Education Stock Up 84% as One Fund Ups Stake to Nearly $6 Million

Core Insights - Harvest Investment Services disclosed a purchase of 110,675 shares of Laureate Education, valued at approximately $3.42 million based on quarterly average pricing [1][2] - The transaction increased Harvest's stake in Laureate Education to 1.07% of its 13F reportable assets under management [8] Company Overview - Laureate Education has a market capitalization of $5 billion, with a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $1.70 billion and a net income of $281.63 million [4] - The company's stock price was $33.97 as of the last trading day, reflecting an 84% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 19% gain during the same period [8] Business Model and Operations - Laureate Education operates a network of universities offering diverse higher education programs across multiple countries, focusing on academic quality and accessibility [6] - The firm generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from its universities in Mexico, Peru, and the United States, targeting students seeking professional advancement [9] Growth and Financial Performance - Enrollment growth has been steady, with new enrollments rising by 8% and total enrollments increasing by 5% last year [11] - Revenue for 2025 was approximately $1.7 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of about 9%, while adjusted EBITDA grew to nearly $519 million from $450 million in 2024 [11] - The company has returned over $200 million to shareholders through stock repurchases and recently increased its share buyback authorization by an additional $150 million, indicating confidence in future growth [12] Market Position - The rising demand for private education in Latin America has contributed to Laureate's stock performance, with expectations for continued growth in the region [10]