EDU

We rate New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (EDU) as a Buy with a composite score of 71.0/100 at a current price of $60.03. The stock scores above average across the majority of our six quantitative factors and ranks #76 out of 7,333 stocks in our universe, reflecting a favorable risk-reward profile.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in quality (83th percentile) and stability (80th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (64/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#8 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 71.0/100 places it at rank #76 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $78.0B market capitalization, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. operates at meaningful scale within the Services sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 14% and favorable momentum (77th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 55% (-4.1pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 9% (+5.2pp vs sector) and net margins of 7.7%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 14%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $60.03, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 52/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 258.9x (a 991% premium to the sector median of 23.7x), EV/EBITDA of 3.6x (discounted to peers), P/B of 2.6x, P/S of 0.5x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.65, conservative leverage (7% D/E), and a stability factor in the 80th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: low beta of 0.65 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets; elevated valuation multiple (P/E 258.9x) that leaves limited margin for error. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 80th percentile and quality factor at the 83th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 55% provide a buffer against cost pressures; conservative leverage (7% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (80th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.'s capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 41.0%, disciplined leverage (7% D/E). Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 1.27% dividend yield, and the combination of 19.3% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. receives a Buy rating with a composite score of 71.0/100 (rank #76 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (64/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 70/100.

Our analysis supports a constructive view on New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.. The combination of identifiable competitive advantages, low uncertainty, and exemplary capital allocation creates a risk-reward profile that favors accumulation at current levels. We recommend investors consider adding this name to portfolios aligned with the stock's risk profile.