American Public EducationAPEI +0.71%69 Net Margin % is 10.15% as of Mar. 2026, which is 123% above its 10-year median of 4.55. 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 258 Education companies, American Public Education ranks better than 51.55% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for American Public Education's Net Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
APEI'
s Net Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -18.97 Med: 4.55 Max: 8.61
Current: 6.13
APEI's Net Margin % is ranked better than 51.55% of 258
companies
in the Education industry
Industry Median: 5.72
vs APEI: 6.13
American Public Education (NAS:APEI) Net Margin % Explanation
Although Net Income and Earnings-per-Share (EPS) are the most widely used parameter in measuring a company's profitability and valuation, it is the least reliable. The reason is that reported earnings can be manipulated easily by adjusting any numbers such as Depreciation, Depletion and Amotorization and non-recurring items.
But the long term trend of the net margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
American Public Education Net Margin % Related Terms
American Public Education Net Margin % Historical Data
* 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 Net Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Net 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 Net Margin % vs Education Industry
For the Education industry and Consumer Defensive sector, American Public Education's Net Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Public Education's Net 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 Net Margin % of 10.15% as of Mar. 2026. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on American Public Education and its competitors. This is 123% above median its historical median of 4.55. According to the industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #125 out of 258 companies in the Education industry, placing it in the top 48.4%.
Is American Public Education's Net Margin % too high?
American Public Education's current Net Margin % of 10.15% is 123% above median its 10-year median of 4.55. The Education industry median Net Margin % is 5.72. American Public Education's value of 10.15% is 77.4% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #125 out of 258 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 Net Margin % compare to PXED and AFYA?
According to the Education industry distribution chart, American Public Education ranks #125 out of 258 companies for Net Margin %. This puts American Public Education in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Net Margin % is 5.72. American Public Education's value of 10.15% is 77.4% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 4.55 vs. the industry median of 5.72, 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 Net Margin % for an Education company?
The median Net Margin % among Education companies is 5.72, based on 258 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Net Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Net Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. American Public Education's current Net Margin % of 10.15% is 77.4% 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 Net Margin % mean?
A high Net Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on American Public Education and its competitors. For the Education industry, the median Net Margin % is 5.72 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. American Public Education's current Net Margin % is 10.15%, which is 123% above median its own 10-year median of 4.55. 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 Net Margin % is 10.15%, which is 123% above median its 10-year median of 4.55 and 77.4% above the Education industry median of 5.72. 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 Net Margin % calculated?
Net Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Public Education (APEI), the current Net Margin % is 10.15% 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:
Net Margin %: 10.15% (123% above median its 10-year median of 4.55)
GF Value™: $20.36 vs. price of $52.18 (156.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 77.4% above the Education median (#125 of 258)
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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