Stock fact sheet · data as of
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Consumer Defensive · Education & Training Services · United States · Blend
Is APEI undervalued?
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) closed at 49.13 on 16 Oct 2026. The GLS average fair value - the simple average of the 7 valuation models that produced a positive number - is 74.71, which puts the price 34% below it. 4 of the 7 models value the shares above the current price. A gap this wide is rare in our universe of ~7,400 US stocks and is exactly what the Value part of the Wheel Score rewards; it is also where the question "why is it this cheap?" matters most.
There is a wide gap between EPV (27.64) and Payback Time (126.26). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files APEI under Blend.
Nine valuation models for APEI
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | - | - | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital; no value tonight |
| Graham Number | 30.94 | -37% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 108.95 | +122% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 45.14 | -8% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 87.22 | +78% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 96.82 | +97% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 126.26 | +157% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | 27.64 | -44% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | 0.6101 | -99% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 63.33 | +29% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
American Public Education, Inc. scores 8 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, the nine yes/no tests of profitability, leverage and efficiency on the latest annual accounts - a strong reading that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule with room to spare. On durability APEI scores 5.2/10 on the GLS Moat - a middle reading; the Scorecard on the Quote page's Financials tab shows which ten-year lines are steady and which are not.
Returns on capital are moderate - ROIC 6.9%, ROE 10.7%, ROA 5.8% - with debt at 0.55 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 7.8%.
American Public Education, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Instructional Services, Net Of Grants A… 91%, Textbook And Other Course Materials 8%, Graduation Fees 1% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 8 / 9 | ROIC | 6.9% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 5.2 / 10 | ROE | 10.7% |
| Debt / equity | 0.55 | ROA | 5.8% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 7.8% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 78: Good
With a Wheel Score of 78 - the Good band - American Public Education, Inc. clears the Sunday Scan's "70 or higher" rule. The parts: Value 25/25, Health 18/20, Moat 8/15, Premium 18/20, Stability 9/20; Stability (9/20) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 67% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - above the 60% ceiling of the sweet spot. Premiums are large, but the Wheel Score tapers the Premium points (18 of 20) because volatility this high usually comes with a reason. Chain open interest is 2,144 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 202k shares a day on a market cap of $899M, with a beta of 1.41 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 9 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 34% margin of safety | |
| Health | 18 / 20 | Piotroski 8/9 | |
| Moat | 8 / 15 | moat 5.2/10 | |
| Premium | 18 / 20 | implied volatility 67% | |
| Stability | 9 / 20 | 202k shares/day, $899M cap, beta 1.41 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 9 Nov 2026 (after the close), 24 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Education & Training Services
The 12 companies below are the closest to American Public Education, Inc. by market cap within the Education & Training Services industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PXED Phoenix Education Partners, Inc | 23.79 | 56.60 | +58% | 39No options | $858M |
| GOTU Gaotu Techedu Inc. | 2.67 | 16.70 | +84% | 45Weak | $962M |
| UTI Universal Technical Institute, Inc. | 20.31 | 18.31 | -11% | 66Good | $1.1B |
| LINC Lincoln Educational Services Corporation | 22.56 | 26.74 | +16% | 69Good | $716M |
| AFYA Afya Limited | 14.52 | 85.46 | +83% | 66Good | $1.3B |
| COUR Coursera, Inc. | 5.09 | 9.88 | +48% | 45Weak | $1.3B |
| STRA Strategic Education, Inc. | 80.97 | 180.97 | +55% | 83Prime | $1.8B |
| DFPH DFP Healthcare Acquisitions Cor | 2.01 | - | - | 20No options | $436M |
| PRDO Perdoceo Education Corporation | 33.55 | 48.56 | +31% | 87Prime | $2.1B |
| DAO Youdao, Inc. | 18.51 | 12.84 | -44% | 39Weak | $2.2B |
| YUMM Yummies, Inc. | 0.7500 | 0.0000 | -191602102% | 10No options | $337M |
| MH McGraw Hill, Inc. | 14.20 | 26.91 | +47% | 76Good | $2.7B |
⚖ Compare APEI with 7 of them All Consumer Defensive stocks →
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A free GLS Equity account gets you nightly fair value and the Wheel Score on ~7,400 US stocks, a watchlist, the scanner preview and the Sunday Scan - the same eight-rule screen, emailed every week. Pro adds the full put and call scanners, unlimited watchlists with alerts and the trade journal.
Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about APEI
Is APEI undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 49.13 the stock is 34% below the average fair value of 74.71 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of APEI and what does it mean?
APEI scores 78 out of 100 (Good). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for APEI?
74.71 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 7 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does American Public Education, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 9 Nov 2026 (after the close), 24 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does APEI have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 112 listed contracts with 2,144 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 67% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.