Pacer Advisors Inc. Trims Stock Position in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)

Pacer Advisors Inc. cut its position in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Free Report) by 57.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,908 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,684 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Grand Canyon Education were worth $1,295,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Reston Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Grand Canyon Education in the third quarter valued at $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in Grand Canyon Education during the third quarter worth about $60,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in Grand Canyon Education by 66.0% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 420 shares of the company's stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Grand Canyon Education in the third quarter valued at approximately $86,000. 94.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total transaction of $249,105.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now directly owns 21,174 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,516,366.18. The trade was a 6.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 2.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Performance

Grand Canyon Education stock traded up $0.68 during trading on Thursday, reaching $181.57. The company had a trading volume of 164,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 127,618. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.29 billion, a PE ratio of 23.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.74. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $167.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is $153.08. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 1-year low of $118.48 and a 1-year high of $183.00.

Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $238.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $239.69 million. Grand Canyon Education had a net margin of 22.09% and a return on equity of 31.01%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will post 8.03 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LOPE. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a report on Monday, January 27th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Grand Canyon Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th.

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.