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Perdoceo Education Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarterly revenue rose 24.8%: Quarterly revenue was $211.9 million, up 24.8% from $169.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Operating income and adjusted measure both grew: Operating income rose 13.8% to $51.0 million. Adjusted operating income, which adds back depreciation and amortization, rose 27.4% to $61.0 million. Source
  • Enrollments up 15.1% to 46,520: Total student enrollments reached 46,520 at September 30, 2025, up 15.1% from 40,400 a year earlier. Source
  • Educational services costs rose sharply: Educational services and facilities cost $49.1 million, or 23.2% of revenue, against $28.3 million and 16.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin lower than last year: Operating income was 24.1% of revenue in the quarter, against 26.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $668.6M: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and available-for-sale short-term investments totaled $668.6 million at September 30, 2025, up from $591.5 million at year-end 2024. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks of $66.7 million: Year to date, the company repurchased 2.3 million shares for $66.7 million, an average of $29.07 per share. Source
  • Full-year ranges raised at low end: Full-year operating income, adjusted operating income, EPS and adjusted EPS ranges were raised at the low end. Full-year D&A was lowered. Source

“Operating performance across our academic institutions was ahead of our expectations, supported by strong levels of prospective student interest for our programs, and sustained levels of high student retention and engagement”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2025$38.1M - $40.1MNew
Operating income Sourcefull year 2025$192.2M - $194.2MRaised from $187.8M - $193.8M
Adjusted operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2025$47.9M - $49.9MNew
Adjusted operating income Sourcefull year 2025$234.0M - $236.0MRaised from $230.0M - $236.0M
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefourth quarter 2025$9.8MNew
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2025$41.8MLowered from $42.2M
Diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2025$0.48 - $0.50New
Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$2.35 - $2.37Raised from $2.29 - $2.36
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2025$0.53 - $0.55New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$2.54 - $2.56Raised from $2.48 - $2.55
Effective income tax rate Sourcefourth quarter 2025approximately 27.0%New
Effective income tax rate Sourcefull year 2025approximately 26.5%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year operating income and adjusted operating income ranges were raised at the low end compared with the prior release. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS range is now $2.35 to $2.37 and adjusted diluted EPS range $2.54 to $2.56, both raised. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year depreciation and amortization guidance lowered to $41.8M from $42.2M. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarterly revenue rose 24.8%: Quarterly revenue was $211.9 million, up 24.8% from $169.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Operating income and adjusted measure both grew: Operating income rose 13.8% to $51.0 million. Adjusted operating income, which adds back depreciation and amortization, rose 27.4% to $61.0 million. Source
  • Quarterly diluted EPS rose to $0.60: Diluted EPS was $0.60 against $0.57, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.65 against $0.59. Net income was $39.9 million, up from $38.3 million. Source
  • Year-to-date revenue rose 25.7%: Year-to-date revenue was $634.5 million, up 25.7% from $504.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Year-to-date EPS climbed: Year-to-date diluted EPS was $1.87 against $1.73, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.02 against $1.77. Year-to-date operating income rose 12.4%. Source

Segments and institutions

  • CTU revenue and operating income grew: CTU revenue was $117.1 million, up 4.3% from $112.3 million. CTU operating income rose 6.7% to $47.8 million. Source
  • AIUS revenue slipped, operating income rose: AIUS revenue was $56.7 million, down 1.2%. AIUS operating income rose 8.7% to $9.3 million. Source
  • USAHS added revenue and small profit: USAHS, acquired December 2, 2024, reported quarterly revenue of $38.0 million and operating income of $66,000. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed: Corporate and Other operating loss narrowed to $6.1 million from $8.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

“in line with our overall capital allocation strategy, we returned $30.3 million of capital during the quarter in the form of share repurchases and dividend payments, reflecting confidence in our long-term strategy and the strength of the balance sheet”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Students and enrollment

