Zacks
5 Schools Stocks Leading the Expanding Education Industry
Shrabana Mukherjee
11 min read

In This Article:

The U.S. education sector has seen diverse growth fueled by factors such as the growing popularity of e-books, the expansion of online learning platforms, increased demand for healthcare professionals, advancements in technology, the adoption of hybrid teaching models, and strategic acquisitions targeting global expansion. Despite these advancements, companies within the Zacks Schools industry face challenges, including higher advertising and marketing costs, expenses tied to online education, and the emerging threat posed by generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Despite these hurdles, players in the industry, such as Grand Canyon Education, Inc. LOPE, Stride, Inc. LRN, Adtalem Global Education Inc. ATGE, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. UTI and Lincoln Educational Services Corporation LINC, are expected to benefit from innovative product offerings, particularly those incorporating AI and game-based learning, alongside prudent cost management and a focus on profitability. For-profit education companies are also forming partnerships with corporations and community colleges to enhance workforce education.

Industry Description

The Zacks Schools industry comprises for-profit education companies that offer undergraduate, graduate and specialized programs in finance, accounting, analytics, marketing, healthcare, business and technology. They are engaged in offering career-oriented programs in the fields of business and management, nursing, computer science, engineering, information systems and technology, project management, cybersecurity as well as criminal justice. The industry players also offer child-care services and career-oriented post-secondary courses. Some companies within the industry also provide yoga classes and yoga-related retail merchandise-integrated fitness classes, along with conducting workshops and teacher training programs.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of the School Industry

Rising Demand for Online Education & Healthcare Professionals: For-profit education stocks have been reaping the benefits of the rise in the virtual delivery of education. Many for-profit education companies have undertaken initiatives to reach students who aspire to complete their courses as planned with the help of various online education platforms. Also, classroom-type-education-providing companies are cashing in on the unprecedented surge in demand for online education. The industry players have been focusing on non-traditional education models and innovative teaching platforms to improve efficiency, enhance student experiences, and support expansion through new campuses and program replication.

Meanwhile, healthcare and global institutions have been making substantial contributions to the companies' financial success. The U.S. healthcare sector is presently grappling with a pronounced shortage of skilled professionals, which is posing a significant risk to the quality of care and further exacerbating health disparities across the country. The companies have designed their programs to be rigorous and well-suited to address the workforce needs of the healthcare industry. Industry stakeholders also anticipate a future where the demand for healthcare professionals will outstrip the available supply.

Cost-Saving Efforts, Increasing Use of Technology & Introduction of More Programs: To boost profitability, school companies are resorting to aggressive cost-cutting through significant layoffs, campus closings and consolidations. Developments such as switching to online education programs, increasing use of technology in education, more investments in education and the regular introduction of programs and specializations should boost student outcomes. Tie-ups with different organizations to reduce exposure to Title IV funding, improve academic quality and retain students also bode well. Many for-profit education companies are investing in diversified platforms, non-degree programs and designing programs specifically aimed at meeting the educational needs of working adults in targeted professions.

Higher Rates & Generative AI Systems: The Federal Reserve’s earlier moves, comprising a series of rate increases to combat inflation, made a slew of debt offerings, including new mortgages, credit cards and some student loans, more expensive. Although federal student loans are doled out at a fixed rate, private loans come with variable rates that have been edging up.

Importantly, generative AI systems have the remarkable ability to generate highly sophisticated textual outputs based on brief human prompts. Major tech companies are in fierce competition to create superior versions of this technology, and the rapid advancements in generative AI pose a potential threat to the new customer growth rate of educational companies. The emergence of AI could disrupt the traditional business models of the industry players.

Meanwhile, the industry is reeling under challenges like inflation and stagnant traditional campus enrollment growth, given the rising demand for online education platforms and remote learning options. Again, any general economic slowdown will reduce the number of jobs available to graduates and result in lower salaries offered in connection with the available employment, affecting the companies’ placements and persistence. Additionally, the slowdown may compel students to default on their loans, which could increase institutions’ student loan cohort default rates, ultimately bumping up bad debt expenses. Higher default rates may also adversely impact the industry players’ eligibility to participate in some Title IV programs, affecting the companies’ operations and financial condition. Additionally, increased competition, higher expenses for advertising and various programs and a shortage of skilled labor are concerning. Higher unemployment levels may prove detrimental to for-profit education companies.

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