Latest news with #LaureateEducation
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Consumer Discretionary Stocks Lagging GDEV Inc. (GDEV) This Year?
For those looking to find strong Consumer Discretionary stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. GDEV Inc. (GDEV) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Consumer Discretionary peers, we might be able to answer that question. GDEV Inc. is one of 255 companies in the Consumer Discretionary group. The Consumer Discretionary group currently sits at #13 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. GDEV Inc. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GDEV's full-year earnings has moved 21.5% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive. Based on the latest available data, GDEV has gained about 14% so far this year. In comparison, Consumer Discretionary companies have returned an average of 5.9%. This means that GDEV Inc. is outperforming the sector as a whole this year. Another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, Laureate Education (LAUR), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 19.9%. The consensus estimate for Laureate Education's current year EPS has increased 6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Looking more specifically, GDEV Inc. belongs to the Gaming industry, a group that includes 42 individual stocks and currently sits at #133 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 4.7% so far this year, meaning that GDEV is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Laureate Education, however, belongs to the Schools industry. Currently, this 17-stock industry is ranked #17. The industry has moved +5.8% so far this year. GDEV Inc. and Laureate Education could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Consumer Discretionary stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GDEV Inc. (GDEV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Laureate Education (LAUR) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Surging Stock to Target This Week and 2 to Question
The stocks featured in this article have all approached their 52-week highs. When these price levels hit, it typically signals strong business execution, positive market sentiment, or significant industry tailwinds. However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. On that note, here is one stock with the fundamentals to back up its performance and two best left ignored. One-Month Return: +1.1% Founded in 1998 by Douglas L. Becker and based in Miami, Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR) is a global network of higher education institutions. Why Does LAUR Fall Short? Performance surrounding its enrolled students has lagged its peers Earnings per share were flat over the last five years and fell short of the peer group average ROIC of 7.6% reflects management's challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities Laureate Education is trading at $22.90 per share, or 15.2x forward P/E. If you're considering LAUR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. One-Month Return: +12.5% With manufacturing facilities spanning the globe from China to Mexico to the United States, Jabil (NYSE:JBL) provides electronics design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions to companies across various industries, from healthcare to automotive to cloud computing. Why Do We Think Twice About JBL? Sales tumbled by 11.6% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle Earnings per share were flat over the last two years and fell short of the peer group average Low free cash flow margin of 3.1% for the last five years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders At $169 per share, Jabil trades at 17.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than JBL. One-Month Return: +18.3% One of the original 12 companies on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, General Electric (NYSE:GE) is a multinational conglomerate providing technologies for various sectors including aviation, power, renewable energy, and healthcare. Why Are We Bullish on GE? Market share has increased this cycle as its 20.1% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional Robust free cash flow margin of 16.2% gives it many options for capital deployment, and its rising cash conversion increases its margin of safety Improving returns on capital reflect management's ability to monetize investments GE Aerospace's stock price of $247.25 implies a valuation ratio of 44.1x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LAUR Q1 Earnings Call: Digital Enrollment and Operational Resilience Offset Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Higher education company Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR) reported Q1 CY2025 results beating Wall Street's revenue expectations , but sales fell by 14.2% year on year to $236.2 million. The company expects the full year's revenue to be around $1.57 billion, close to analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP loss of $0.13 per share was 31.6% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy LAUR? