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]

Company Overview - Inspirato Incorporated (ISPO) is a notable stock within the Consumer Discretionary sector, which consists of 255 individual stocks [2] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable investment outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] Performance Analysis - Year-to-date, Inspirato has achieved a return of approximately 5.4%, outperforming the average return of 3% for the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ISPO's full-year earnings has increased by 35.1% over the past quarter, reflecting improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [4] Industry Context - Inspirato is part of the Leisure and Recreation Services industry, which includes 31 companies and currently ranks 88 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The Leisure and Recreation Services industry has experienced a decline of about 7.1% year-to-date, indicating that ISPO is performing better than its industry peers [6] Comparison with Peers - Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (LINC), another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, has returned 39.2% year-to-date and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - The Schools industry, to which LINC belongs, is currently ranked 27 and has seen an average increase of 8% year-to-date [7]

American Public Education, Inc.’s (APEI) shares have moved up 12.6% since it released its first-quarter 2025 results on May 12, 2025, significantly outperforming the Zacks Schools industry, the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500 Index. The detailed price performance is shown in the chart below.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe reported quarter’s adjusted earnings and total revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate and grew year over year. Owing to the quarterly results a ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Whil ...

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].

Industry Overview - 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][4] - The industry is addressing the critical shortage of healthcare workers through rigorous, workforce-aligned training programs [5] Trends Influencing the Industry - Digital innovation is a key driver of differentiation, with companies investing in adaptive learning tools and scalable online platforms to enhance engagement and support flexible learning for working adults [2][7] - 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 sector is witnessing consolidation, with larger players acquiring niche or financially weaker institutions to expand offerings and improve scale [6] Financial Performance and Market Position - The Zacks Schools industry currently ranks 30 within the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector, placing it in the top 12% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating strong near-term prospects [10][11] - The industry's earnings estimates for 2025 have increased to $1.38 per share from $1.37 since April 2025, reflecting growing analyst confidence in the group's earnings growth potential [12] Enrollment and Revenue Growth - For-profit providers are expected to see enrollment and revenue growth in 2025, driven by demographic tailwinds, state and federal support for vocational education, and digital innovation [2] - Companies like Stride, Inc., Laureate Education, Inc., and American Public Education, Inc. are positioned to benefit from these trends, with significant enrollment growth reported [21][29][25] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 16.86X, compared to the S&P 500's 21.81X and the sector's 19.73X, indicating potential undervaluation [17][20] Company Highlights - Stride, Inc. reported a 20% rise in total enrollment, with a 12.8% increase in General Education and a 32% increase in Career Learning [21] - American Public Education has seen a 60.2% stock increase over the past year, with earnings expected to grow 150.9% in 2025 [25] - Laureate Education's fully online programs account for about 20% of its student base, growing at three to four times the pace of face-to-face programs [28] - Perdoceo Education has benefited from a 10.6% enrollment increase at Colorado Technical University, driven by strong student engagement [32] - Lincoln Educational Services has achieved an 82.4% stock increase over the past year, supported by strong enrollment growth and operational efficiencies [36]

Group 1 - PLBY Group, Inc. has returned 7.5% year-to-date, outperforming the average gain of 5% in the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Rank for PLBY Group, Inc. is currently 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLBY's full-year earnings has increased by 5.9% over the past quarter, reflecting improving analyst sentiment [3] Group 2 - PLBY Group, Inc. belongs to the Leisure and Recreation Products industry, which has 23 companies and is currently ranked 191 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The average gain for stocks in the Leisure and Recreation Products industry this year is 9.9%, indicating that PLBY is slightly underperforming its industry [6] - Universal Technical Institute, another Consumer Discretionary stock, has returned 37.7% year-to-date and is part of the Schools industry, which has a higher average gain of 10.2% [4][7]

Core Viewpoint - Stride, Inc. (LRN) has demonstrated strong stock performance with a 48.7% increase year-to-date, significantly outperforming the Zacks Schools industry and the broader market [1][3]. Enrollment Growth - The company has experienced record enrollment growth, particularly in its Career Learning segment, with overall enrollment increasing by 20% year-over-year [4][5]. - Enrollment in General Education grew by 12.8% to 137,500 students, while Career Learning enrollment surged by 32% to 96,000 students [4]. Revenue Performance - Stride's total revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 reached $1.75 billion, reflecting a 16.3% year-over-year growth [5]. - The company has raised its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance to between $2.37 billion and $2.385 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 16.2% to 16.9% from $2.04 billion reported in fiscal 2024 [7]. Future Outlook - Stride is focusing on achieving its fiscal 2028 targets, projecting revenues between $2.70 billion and $3.30 billion, which represents a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from fiscal 2023 [10]. - Adjusted operating income is expected to be between $415 million and $585 million, with a projected CAGR of 20% [10]. Market Trends - The demand for career education and online program alternatives is driving Stride's growth, supported by its diverse product offerings and strategic initiatives [2][4]. - The favorable regulatory environment under the current administration is expected to further benefit Stride's business model [11]. Earnings Estimates - Analysts have revised fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings estimates upward, with fiscal 2025 indicating a 51.2% year-over-year growth rate [12]. - Current earnings per share (EPS) estimates for fiscal 2025 are projected at $7.09, with a rise to $7.76 in fiscal 2026 [13]. Valuation - Stride is currently trading at a premium compared to its industry peers based on a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, reflecting strong market potential [17]. Investment Considerations - The combination of robust enrollment growth, strategic initiatives, and favorable market trends positions Stride well for future profitability [19][20]. - Investors are encouraged to consider adding Stride to their portfolios based on the positive technical indicators and market demand trends [21].

For those looking to find strong Consumer Discretionary stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Charter Communications (CHTR) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Consumer Discretionary sector should help us answer this question.Charter Communications is a member of ...

Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.16 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.19 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 31.25%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.10, delivering a surprise of 11.11%.Over the last four quarters, the co ...