Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) Hits New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Shares of Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $185.66 and last traded at $185.52, with a volume of 174970 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $183.70.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on LOPE shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Grand Canyon Education from $152.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Grand Canyon Education in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Grand Canyon Education from $170.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Grand Canyon Education from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th.

Grand Canyon Education Stock Up 1.0 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $169.77 and a 200 day moving average of $154.74. The firm has a market cap of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.38, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.74.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Grand Canyon Education news, CTO Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.07, for a total transaction of $249,105.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 21,174 shares in the company, valued at $3,516,366.18. This represents a 6.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Grand Canyon Education

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 885,118 shares of the company’s stock valued at $144,982,000 after buying an additional 14,667 shares in the last quarter. CSS LLC IL raised its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 31.3% during the fourth quarter. CSS LLC IL now owns 2,814 shares of the company’s stock valued at $461,000 after buying an additional 670 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Grand Canyon Education by 14.6% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 114,793 shares of the company’s stock valued at $18,803,000 after buying an additional 14,624 shares in the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $7,713,000. Finally, Sovereign s Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Grand Canyon Education during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,206,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the company’s stock.

About Grand Canyon Education

Grand Canyon Education, Inc provides education services to colleges and universities in the United States. It offers technology services, including learning management system, internal administration, infrastructure, and support services; academic services, such as program and curriculum, faculty and related training and development, class scheduling, and skills and simulation lab sites; and counseling services and support services comprising admission, financial aid, and field experience and other counseling services.