Consumer Discretionary stock, has returned 10.8% year-to-date and is part of the Broadcast Radio and Television industry, which ranks 78 and has gained 25.5% this year [5][6] - The Consumer Discretionary sector as a whole is ranked 12 among 16 different sector groups in the Zacks Sector Rank [2]

Summary of Adtalem Global Education Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Adtalem Global Education - **Industry**: Post-secondary education, specifically healthcare-focused institutions - **Current Enrollment**: Approximately 92,000 to 94,000 students across five institutions, with 92% of programs in healthcare [1][5] Core Business and Strategy - **Mission**: Expand access to high-quality clinical careers for historically overlooked students and address critical workforce shortages in healthcare [4] - **Institutions**: - Chamberlain University: Largest nursing school in the U.S. with over 40,000 students [5] - Walden University: Fully online university with nearly 50,000 students, third largest nursing school [6] - Medical and Veterinary Schools: Two medical schools and one veterinary school serving about 4,500 students [6][7] - **Strategic Focus**: Operational excellence through a three-year strategy termed "growth with purpose," focusing on marketing, enrollment, retention, pricing, and programs [8][10] Financial Performance - **Enrollment Growth**: Total enrollment has grown sequentially for nine straight quarters [9] - **Revenue and Profitability**: Revenue growth has been primarily organic, with profitability improving significantly over the years [11] - **Earnings Per Share**: Attractive growth in earnings per share due to improved profitability and effective balance sheet management [11] Key Metrics and Achievements - **Leading Grantor**: Number one grantor of nursing and MD degrees in the U.S. [12] - **Alumni Success**: Strong employability and low cohort default rates, reflecting the quality of education and job placement [14] - **Diversity**: Largest producer of Black and Latino physicians in the U.S. [19] Market Environment - **Demand Trends**: Normalized demand environment post-COVID, with a growing competitive landscape in healthcare education [21][22] - **Competitive Moat**: Strong brand equity, clinical relationships, and regulatory approvals allow for uncapped student enrollment across states [23] Institutional Branding - **Chamberlain vs. Walden**: Distinct branding strategies allow for capturing different market segments; Chamberlain focuses on pre-licensure nursing while Walden targets post-licensure [24][26] Pricing Strategy - **Pricing Philosophy**: Chamberlain is positioned as a premium brand, while Walden operates as a more affordable option, allowing for a diverse enrollment mix [26][27] - **Price Optimization**: Adjustments made to pricing based on market conditions and enrollment trends [28][29] Future Growth and Sustainability - **Growth Drivers**: Focus on student success, maximizing existing capacity, and introducing new programs in new geographies [35][36] - **Operating Leverage**: Ability to grow revenues without proportional increases in expenses, targeting 100 basis points of margin improvement annually [38][39] Regulatory Environment - **Current Landscape**: Favorable regulatory conditions for proprietary higher education, with potential positive changes in legislation that could benefit Adtalem [47][50] - **Concerns**: Proposed cuts to education funding and loan programs, but the company believes it can manage these challenges through alternative financing options [51][53] Conclusion - **Outlook**: The company is optimistic about sustaining growth and profitability, with plans for future investor updates and projections [44][45]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating the value opportunities presented by Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in the current market [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Value Scores - Both ATGE and UTI currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and improving earnings outlooks [3] - The Zacks Rank is a strategy that targets companies with favorable earnings estimate trends, while the Style Scores assess companies based on specific traits [2] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - ATGE has a forward P/E ratio of 19.90, while UTI has a higher forward P/E of 33.82 [5] - ATGE's PEG ratio is 1.33, which is more favorable compared to UTI's PEG ratio of 2.25, indicating better expected EPS growth relative to its valuation [5] - ATGE's P/B ratio stands at 3.37, significantly lower than UTI's P/B of 6.62, suggesting ATGE is more undervalued based on its book value [6] Group 3: Overall Value Assessment - Based on various valuation metrics, ATGE is assigned a Value grade of B, while UTI receives a Value grade of C, indicating that ATGE is currently the superior value option [6]

