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Laureate Education, Inc. (LAUR) is the largest international network of higher education institutions, with a dominant presence in Mexico and Peru.
Investment Thesis
Laureate is a high-growth 'emerging markets' play with a clear value-unlock strategy. By focusing on the middle class in Latin America, Laureate serves a market where the demand for high-quality, professional education is growing exponentially and the public alternative is severely limited. Management has successfully executed a multi-year plan to sell off non-core international assets and return the proceeds to shareholders via massive special dividends and buybacks. What remains is an elite, high-margin education franchise in Mexico and Peru that is a dominant market leader. Buying LAUR is a way to acquire high-quality emerging market assets at a discount.
Key Growth Drivers
Latin American Middle Class Growth
The structural growth of the workforce in Mexico and Peru drives a multi-decade need for the professional degrees that Laureate provides.
Massive Capital Return
The company is a prodigious generator of cash and is committed to returning the majority of its excess capital to shareholders, resulting in a staggering total yield.
Operational Focus and Efficiency
By simplifying its portfolio to just two primary markets, LAUR has structurally improved its margins and management focus, driving superior student outcomes.
Valuation & Financial Modeling
LAUR trades at an attractive multiple relative to its high growth and high ROE. We believe the market has yet to fully price in the stability and pricing power of its core Latin American institutions. The stock offers a unique combination of growth and income.
Risk Factors & Bear Case
Geopolitical and currency risks in Mexico and Peru are the primary factors. Additionally, any major shift in local government regulations regarding private universities would hit earnings.
Conclusion
Laureate Education is an elite international growth story. It offers exposure to the best-performing education markets in the world with a shareholder-first management team. Rated 'Strong Buy'.
Upcoming Catalysts
No upcoming catalysts identified.
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Relative to Consumer Discretionary Sector Median (N=442)
Metric
LAUR
Benchmark
P/E Ratio
24.8x
+1%
EV/EBITDA
15.1x
+208%
Price / Book
4.1x
Implied Value Audit
OVERVALUED
Implied Fair Value (vs Sector)
-68.1%
$10.35Spot: $32.39
Spot
Implied
-50% Delta+50% Delta
Relative valuation derived from Consumer Discretionary sector median benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Multiples adjusted for extreme outliers and non-recurring volatility.
Auditing capital efficiency...
Quality Profile Audit
Score: 50GRADE C+
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation.
Return on Equity
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
16.6%
Sector: 6.2%
Dividend Analysis audit
No Dividend
This company does not currently pay a dividend.
Analyst Projections
Analyst Consensus
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Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 55.0/100, ranked #722 out of 4446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 50/100, Value 68/100, Momentum 59/100. This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. Do?
Laureate Education, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides higher education programs and services to students through a network of universities and higher education institutions. The company offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the areas of business and management, medicine and health sciences, and engineering and information technology through campus-based, online, and hybrid programs. It provides its services in Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The company was formerly known as Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. and changed its name to Laureate Education, Inc. in May 2004. Laureate Education, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida. LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) is classified as a mid-cap stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, specifically within the Personal Services industry. The company is led by CEO Eilif Serck-Hanssen and employs approximately 35,000 people. With a market capitalization of $5.0B, LAUR is one of the notable companies in the Consumer Discretionary sector.
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 55.0/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.LAUR ranks #722 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Discretionary sector, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. ranks #47 of 442 stocks, placing it in the top quartile of its Consumer Discretionary peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
LAUR Stock Price and 52-Week Range
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) currently trades at $32.39. The stock lost $1.00 (3.0%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for LAUR is $37.91, which means the stock is currently trading -14.6% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $17.91, putting the stock 80.9% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 264K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is LAUR Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) carries a value factor score of 68/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 24.78x, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 24.47x — a premium of 1%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 4.12x, versus the sector average of 1.99x. The price-to-sales ratio is 3.20x, compared to 0.27x for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. On an enterprise value basis, LAUR trades at 15.13x EV/EBITDA, versus 4.91x for the sector.
Overall, LAUR's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 16.6%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 6.2%, which is within a healthy range. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 9.0% versus the sector average of 2.5%.
On a margin basis, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. reports gross margins of 20.5%, compared to 36.9% for the sector. The operating margin is 17.2% (sector: 3.8%). Net profit margin stands at 10.5%, versus 2.1% for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. Revenue growth is running at -19.8% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.3% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
LAUR Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 86.0%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 89.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 0.67x, which may signal near-term liquidity tightness. Total debt on the balance sheet is $161M. Cash and equivalents stand at $241M.
LAUR has a beta of 0.68, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. is 74/100, indicating low-volatility characteristics and consistent price behavior that appeals to risk-averse investors.
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. reported revenue of $1.53B and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.91. Net income for the quarter was $198M. Gross margin was 20.5%. Operating income came in at $324M.
In FY 2025, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. reported revenue of $1.70B and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.91. Net income for the quarter was $284M. Gross margin was 28.3%. Revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $431M.
In Q3 2025, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. reported revenue of $400M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.23. Net income for the quarter was $34M. Gross margin was 20.9%. Revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $71M.
In Q2 2025, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. reported revenue of $524M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.65. Net income for the quarter was $97M. Gross margin was 39.5%. Revenue grew 5.0% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $193M.
Over the past 8 quarters, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $499M to $1.53B. Investors analyzing LAUR stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
LAUR Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Personal Services industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Discretionary dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Discretionary stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
LAUR Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) has a momentum factor score of 59/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 38/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 38/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
LAUR vs Competitors — Consumer Discretionary Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Comparing LAUR against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full LAUR vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
LAUR Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy LAUR? — Investment Thesis Summary
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. The value score of 68/100 suggests attractive pricing relative to fundamentals. Low volatility (stability score 74/100) reduces downside risk.
In summary, LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. (LAUR) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 55.0/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on LAUR stock.
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Execution Benchmarks audit
Revenue Growth
YOY expansion rate
-19.8%
Sector: 3.3%
-702% VS SCTR
Gross Margin
Core pricing power
20.5%
Sector: 36.9%
-45% VS SCTR
Operating Margin
Operating efficiency
17.2%
Sector: 3.8%
+357% VS SCTR
Net Margin
Bottom-line conversion
10.5%
Sector: 2.1%
+396% VS SCTR
Return on Equity
Equity capital efficiency
16.6%
Sector: 6.2%
+168% VS SCTR
Return on Assets
Asset base utilization
9.0%
Sector: 2.5%
+261% VS SCTR
Debt/Equity
Financial leverage load
86.0%
Sector: 89.0%
IN LINE
Dividend Yield
Direct cash return
0.0%
Sector: 0.0%
-NaN% VS SCTR
+108%
Price / Sales
3.2x
+1085%
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC. exhibits a 351% valuation premium relative to institutional benchmarks. This represents a potential valuation overextension based on current multiples.
Return on Assets
Efficiency of asset utilization
9.0%
Sector: 2.5%
Gross Margin
Pricing power and cost efficiency
20.5%
Sector: 36.9%
Operating Margin
Core business profitability
17.2%
Sector: 3.8%
Net Margin
Bottom-line profitability
10.5%
Sector: 2.1%
Factor Methodology
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior competitive moats and financial resilience through economic cycles.