Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Boosts Stock Holdings in Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE - Free Report) by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 423,633 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 19,577 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 1.44% of Grand Canyon Education worth $60,092,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Grand Canyon Education in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in Grand Canyon Education by 14,150.0% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 285 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Grand Canyon Education in the 3rd quarter valued at about $60,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 710.7% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 608 shares of the company's stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Grand Canyon Education by 46.1% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 640 shares of the company's stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Grand Canyon Education news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of Grand Canyon Education stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.23, for a total transaction of $211,845.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 22,674 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,249.02. The trade was a 6.21 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the company's stock.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Down 0.8 %

LOPE traded down $1.24 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $160.57. The company had a trading volume of 50,898 shares, compared to its average volume of 182,786. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $142.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $143.30. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. has a 52 week low of $118.48 and a 52 week high of $173.37. The company has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.26, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.70.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LOPE. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research upped their price target on shares of Grand Canyon Education from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Grand Canyon Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday.

About Grand Canyon Education

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.