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APEI vs SMPL

APEI
American Public Education, Inc.
BEARISH
Price
$57.66
Market Cap
$1.04B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
85%
SMPL
The Simply Good Foods Company
BEARISH
Price
$11.89
Market Cap
$1.1B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
APEI
44.02
SMPL
--
Forward P/E
APEI
15.44
SMPL
6.53
P/B Ratio
APEI
3.55
SMPL
0.72
P/S Ratio
APEI
1.61
SMPL
0.78
EV/EBITDA
APEI
14.78
SMPL
6.02

Profitability

Gross Margin
APEI
54.22%
SMPL
33.86%
Operating Margin
APEI
12.03%
SMPL
13.78%
Profit Margin
APEI
4.86%
SMPL
-7.46%
ROE
APEI
10.54%
SMPL
-6.39%
ROA
APEI
6.16%
SMPL
5.83%

Growth

Revenue Growth
APEI
-3.5%
SMPL
-9.4%
Earnings Growth
APEI
7.7%
SMPL
--

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
APEI
0.55
SMPL
0.3
Current Ratio
APEI
3.46
SMPL
5.06
Quick Ratio
APEI
3.27
SMPL
2.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield
APEI
--
SMPL
--
Payout Ratio
APEI
0.0%
SMPL
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)
SMPL BEARISH

Despite a strong Piotroski F-Score of 7/9 indicating a healthy balance sheet, SMPL is experiencing a severe operational collapse. The company is facing catastrophic earnings declines (YoY EPS growth of -476.1%) and negative revenue growth, coupled with a 68% price drop over the last year. While the valuation metrics (P/B 0.72, Forward P/E 6.53) suggest deep value, the consistent failure to meet earnings estimates (0/4 beats) and bearish technical trend indicate a 'falling knife' scenario.

Strengths
Strong Piotroski F-Score (7/9) indicating fundamental financial health
Very low Debt/Equity ratio (0.30) suggesting minimal insolvency risk
Exceptional liquidity with a Current Ratio of 5.06
Risks
Catastrophic earnings deterioration with most recent Q/Q EPS growth at -765.4%
Negative revenue growth (-9.40% YoY) indicating loss of market share or demand
Severe earnings miss streak (0/4 beats in the last 4 quarters)

Compare Another Pair

APEI vs SMPL: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) and The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) 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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