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APEI vs LINC

APEI
American Public Education, Inc.
BEARISH
Price
$57.66
Market Cap
$1.04B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
85%
LINC
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
NEUTRAL
Price
$40.86
Market Cap
$1.3B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
APEI
44.02
LINC
63.84
Forward P/E
APEI
15.44
LINC
38.37
P/B Ratio
APEI
3.55
LINC
6.47
P/S Ratio
APEI
1.61
LINC
2.51
EV/EBITDA
APEI
14.78
LINC
29.67

Profitability

Gross Margin
APEI
54.22%
LINC
60.37%
Operating Margin
APEI
12.03%
LINC
11.81%
Profit Margin
APEI
4.86%
LINC
3.86%
ROE
APEI
10.54%
LINC
10.58%
ROA
APEI
6.16%
LINC
3.9%

Growth

Revenue Growth
APEI
-3.5%
LINC
19.7%
Earnings Growth
APEI
7.7%
LINC
87.1%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
APEI
0.55
LINC
1.02
Current Ratio
APEI
3.46
LINC
0.86
Quick Ratio
APEI
3.27
LINC
0.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield
APEI
--
LINC
--
Payout Ratio
APEI
0.0%
LINC
0.0%

AI Verdict

APEI BEARISH

APEI's deterministic health scores signal significant concerns: a Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 indicates weak financial health, while the absence of an Altman Z-Score raises red flags for potential distress risk. Despite strong earnings surprises and robust historical EPS growth, the stock trades at a rich forward P/E of 15.44 and a current P/E of 44.02, well above sector averages and its intrinsic value of $24.30. The company shows deteriorating revenue growth (-3.5% YoY) and negative insider sentiment with two recent sell transactions. Although profitability metrics remain positive, the combination of weak financial strength, overvaluation, and declining top-line performance suggests a high-risk profile.

Strengths
Strong historical earnings surprise performance (average +270% over last 4 quarters)
High gross margin of 54.22% indicates pricing power and operational efficiency
Solid operating margin of 12.03% and ROE of 10.54% reflect effective capital utilization
Risks
Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 indicates severe financial distress risk and weak operational health
Negative revenue growth (-3.5% YoY) and Q/Q earnings decline (-2.7%) signal top-line contraction
Stock trades at a premium to intrinsic value ($57.66 vs $24.30) and Graham Number ($21.89)
LINC NEUTRAL

LINC presents a dichotomy between explosive growth and severe overvaluation, anchored by a stable but mediocre Piotroski F-Score of 4/9. While the company boasts exceptional earnings growth (87.1% YoY) and a consistent track record of beating estimates, it trades at a massive premium to its Graham Number ($9.54) and Intrinsic Value ($18.88). Liquidity is a concern with a current ratio of 0.86, and heavy insider selling suggests a lack of confidence at current price levels despite the 'strong_buy' analyst consensus.

Strengths
Exceptional earnings growth of 87.1% YoY
Strong revenue growth trajectory (19.7% YoY)
High gross margins of 60.37%
Risks
Severe valuation gap between current price ($40.86) and intrinsic value ($18.88)
Liquidity risk indicated by a current ratio below 1.0 (0.86)
Aggressive insider selling totaling $16.84M in the last 6 months

Compare Another Pair

APEI vs LINC: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) and Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (LINC) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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