American Public EducationAPEI +0.71%69 FCF Margin % is 34.78% as of Mar. 2026, which is 287% above its 10-year median of 8.99. GuruFocus rates APEI with a GF Score™ of 69/100 and a GF Value™ of $20.36 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 255 Education companies, American Public Education ranks better than 53.33% on this metric.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
For the Education & Training Services subindustry, American Public Education's FCF Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and FCF Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
American Public Education FCF Margin % vs Education Industry
For the Education industry and Consumer Defensive sector, American Public Education's FCF Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Public Education's FCF Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
American Public Education (APEI) has a FCF Margin % of 34.78% as of Mar. 2026. Free cash flow margin is the ratio of total free cash flow to net sales. View historical data on American Public Education and its competitors. This is 287% above median its historical median of 8.99. Over the past decade, American Public Education's FCF Margin % has ranged from 1.06 to 12.65. According to the industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #119 out of 255 companies in the Education industry, placing it in the top 46.7%.
Is American Public Education's FCF Margin % too high?
American Public Education's current FCF Margin % of 34.78% is 287% above median its 10-year median of 8.99. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.06 to a high of 12.65. The Education industry median FCF Margin % is 9.33. American Public Education's value of 34.78% is 272.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #119 out of 255 companies in the Education industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, American Public Education has a GF Score™ of 69/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Public Education's FCF Margin % compare to PXED and AFYA?
According to the Education industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #119 out of 255 companies for FCF Margin %. This puts American Public Education in the upper half of its industry. The industry median FCF Margin % is 9.33. American Public Education's value of 34.78% is 272.8% above this benchmark. Historically, American Public Education's own FCF Margin % has ranged from 1.06 to 12.65 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 8.99 vs. the industry median of 9.33, American Public Education has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good FCF Margin % for an Education company?
The median FCF Margin % among Education companies is 9.33, based on 255 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a FCF Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, FCF Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. American Public Education's current FCF Margin % of 34.78% is 272.8% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high FCF Margin % mean?
A high FCF Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Free cash flow margin is the ratio of total free cash flow to net sales. View historical data on American Public Education and its competitors. For the Education industry, the median FCF Margin % is 9.33 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. American Public Education's current FCF Margin % is 34.78%, which is 287% above median its own 10-year median of 8.99. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is American Public Education stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Public Education (APEI) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $20.36, compared to a current price of $52.18 — trading 156.3% above its estimated fair value. The current FCF Margin % is 34.78%, which is 287% above median its 10-year median of 8.99 and 272.8% above the Education industry median of 9.33. American Public Education's overall GF Score™ is 69/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is FCF Margin % calculated?
FCF Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Public Education (APEI), the current FCF Margin % is 34.78% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is American Public Education (APEI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Public Education stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $52.18 is trading 156.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $20.36.
GuruFocus considers American Public Education to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for APEI:
FCF Margin %: 34.78% (287% above median its 10-year median of 8.99)
GF Value™: $20.36 vs. price of $52.18 (156.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 272.8% above the Education median (#119 of 255)
No single metric tells the full story. See the APEI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
American Public Education Inc provides online and campus based postsecondary education including various undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The fields of study include business administration, health science, technology, criminal justice, education, liberal arts, national security, military studies, intelligence, and homeland security. There are three reporting segments: the American Public University segment which is the key revenue generator, provides online postsecondary education as a distance-learning, graduate-level institution for military officers seeking a degree in military studies; the Rasmussen University Segment and the Hondros College of Nursing segment. The revenue is generated from net course registrations and enrollment, tuition rate, net tuition, and other fees.
69GF Score
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