Core Viewpoint - Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) has demonstrated strong stock performance with a year-to-date increase of 42.6%, significantly outperforming the Zacks Schools industry and the broader market indices [1][2]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings per share has increased to $6.42 from $6.20 over the past 60 days, indicating a growth of 28.1% compared to the previous year [3]. - For fiscal 2025, Adtalem expects revenues to be between $1,760 million and $1,775 million, an increase from the prior estimate of $1,730 million to $1,760 million. Adjusted EPS is projected to be in the range of $6.40 to $6.60, up from $6.10 to $6.30 [10]. Growth Drivers - The company is experiencing solid enrollment growth, with total student enrollment rising 9.8% year over year to 94,223 students, marking the 12th consecutive quarter of growth [8]. - Adtalem's Growth with Purpose strategy emphasizes sustainable progress and strategic execution, which is expected to enhance performance and long-term value creation [9]. - The company has partnered with Hippocratic AI, Inc. to develop a curriculum for training clinicians in AI healthcare applications, showcasing its focus on innovation and collaboration [7]. Market Position and Demand - Adtalem is addressing the nationwide shortage of healthcare professionals by aligning its programs with evolving workforce demands, particularly in nursing and healthcare education [11]. - The Practice Ready Specialty Focused program has enrolled over 4,000 students, with 900 completing specialty rotations, indicating a strong commitment to reshaping nursing education [12]. Challenges - The company faces margin pressure in the Medical and Veterinary segment and increased expenses, with the cost of educational services rising 10.9% year over year to $572.5 million [2][13].

Company Overview - Adtalem Global Education Inc. is a leading healthcare education provider and workforce solutions innovator, offering a wide array of programs across medical and healthcare services [12]. Zacks Rank and Style Scores - Adtalem has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of A, indicating a solid position in the market [12]. - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 26% over the past four weeks [13]. - One analyst has revised their earnings estimate upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.12 to $6.32 per share [13]. - Adtalem boasts an average earnings surprise of 18.4%, highlighting its potential for positive performance [13]. Investment Considerations - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, Adtalem should be on investors' short list for potential investment opportunities [13].

Core Insights - Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE) reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with adjusted earnings and revenues exceeding expectations and showing year-over-year growth [1][3] - The company's performance was driven by increased enrollment and higher tuition rates across all reportable segments, supported by strategic investments to enhance student experience [1][2] Earnings & Revenue Discussion - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.92, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63 by 17.8%, and increased from $1.50 in the prior year [3] - Revenues totaled $466.1 million, exceeding the consensus mark of $444 million by 4.9% and growing 12.9% year over year [3] - Total student enrollment rose 9.8% year over year to 94,223 students, compared to a predicted enrollment of 88,056 [3] Operating Performance - Adjusted operating income increased 17.4% year over year to $105.4 million, with an adjusted operating margin expanding 80 basis points to 22.6% [4] - Adjusted EBITDA was $127.8 million, up 19.3% from the prior year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expanding 150 basis points to 27.4% [4] Segment Performance - Chamberlain segment revenues increased 13.1% year over year to $192.6 million, with total student enrollment rising 6.8% to 40,564 students [5] - Walden segment generated revenues of $178.4 million, up 18.5% year over year, with total student enrollment increasing 13.5% to 48,526 students [7] - Medical and Veterinary segment revenues increased 3.6% to $95 million, with total student enrollment slightly up by 1.2% to 5,133 students [8] Liquidity & Cash Flow - As of March 31, 2025, Adtalem had cash and cash equivalents of $219 million, with long-term debt reduced to $552.2 million from $648.7 million at the end of fiscal 2024 [10] - For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, cash provided by operating activities totaled $273.8 million, up from $227.1 million in the prior year [11] Fiscal 2025 Guidance - Adtalem raised its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $1,760-$1,775 million, up from the previous estimate of $1,730-$1,760 million, and adjusted earnings guidance to $6.40-$6.60 per share from $6.10-$6.30 [12]