Can Stride's Margin Focus Outweigh Its Flat Revenue Per Pupil?

Core Insights - Stride, Inc. (LRN) is focusing on margin expansion and operational discipline despite facing technical issues and flat revenue per enrollment year-over-year [1][2] - The company reported an adjusted operating margin of 13.1%, up 250 basis points year-over-year, and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.5%, up 230 basis points [1] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.52, compared to $1.09 in the same quarter last year, indicating strong operating leverage driven by enrollment growth and cost control [1] Revenue and Enrollment - Revenue per enrollment is expected to remain flat at approximately $9,677 for fiscal 2026 due to various factors including state mix and technical issues [2] - The company anticipates 10,000-15,000 fewer enrollments in fiscal 2026 due to platform implementation issues leading to higher withdrawals [2] Cost Management - Stride's selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses are growing at a slower rate than revenue, with expectations for SG&A as a percentage of revenues to decline in fiscal 2026 [3] - The SG&A metric decreased by 270 basis points year-over-year in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, primarily due to reduced bad debt expense and increased revenue leverage [3] Margin Sustainability - Flat revenue per enrollment does not indicate weak fundamentals; resolving platform issues and improving enrollment quality could sustain Stride's margin-focused strategy [4] - The company's ability to convert stable funding into expanding operating income suggests that disciplined execution may drive shareholder value in the near term [4] Earnings Estimates - Analysts have revised LRN's earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 upward in the past 30 days, reflecting optimism about the company's recovery efforts [5] Stock Performance - Stride's shares have increased by 6.3% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Schools industry and the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector [7] Valuation - LRN stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.64, which is lower than competitors like Strategic Education, Inc. (12.47) and American Public Education, Inc. (16.95) [11][13]