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K-12 Education Is Changing: Can Stride Lead the Next 25 Years?
ZACKS· 2025-07-25 16:56
Core Insights - Stride, Inc. (LRN) is experiencing significant growth in digital education, with a 17.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $613.4 million in fiscal Q3 2025, driven by a 21% rise in total enrollment [1][9] - The company is addressing the rising demand for non-traditional education options, as evidenced by a Gallup Poll indicating that nearly 90% of parents are exploring non-college career paths for their children [2] - Stride has raised its full-year revenue and operating income guidance for fiscal 2025, indicating strong fundamentals with adjusted operating income up 47% and gross margin expanding to 40.6% [3] Financial Performance - Career learning revenue surged 33% to $223.9 million, supported by a 34% growth in enrollment within that segment [1][9] - The company is on track to exceed its 2028 CAGR targets by three years, showcasing its robust growth trajectory [3] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Chegg and Coursera are also evolving in the digital education space, with Chegg focusing on AI-driven learning support and Coursera expanding into online credentialing and dual-enrollment programs [5][6] - Stride must continue to differentiate its offerings to maintain its leadership position in the K-12 education sector [6] Stock Performance - Stride's stock has trended downward by 8.3% over the past three months, underperforming both the Zacks Schools industry and the S&P 500 index [7] Valuation Metrics - Stride's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 2.17, indicating a discount compared to industry peers [11] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 remain unchanged at $7.09 and $7.76 per share, respectively, implying year-over-year growth of 51.2% and 9.4% [13]
Can Stride Stay Ahead in a Crowded Digital Education Field?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:55
Group 1 - Stride, Inc. (LRN) shows strong performance in the digital education sector with over 21% enrollment growth in Q3 fiscal 2025 and record adjusted operating income [1][8] - The macro environment is favorable, with high parent dissatisfaction with traditional public education and a rising interest in career-focused alternatives, leading to a 33% revenue growth in the Career Learning segment [2][8] - Stride is enhancing socialization through virtual platforms and real-world meetups, addressing concerns about online learning and potentially improving student retention [3] Group 2 - Financially, Stride is performing well with gross margins at 40.6% in Q3 fiscal 2025 and has raised full-year guidance, indicating confidence in continued performance [4][8] - Less than 5% of Stride's revenues are tied to federal funding, providing insulation from policy shifts [4] - Stride's stock has surged 30.3% over the past six months, outperforming the industry average of 6.9% [6] Group 3 - The company is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 18.38X, higher than the industry average of 15.92X [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings per share has increased to $7.09, with expected robust growth of 51.2% in fiscal 2025 [11]