American Public Education (FRA:51A) Moat Score: 4/10 (As of Jul. 15, 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

FRA:51A American Public Education Inc FRA:51A
61 GF Score
Price €49.20
GF Value €17.31
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 6 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is American Public Education Moat Score?

American Public Education FRA:51A -2.57% 61 Moat Score is 4 as of Jul. 15, 2026. GuruFocus rates FRA:51A with a GF Score™ of 61/100 and a GF Value™ of €17.31 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 261 Education companies, American Public Education ranks better than 95.02% on this metric.

American Public Education has the Moat Score of 4, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

American Public Education has Narrow Moat: American Public Education has a discernible but modest moat due to its brand strength and customer loyalty in the education sector. However, it faces intense competition and lacks significant cost advantages or proprietary technology.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes American Public Education might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

American Public Education  (FRA:51A) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

American Public Education Moat Score Related Terms

FRA:51A vs PXED, DAO, AFYA: Moat Score Comparison

For the Education & Training Services subindustry, American Public Education's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score 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 Moat Score vs Education Industry

For the Education industry and Consumer Defensive sector, American Public Education's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where American Public Education's Moat Score falls into.


FRA:51A
61GF Score
American Public Education Inc FRA:51A
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 4 mean?
American Public Education (FRA:51A) has a Moat Score of 4 as of Jul. 15, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #13 out of 261 companies in the Education industry, placing it in the top 5%.
Is American Public Education's Moat Score too high?
American Public Education's current Moat Score is 4. Based on the distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #13 out of 261 companies in the Education industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, American Public Education has a GF Score™ of 61/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Public Education's Moat Score compare to PXED and DAO?
According to the Education industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #13 out of 261 companies for Moat Score. This places American Public Education in the top 5% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Education company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Education industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. American Public Education's current Moat Score is 4. 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 (FRA:51A) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €17.31, compared to a current price of €49.20 — trading 184.2% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 4. American Public Education's overall GF Score™ is 61/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Public Education (FRA:51A), the current Moat Score is 4 as of Jul. 15, 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 (FRA:51A) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Public Education stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of €49.20 is trading 184.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of €17.31. GuruFocus considers American Public Education to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for FRA:51A:

  • Moat Score: 4
  • GF Value™: €17.31 vs. price of €49.20 (184.2% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 61/100 with 6 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:51A stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

American Public Education Business Description

Other Exchanges APEI:USA
Address 111 West Congress Street, Charles Town, WV, USA, 25414
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.
61GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FRA:51A

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€49.20
Price
€17.31
GF Value