Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) Stock Position Lowered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lowered its holdings in Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA - Free Report) by 29.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 30,843 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 12,912 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.13% of Strategic Education worth $2,881,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Strategic Education in the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Strategic Education in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 394.8% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Strategic Education during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $96,000. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in shares of Strategic Education by 53.3% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,044 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel Lizette Benedi Herraiz sold 1,452 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.21, for a total value of $119,368.92. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 61,716 shares in the company, valued at $5,073,672.36. This represents a 2.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Daniel Wayne Jackson sold 6,025 shares of Strategic Education stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.83, for a total value of $589,425.75. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 81,756 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,998,189.48. The trade was a 6.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 39,332 shares of company stock worth $3,825,169 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 3.30% of the company's stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Strategic Education from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Barrington Research reduced their price target on shares of Strategic Education from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Strategic Education from $114.00 to $97.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 3rd.

Strategic Education Trading Down 0.7 %

STRA traded down $0.61 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $85.66. The company's stock had a trading volume of 132,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 142,736. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.11 billion, a PE ratio of 16.32, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.59. Strategic Education, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $78.43 and a fifty-two week high of $123.62.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $311.46 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $315.18 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 7.61%. Research analysts expect that Strategic Education, Inc. will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Strategic Education Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. Strategic Education's dividend payout ratio is currently 51.39%.

About Strategic Education

Strategic Education, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides education services through campus-based and online post-secondary education, and programs to develop job-ready skills. The company operates through U.S. Higher Education, Australia/New Zealand, and Education Technology Services segments. It operates Strayer University that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, health services, information technology, and public administration at physical campuses located in the eastern United States, as well as through online; non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain; and MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute.