Core Insights - Investors favor businesses with consistent profitability, measured effectively by net profit margin, which indicates a company's efficiency in converting sales into profits [1][2] - Companies such as Chefs' Warehouse, Perdoceo Education, Adtalem Global Education, and Nomad Foods exhibit strong net profit margins, making them attractive to investors [1][8] Financial Metrics - Net profit margin is calculated as Net Profit/Sales * 100, representing the amount retained after all expenses [2] - A higher net profit margin not only attracts investors but also skilled employees, enhancing overall business value [3] Investment Considerations - A strong net profit margin provides clarity on a company's business model, including pricing, cost structure, and manufacturing efficiency, making it a preferred metric for investors [4] - However, net profit margin varies significantly across industries, and its relevance can diminish for companies that rely heavily on debt financing [5] Screening Criteria - The screening parameters for selecting stocks include a net margin of at least 0%, positive earnings per share (EPS) growth, and a strong broker rating [7] - Stocks like CHEF, PRDO, ATGE, and NOMD were selected based on their strong net margins and favorable EPS growth outlooks, each holding a Zacks Rank of 2 and a VGM Score of A [8] Company Performance - Chefs' Warehouse has seen its 2025 earnings estimate revised upward to $1.75 per share, with a historical average earnings surprise of 11.3% [10] - Perdoceo Education's 2025 earnings estimate increased to $2.52 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 6.2% [12] - Adtalem Global Education maintains a fiscal 2026 earnings estimate of $6.52 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 18.4% [13] - Nomad Foods' 2025 earnings estimate was revised upward to $2.13 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 3.2% [14]

Core Insights - Investors are comparing Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to determine which stock is more attractive for value investing [1] Valuation Metrics - ATGE has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating stronger earnings estimate revision trends compared to UTI, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - ATGE's forward P/E ratio is 15.30, significantly lower than UTI's forward P/E of 30.47, suggesting ATGE may be undervalued [5] - ATGE's PEG ratio is 1.02, while UTI's PEG ratio is 2.03, indicating ATGE has a more favorable growth outlook relative to its valuation [5] - ATGE's P/B ratio is 2.97, compared to UTI's P/B of 5.96, further supporting ATGE's valuation attractiveness [6] - ATGE has a Value grade of B, while UTI has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the perception that ATGE is the better option for value investors [6]

Group 1 - Boyd Gaming (BYD) is a notable stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, which consists of 255 individual stocks and holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 9 [2] - Boyd Gaming currently has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for outperforming the market in the near term [3] - Year-to-date, Boyd Gaming has gained approximately 17%, outperforming the average gain of 7.3% in the Consumer Discretionary group [4] Group 2 - Boyd Gaming is part of the Gaming industry, which includes 39 companies and is currently ranked 92 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The Gaming industry has seen an average gain of about 22.8% year-to-date, indicating that Boyd Gaming is slightly underperforming its industry peers [6] - Another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, Adtalem Global Education (ATGE), has outperformed with a year-to-date increase of 25.8% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5][7]

Group 1 - Adtalem Global Education (ATGE) has experienced significant selling pressure, resulting in a 7.1% decline in stock price over the past four weeks, but analysts anticipate better earnings than previously predicted [1] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for ATGE is currently at 29.62, indicating that the stock is in oversold territory and may be due for a trend reversal [5] - There is a consensus among sell-side analysts that earnings estimates for ATGE have remained stable, with a 0% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, suggesting potential price appreciation [7] Group 2 - ATGE holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, indicating a strong potential for a turnaround [8]

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]