BNP Paribas Financial Markets Grows Stock Position in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) by 16.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,341 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,906 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in Grand Canyon Education were worth $2,771,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp lifted its position in Grand Canyon Education by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 86,044 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,361,000 after buying an additional 6,598 shares during the period. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC lifted its position in Grand Canyon Education by 161.1% during the fourth quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 18,233 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,407,000 after buying an additional 11,251 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Grand Canyon Education by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 321,924 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,507,000 after buying an additional 11,567 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 4th quarter worth about $1,979,000. Finally, Wasatch Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 9.4% in the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 463,083 shares of the company’s stock worth $63,077,000 after purchasing an additional 39,743 shares during the period. 94.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

LOPE stock opened at $141.92 on Monday. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 1 year low of $105.23 and a 1 year high of $156.56. The firm has a market cap of $4.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $141.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $134.73.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The company reported $2.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.22 by $0.13. Grand Canyon Education had a return on equity of 31.81% and a net margin of 21.66%. The business had revenue of $274.68 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $272.42 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.00 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 7.8 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Grand Canyon Education news, Director Lisa Graham Keegan sold 270 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.96, for a total transaction of $39,949.20. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 2,635 shares in the company, valued at approximately $389,874.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Grand Canyon Education news, insider Kathy J. Claypatch sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.20, for a total transaction of $223,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 8,320 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,241,344. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Lisa Graham Keegan sold 270 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $147.96, for a total value of $39,949.20. Following the sale, the director now owns 2,635 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $389,874.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on LOPE. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, Barrington Research raised their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th.

Grand Canyon Education Company Profile

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.