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $236.2 million vs analyst estimates of $225.2 million (14.2% year-on-year decline, 4.9% beat) Adjusted EPS: -$0.13 vs analyst estimates of -$0.19 (31.6% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $5.4 million vs analyst estimates of -$5 million (2.3% margin, significant beat) The company slightly lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $1.57 billion at the midpoint from $1.56 billion EBITDA guidance for the full year is $476.5 million at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: -5.6%, down from 4% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 22.6%, up from 6.3% in the same quarter last year Enrolled Students: 477,000, up 17,600 year on year Market Capitalization: $3.35 billion Laureate Education's first quarter results reflected the impact of seasonality and shifting enrollment cycles, with revenue and adjusted EBITDA outperforming Wall Street expectations despite a double-digit year-over-year decline in reported sales. Management attributed these results to strong enrollment growth in both Mexico and Peru, particularly in fully online programs targeting working adults. CEO Eilif Serck-Hanssen emphasized that the company's performance demonstrates the resilience of its business model, noting that new enrollment growth was 8% in Mexico and 6% in Peru for the intake cycles completed by mid-April. Looking ahead, Laureate Education's forward guidance is shaped by increased visibility following the completion of recent intake cycles. Management slightly raised full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance, citing continued demand for affordable, quality higher education, even as macroeconomic uncertainty persists. CFO Rick Buskirk highlighted that ongoing campus consolidations in Mexico should drive margin improvements, while the growing contribution of digital learning programs is expected to further support enrollment and operational efficiency. The company remains cautious about foreign exchange volatility but believes its locally matched revenues and expenses insulate core operations from major currency risks. Laureate Education's Q1 performance was influenced by timing shifts in academic cycles, robust digital program adoption, and continued focus on operational efficiency. These factors helped offset persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and temporary headwinds in Mexico and Peru. Enrollment Growth in Digital Programs: Management reported that fully online courses experienced double-digit growth in both Mexico and Peru, outpacing traditional face-to-face programs by a factor of three to four. CEO Eilif Serck-Hanssen described digital education as the main channel for accessing working adult students, and noted that about 20% of total enrollment is now fully online. Academic Calendar Shift Impact: CFO Rick Buskirk explained that later semester starts, especially in Peru, shifted approximately $26 million in revenue and $23 million in adjusted EBITDA from Q1 to later quarters. This timing effect was a key reason for the year-over-year revenue decline, despite underlying enrollment strength. Campus Consolidations in Mexico: The company is streamlining its physical campus footprint in Mexico, expecting a one-time revenue loss but improved margins going forward. Management anticipates that these consolidations will drive efficiency and support margin expansion throughout 2025. Resilience Amid Macroeconomic Headwinds: Serck-Hanssen stressed that demand for higher education remains steady, even in uncertain economic environments, as families prioritize education. Both Mexico and Peru are experiencing stable or improving macro backdrops, though management is monitoring trade and currency risks. Capital Return Priorities: Laureate continued to repurchase shares during the quarter and plans to return excess cash to shareholders. Management reaffirmed its commitment to a capital return policy tied to free cash flow generation, with the current buyback program nearly halfway complete at quarter-end. Management's outlook for 2025 centers on the continued expansion of digital enrollment, operational streamlining, and careful navigation of external volatility, with a focus on margin improvement and cash flow conversion. Digital Program Expansion: The company sees fully online programs as a core growth engine, particularly among working adults. Management expects this segment to drive further enrollment gains and operational leverage. Operational Efficiency Initiatives: Campus consolidations and cost control measures, especially in Mexico, are expected to support margin expansion throughout the year, counterbalancing isolated revenue losses from footprint reduction. Macroeconomic and FX Uncertainty: Management highlighted ongoing risks from foreign exchange volatility and trade developments, especially in Mexico. The company's locally matched revenue and expense structures help mitigate transaction exposure, but reported results remain sensitive to translation effects. Jeffrey Silber (BMO Capital Markets): Asked about potential student hesitancy given the uncertain economic environment in Mexico. CEO Eilif Serck-Hanssen explained that working adult enrollments remain robust and expects the main fall intake to reflect last year's trends. Mauricio Cepeda (Morgan Stanley): Sought clarity on the timing and normalization of intake cycles, noting the impact of the later start in Peru. CFO Rick Buskirk confirmed that only a two-week academic delay in Peru required normalization, with no other adjustments. Mauricio Cepeda (Morgan Stanley): Also questioned the choice to maintain a conservative foreign exchange rate in guidance despite recent peso strength. Buskirk cited high FX volatility as the reason for using the previously guided rate. Yan Banco (BTG Pactual): Inquired about the breakdown and momentum of fully digital courses. CEO Serck-Hanssen detailed strong double-digit growth