  • Enrollments up 15.1% to 46,520: Total student enrollments reached 46,520 at September 30, 2025, up 15.1% from 40,400 a year earlier. Source
  • CTU up, AIUS down in enrollment: CTU enrollments rose 6.7% to 32,000, while AIUS enrollments fell 2.9% to 10,100. Source
  • Enrollment count excludes some learners: The enrollment totals exclude non-degree and professional development learners, and degree-seeking, non-Title IV, self-paced learners at the universities. Source

Costs and operating margin

  • Educational services costs rose sharply: Educational services and facilities cost $49.1 million, or 23.2% of revenue, against $28.3 million and 16.7% a year earlier. Source
  • G&A fell as share of revenue: General and administrative expense was $101.8 million, or 48.0% of revenue, against $93.7 million and 55.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization rose: Depreciation and amortization was $10.0 million against $3.1 million a year earlier. Adjusted operating income adds this charge back. Source
  • Operating margin lower than last year: Operating income was 24.1% of revenue in the quarter, against 26.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Interest income and tax provision: Interest income was $6.7 million against $7.7 million. The provision for income taxes was $16.2 million against $14.1 million. Source

“We continued to invest in academics, student technology and student support processes that we believe will further enhance academic outcomes and student experiences.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarterly operating cash flow fell: Net cash from operating activities was $41.2 million in the quarter, down 19.1%. Year to date it rose 28.6% to $185.1 million. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $668.6M: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and available-for-sale short-term investments totaled $668.6 million at September 30, 2025, up from $591.5 million at year-end 2024. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditures were $1.9 million in the quarter, against $1.0 million. Year to date they were $6.3 million against $3.0 million. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Quarterly buybacks of $20.6 million: The company repurchased 0.7 million shares in the quarter for $20.6 million, an average of $31.27 per share. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks of $66.7 million: Year to date, the company repurchased 2.3 million shares for $66.7 million, an average of $29.07 per share. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.15: The board declared the $0.15 quarterly dividend on October 31, 2025, the same level set in July. Source
  • Acquisitions and buybacks still under review: Management said dividends sit alongside student support and technology investment, and that it is evaluating acquisitions and share repurchases. Source

Guidance and key assumptions

  • Full-year ranges raised at low end: Full-year operating income, adjusted operating income, EPS and adjusted EPS ranges were raised at the low end. Full-year D&A was lowered. Source
  • Guidance assumes stable student demand: Guidance assumes student interest and retention stay consistent with management's recent experience and future expectations. Source
  • Guidance excludes buyback effects: Guidance excludes any future effect from the stock repurchase program. Source
  • Future strategic decisions may affect guidance: Management said future decisions on strategies to enhance stockholder value may affect the guidance provided. Source

Programs and investment

  • Personalized learning platform cited: CTU and AIUS are advancing personalized learning technologies, including the intellipath learning platform, and data analytics. Source
  • USAHS focuses on health professions: USAHS offers graduate health sciences degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy and nursing, plus continuing education. Source
  • Investment in academics and technology: The company continued investing in academics, student technology and student support processes, which it expects to improve academic outcomes. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2025

  • Quarterly dividend payable December 12: The $0.15 quarterly dividend is payable December 12, 2025 to holders of record as of November 28, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
CTU total student enrollments Source32,000
AIUS total student enrollments Source10,100
USAHS total student enrollments Source4,420
Total student enrollments Source46,520

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant effect from federal budget reconciliation or other legislation on the availability of current federal student aid. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant impact from new or proposed regulations, changed interpretations, or changes to federal agency structure. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant operating impact from the settlement with the Federal Trade Commission or other legal or regulatory matters. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes no material disruption to federal student aid from agency restructuring, government shutdowns, or changes to congressional funding priorities. Source
  • Demand: Guidance assumes prospective student interest and retention and engagement trends stay consistent with recent experience. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said operating performance across its academic institutions was ahead of its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The company expects quarterly dividends to be an integral and growing part of its capital allocation; no status was given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.