In early April 2024, I added Perdoceo Education Corporation (NASDAQ: PRDO ) to my value portfolio, though with a smaller position than normal due to sector risks. That pick has worked out well, but I'm now selling three-quarters due to my worry thatI'm a private trader interested in both long and short ideas. My training and background are in engineering including several decades of consulting engineering practice. I endeavor to apply my analytical skills to investing/trading, which I've done for 20+ years ...

Perdoceo Education (PRDO) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Since a ...

Investors interested in Schools stocks are likely familiar with Perdoceo Education (PRDO) and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on ...

The Consumer Discretionary group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Imax (IMAX) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Consumer Discretionary peers, we might be able to answer that question.Imax is one of 254 companies in the Consumer Discretionary group. The Consumer Discretionary group currently sits at #10 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks ...

Group 1 - Investors in Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) should monitor the stock due to significant activity in the options market, particularly the Oct 17, 2025 $17.50 Put, which has high implied volatility [1] - Implied volatility indicates the market's expectation of future price movement, suggesting that investors anticipate a significant change in Perdoceo Education's stock price, possibly due to an upcoming event [2] - Perdoceo Education currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) in the Schools industry, which is in the top 14% of the Zacks Industry Rank, but no analysts have raised earnings estimates for the current quarter, with one analyst lowering the estimate from 62 cents to 61 cents per share [3] Group 2 - The high implied volatility surrounding Perdoceo Education may indicate a developing trading opportunity, as options traders often seek to sell premium on such options to capture decay, hoping the stock does not move as much as expected by expiration [4]

Group 1 - Perdoceo Education Corporation (NASDAQ:PRDO) is currently considered one of the best education stocks to buy, with a recent investment from Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec valued at approximately $1,400,000, acquiring 55,600 shares, representing about 0.08% ownership [1] - The company is experiencing growth in healthcare and nursing degree enrollments, reflecting a shift in education trends as career professionals show increasing interest in resilient healthcare programs [2] - Perdoceo Education Corporation is recognized for its career-focused online learning programs, which are becoming more valuable as traditional college degrees lose appeal due to student debt concerns [3] Group 2 - Established in 1994, Perdoceo Education Corporation is an Illinois-based provider of postsecondary education, committed to delivering quality education through innovative online and campus-based programs [4]

Core Insights - Investors in the Schools sector should consider Perdoceo Education (PRDO) and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) for potential value opportunities [1] Valuation Metrics - Perdoceo Education has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to Universal Technical Institute, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - PRDO's forward P/E ratio is 13.29, significantly lower than UTI's forward P/E of 25.95, suggesting PRDO may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for PRDO is 0.89, while UTI's PEG ratio is 1.73, indicating PRDO's expected earnings growth is more favorable [5] - PRDO's P/B ratio is 2.21, compared to UTI's P/B of 4.88, further supporting PRDO's valuation attractiveness [6] Value Grades - Based on various valuation metrics, PRDO holds a Value grade of A, while UTI has a Value grade of C, indicating PRDO is viewed as a better value investment [6][7]

Company Performance - Perdoceo Education (PRDO) has returned approximately 24.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Consumer Discretionary sector's average return of 11.8% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PRDO's full-year earnings has increased by 1.2% over the past 90 days, indicating improving analyst sentiment [3] Industry Context - Perdoceo Education is part of the Schools industry, which consists of 18 individual stocks and currently ranks 33 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 8% this year [5] - The Consumer Discretionary sector includes 253 individual stocks and holds the 9 position in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] Comparison with Peers - Another notable performer in the Consumer Discretionary sector is Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (RSI), which has achieved a year-to-date return of 58.9% [4] - Rush Street Interactive is categorized under the Gaming industry, which has 39 stocks and is ranked 105, with an industry return of +24.3% since the beginning of the year [6]

Core Insights - The Zacks Schools industry is experiencing a rebound driven by increased demand for career-focused programs in healthcare, skilled trades, cybersecurity, and IT, supported by a labor market that values job-ready skills and government initiatives promoting non-degree pathways [1][2] - Digital innovation is a key differentiator, with institutions investing in adaptive learning tools and scalable online platforms to enhance engagement and support flexible learning for working adults [1][8] - The sector is undergoing consolidation as larger players acquire smaller institutions to broaden offerings and improve scale, with recent legislative changes like "Workforce Pell" expanding market opportunities for accredited programs [6][12] Industry Overview - The Zacks Schools industry includes for-profit education companies offering undergraduate, graduate, and specialized programs in various fields such as finance, healthcare, and technology [3] - The industry is focused on providing career-oriented programs that align with labor market needs, particularly in high-demand areas like nursing and cybersecurity [3][5] Trends Influencing Growth - There is a rising demand for workforce-oriented programs, particularly among adult learners and career switchers, as the labor market increasingly values job-ready skills over traditional degrees [4] - The healthcare sector is facing a significant shortage of skilled professionals, prompting educational institutions to design rigorous programs that meet workforce needs [5] - Digital transformation is driving interest in IT boot camps and tech-aligned certifications, where for-profit providers have established a scalable presence [4] Financial Performance and Market Position - The Zacks Schools industry has lagged the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector but has outperformed the S&P 500 Composite over the past year, with a collective gain of 20.6% [16] - The industry's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is currently at 15.32X, lower than the S&P 500's 22.76X, indicating potential value opportunities [19] Company Highlights - Grand Canyon Education has seen a 10% increase in total online enrollment and a 42.1% stock surge over the past year, with earnings for 2025 expected to grow by 12.8% [25] - Laureate Education's stock has rallied 76.6% over the past year, with a projected earnings growth of 28.2% for 2025 [28] - Stride has experienced a 107.8% stock increase, with fiscal 2026 earnings expected to grow by 5.2% [32] - Lincoln Educational Services has surged 59.5% in stock price, with a projected earnings growth of 19.6% for 2025 [34] - Perdoceo Education's stock has risen 44.7%, with earnings for 2025 expected to grow by 10% [39]

Group 1 - The perception of college degrees is shifting, with them becoming less of a guarantee for prosperity and more associated with debt [1] - Observing megatrends can provide insights into societal advancements and potential investment opportunities [1] - The importance of fundamentals, quality of leadership, and product pipeline is emphasized for identifying investment opportunities [1] Group 2 - The focus has been on marketing and business strategy for medium-sized companies and startups, indicating a trend towards supporting smaller enterprises [1] - Experience in evaluating startups and emerging industries/technologies highlights a commitment to understanding innovative sectors [1]