AUB

Atlantic Union Bankshares

Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

company profile

SECTOR

Financial Services

industry

Banks - Regional

Exchange

NYSE

County of HQ

United States

Next Earnings Date

04/21/26

Business Summary

American Public Education generates revenue by providing postsecondary education and professional training services, primarily through online platforms. Its model centers on scalable digital delivery, allowing it to serve working adults and specialized professional communities without heavy physical campus costs. Cash flow is driven by tuition revenue, supported by structured degree programs that create recurring enrollment cycles. The moat, while not impenetrable, rests on accreditation, regulatory positioning, established institutional relationships, and the operational infrastructure required to deliver compliant, large-scale online education efficiently.

VALUATION

P/E

18.7

Market Cap ($M USD)

$5,440

Forward P/E

9.4

PEG

1

PRICE TO SALES

3.6

PRICE TO BOOK

1.1

EV / EBITDA

-

5-Year Average P/E

DIVIDEND

Yield

3.70%

Annual Payout

$1.42

Payout Ratio

68.50%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

10+

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

8.20%

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

$2.03

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

$4.05

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

4.30%

Return on Equity (ROE)

5.20%

Operating Margin

46.30%

Debt-to-Equity

0.3

Piotroski F-Score

4

Altman Z-Score

0.2

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

14.40%%

Current Ratio

-

Quick Ratio

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

APEI is trading like a mispriced turnaround with asymmetric upside. A 41.7 P/E looks expensive at first glance, but the 15.6 Forward P/E and 0.7 forward PEG signal that earnings acceleration is expected and not fully priced in. With an Altman Z-Score of 4.8 and a Current Ratio of 3.5, bankruptcy risk is negligible and liquidity is strong, giving the company balance sheet safety while it grows into its valuation. The market appears skeptical, but the compression from current P/E to forward P/E suggests a meaningful earnings inflection that could re-rate the stock.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a Consumer Defensive company in Education & Training Services, APEI operates in a sector increasingly shaped by digital delivery and AI-enhanced learning platforms. Education businesses that adapt to scalable online models can expand margins without proportional capital intensity. If management leverages technology effectively, operating leverage could materially improve beyond the current 8.60% operating margin.

The Bull Case

This is a classic GARP setup. A Piotroski F-Score of 8 signals strong fundamental momentum and improving financial quality, while ROIC of 6.20% and ROE of 6.40% show the company is generating positive, if modest, returns on capital. The 8.60% operating margin combined with a modest 1.7 Price/Sales ratio suggests earnings power is not aggressively valued relative to revenue. Add in 57.43% institutional ownership and you have smart money already involved, likely recognizing the disconnect between the 0.7 PEG and the forward earnings multiple. For a patient investor, the setup hinges on execution translating into the $1.40 EPS estimate, which would make today’s multiple look conservative.

The Bear Case

The biggest structural concern is capital efficiency versus valuation. A 41.7 P/E paired with only 6.20% ROIC and 6.40% ROE is not a compelling return profile, meaning investors are paying up for improvements that must materialize. Debt/Equity of 8.30% is manageable, but profitability metrics are not yet strong enough to justify complacency. The 0.6 TTM Yield offers little income support, and the absence of dividend growth history removes a shareholder return cushion. If earnings fail to meet the forward expectations embedded in the 15.6 Forward P/E and 0.7 PEG, the multiple could compress quickly.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

7.20%

Analyst Consensus

1.8

Average Analyst Price Target

$44.31

Institutional Ownership %

85.60%

1-Year Beta

1.23

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

0.90%%

Distance to 52-Week High

90.20%%

Distance to 52-Week Low

166.40%%