in digital programs and market leadership in Mexico and Peru. Yan Banco (BTG Pactual): Asked about capital allocation and share buybacks. Serck-Hanssen reiterated the commitment to return excess cash to shareholders, with the current buyback program ongoing and future actions pending board review. In the upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) whether digital program enrollment continues to accelerate, particularly among working adults in Mexico and Peru; (2) the effectiveness of campus consolidations in driving margin improvements and operational efficiency; and (3) the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic and foreign exchange headwinds without disrupting enrollment or resource allocation. Continued execution on capital return plans and digital platform expansion will also be key signposts for sustained performance. Laureate Education currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Q1 Earnings Report Preview: What To Look For
Vocational education Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) will be announcing earnings results tomorrow after market close. Here's what investors should know. Universal Technical Institute beat analysts' revenue expectations by 3.9% last quarter, reporting revenues of $201.4 million, up 15.3% year on year. It was a very strong quarter for the company, with a solid beat of analysts' EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates. It reported 5,313 new students, up 22.3% year on year. Is Universal Technical Institute a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it's free. This quarter, analysts are expecting Universal Technical Institute's revenue to grow 6.6% year on year to $196.4 million, slowing from the 12.4% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Analysts covering the company have generally reconfirmed their estimates over the last 30 days, suggesting they anticipate the business to stay the course heading into earnings. Universal Technical Institute has missed Wall Street's revenue estimates twice over the last two years. Looking at Universal Technical Institute's peers in the education services segment, some have already reported their Q1 results, giving us a hint as to what we can expect. Strategic Education delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 4.6%, beating analysts' expectations by 1%, and Laureate Education reported a revenue decline of 14.2%, topping estimates by 4.9%. Strategic Education's stock price was unchanged after the resultswhile Laureate Education was up 11.2%. Read our full analysis of Strategic Education's results here and Laureate Education's results here. There has been positive sentiment among investors in the education services segment, with share prices up 9.2% on average over the last month. Universal Technical Institute is up 16.8% during the same time and is heading into earnings with an average analyst price target of $33.17 (compared to the current share price of $29.90). Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) semiconductor stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report on our favorite semiconductor growth story. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bright Horizons (BFAM) To Report Earnings Tomorrow: Here Is What To Expect
Child care and education company Bright Horizons (NYSE:BFAM) will be reporting earnings tomorrow after market close. Here's what to expect. Bright Horizons met analysts' revenue expectations last quarter, reporting revenues of $674.1 million, up 9.5% year on year. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with a decent beat of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates but full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts' expectations. Is Bright Horizons a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it's free. This quarter, analysts are expecting Bright Horizons's revenue to grow 6.9% year on year to $665.5 million, slowing from the 12.5% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to come in at $0.64 per share. Analysts covering the company have generally reconfirmed their estimates over the last 30 days, suggesting they anticipate the business to stay the course heading into earnings. Bright Horizons has missed Wall Street's revenue estimates twice over the last two years. Looking at Bright Horizons's peers in the education services segment, some have already reported their Q1 results, giving us a hint as to what we can expect. Strategic Education delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 4.6%, beating analysts' expectations by 1%, and Laureate Education reported a revenue decline of 14.2%, topping estimates by 4.9%. Strategic Education's stock price was unchanged after the results, while Laureate Education was up 11.2%. Read our full analysis of Strategic Education's results here and Laureate Education's results here. There has been positive sentiment among investors in the education services segment, with share prices up 8.8% on average over the last month. Bright Horizons is up 14.9% during the same time and is heading into earnings with an average analyst price target of $138.15 (compared to the current share price of $128.18). When a company has more cash than it knows what to do with, buying back its own shares can make a lot of sense–as long as the price is right. Luckily, we've found one, a low-priced stock that is gushing free cash flow AND buying back shares. Click here to claim your Special Free Report on a fallen angel growth story that is already recovering from a setback.
