Renaissance Technologies LLC Sells 23,402 Shares of American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI)

Renaissance Technologies LLC trimmed its stake in shares of American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:APEI - Free Report) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 944,720 shares of the company's stock after selling 23,402 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned approximately 5.33% of American Public Education worth $20,378,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of APEI. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of American Public Education in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of American Public Education during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Public Education during the fourth quarter worth about $121,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in American Public Education during the 3rd quarter valued at about $165,000. Finally, FMR LLC raised its position in American Public Education by 350.3% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 11,658 shares of the company's stock valued at $172,000 after purchasing an additional 9,069 shares during the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other American Public Education news, SVP Thomas Beckett sold 3,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.07, for a total transaction of $81,659.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 60,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,329,783.71. The trade was a 5.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 11.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

APEI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barrington Research restated an "outperform" rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of American Public Education in a report on Friday, March 7th. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of American Public Education in a report on Friday, March 28th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $28.00 price objective for the company. William Blair upgraded American Public Education from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. StockNews.com upgraded American Public Education from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of American Public Education from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $25.33.

American Public Education Price Performance

Shares of APEI stock traded up $0.10 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $24.15. The company had a trading volume of 104,508 shares, compared to its average volume of 170,157. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $22.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.12. American Public Education, Inc. has a 52-week low of $11.80 and a 52-week high of $25.60. The company has a market capitalization of $435.57 million, a P/E ratio of 43.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 2.65.

American Public Education Profile

American Public Education, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online and campus-based postsecondary education and career learning in the United States. It operates through three segments: American Public University System, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The company offers 184 degree programs and 134 certificate programs in various fields of study, including nursing, national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, business, health science, information technology, justice studies, education, and liberal arts; and career learning opportunities in leadership, finance, human resources, and other fields of study critical to the federal government workforce.