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Perdoceo Education Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter revenue up 20.0%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $211.6 million, against $176.4 million a year earlier. Tuition and fees, net were 99.5% of quarterly revenue. Source
  • Full-year revenue up 24.2%: Full-year revenue was $846.1 million against $681.3 million. The prior year included USAHS only from its December 2, 2024 acquisition. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 25.8%: Adjusted operating income was $237.6 million for the year and $51.6 million for the quarter, up 20.8%. Adjusted figures add back depreciation and amortization. Source
  • CTU quarterly operating income fell: CTU operating income was $39,228 thousand in the quarter, down 8.9%, and $180,597 thousand for the year, up 3.4%. Source
  • Total enrollments up 7.3%: Total student enrollments were 44,400 at December 31, 2025, against 41,380 a year earlier. Source
  • Educational services share of revenue rose: Educational services and facilities expense was $49,616 thousand in the quarter, 23.4% of revenue, against $35,199 thousand or 20.0%. For the year it was 23.3% against 17.7%. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 39.4%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $225.2 million for the year, up 39.4%, and $40.1 million in the quarter, up 127.9%. Source

“which were supported by sustained levels of prospective student interest in our programs and high levels of student retention across all our academic institutions”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating income SourceFirst quarter 2026 (quarter ending March 31, 2026)$58.6M - $60.6MNew
Operating income SourceFull year 2026 (year ending December 31, 2026)$212.8M - $225.8MNew
Adjusted operating income SourceFirst quarter 2026$68.0M - $70.0MNew
Adjusted operating income SourceFull year 2026$250.0M - $263.0MNew
Earnings per diluted share SourceFirst quarter 2026$0.78 - $0.80New
Earnings per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$2.78 - $2.93New
Adjusted earnings per diluted share SourceFirst quarter 2026$0.83 - $0.85New
Adjusted earnings per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$2.97 - $3.12New
Depreciation and amortization SourceFirst quarter 2026$9.4MNew
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$37.2MNew
Effective income tax rate SourceFirst quarter 2026approximately 21.5%New
Effective income tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 24.0%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance given for the quarter ending March 31, 2026 and the year ending December 31, 2026. The prior release gave guidance for fourth quarter and full year 2025. Source
  • New: Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $100.0 million on January 2, 2026. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Quarter revenue up 20.0%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $211.6 million, against $176.4 million a year earlier. Tuition and fees, net were 99.5% of quarterly revenue. Source
  • Full-year revenue up 24.2%: Full-year revenue was $846.1 million against $681.3 million. The prior year included USAHS only from its December 2, 2024 acquisition. Source
  • Full-year operating income up 12.5%: Operating income was $196.0 million for the year. Fourth-quarter operating income was $41.9 million, up 12.8% from $37.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 25.8%: Adjusted operating income was $237.6 million for the year and $51.6 million for the quarter, up 20.8%. Adjusted figures add back depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.42: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.61 for the year against $2.26. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $0.54 against $0.47, and adjusted $0.59 against $0.49. Source
  • Net income rose for the year: Net income was $159.9 million for the year and $35.3 million for the quarter, against $147.6 million and $31.5 million in the prior year. Source

Segments and academic institutions

  • CTU revenue up 4.1% for year: CTU revenue was $461,602 thousand for the year, up 4.1%, and $113,980 thousand in the quarter, up 2.5%. Source
  • CTU quarterly operating income fell: CTU operating income was $39,228 thousand in the quarter, down 8.9%, and $180,597 thousand for the year, up 3.4%. Source
  • AIUS operating income rose: AIUS operating income was $3,977 thousand in the quarter, up 3.4%, and $35,950 thousand for the year, up 9.8%. Source
  • USAHS contributed full-year revenue: USAHS revenue was $43,725 thousand in the quarter against $10,041 thousand, and $157,576 thousand for the year. The prior year included USAHS only from December 2, 2024. Source
  • Corporate operating loss smaller: Corporate and other operating loss was $23,758 thousand for the year against $30,549 thousand, and $6,459 thousand in the quarter against $7,107 thousand. Source

“Overall, we will continue to maintain a balanced approach to capital allocation and expect our positive operating momentum to continue into 2026.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Enrollments and programs

  • Total enrollments up 7.3%: Total student enrollments were 44,400 at December 31, 2025, against 41,380 a year earlier. Source
  • CTU enrollments up 6.6%: CTU had 29,950 enrollments at December 31, 2025, against 28,090 a year earlier. Source
  • AIUS and USAHS enrollments rose: AIUS had 10,560 enrollments, up 11.2% from 9,500. USAHS had 3,890, up 2.6% from 3,790. Source
  • USAHS programs in health sciences: USAHS prepares medical professionals primarily through graduate health sciences degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy and nursing. Source

Costs, margins and depreciation

  • Educational services share of revenue rose: Educational services and facilities expense was $49,616 thousand in the quarter, 23.4% of revenue, against $35,199 thousand or 20.0%. For the year it was 23.3% against 17.7%. Source
  • G&A share of revenue fell: General and administrative expense was $110,445 thousand in the quarter, 52.2% of revenue, against 54.7%. For the year it was 48.6% against 53.9%. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization rose: Depreciation and amortization was $9,657 thousand in the quarter against $5,507 thousand, and $41,627 thousand for the year against $14,645 thousand. Source
  • Operating margin lower for year: Operating income was 19.8% of revenue in the quarter against 21.1%, and 23.2% for the year against 25.6%. Source
  • Asset impairment charges minimal: Asset impairment was $6 thousand in the quarter against $1,985 thousand, and $6 thousand for the year against $4,453 thousand. Source

“Successfully executing against our strategy of responsible and sustainable growth has allowed us to continue investing across our academic institutions and in initiatives that will further enhance our student’s experiences and academic outcomes.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and student retention

  • Prospective student interest assumed steady: Guidance assumes prospective student interest and retention trends stay consistent with management's recent experiences. Source
  • Student retention described as high: Management said student retention was high at all academic institutions in 2025, alongside sustained interest in its programs. Source
  • Grad PLUS change assumed immaterial: Guidance assumes elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program will not materially affect total enrollments, with private lending available to prospective students. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow up 39.4%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $225.2 million for the year, up 39.4%, and $40.1 million in the quarter, up 127.9%. Source
  • Capital expenditures up 85.4%: Capital expenditures were $8.6 million for the year, against $4.6 million, and $2.2 million in the quarter against $1.6 million. Source
  • Cash and investments at $643.5M: Cash, equivalents, restricted cash and available-for-sale short-term investments totaled $643.5 million at December 31, 2025, against $591.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Sale-leaseback financing on balance sheet: Sale lease-back financing was $56,992 thousand at December 31, 2025, and construction financing was nil against $56,500 thousand a year earlier. The release gives no reason for the change. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Repurchases of $120.8M in 2025: The company repurchased 4.1 million shares in 2025 for $120.8 million, at an average of $29.17 per share. Source
  • Fourth-quarter repurchases of $54.1M: In the fourth quarter the company repurchased 1.8 million shares for $54.1 million, at an average price of $29.28. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.15 declared: The board declared a $0.15 quarterly dividend on February 19, 2026. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Capital priorities include student technology: Capital allocation also prioritizes investments in student support and technology projects, and evaluating future acquisitions and share repurchases. Source
  • Student experience investment continues: Management said it is investing across its institutions in initiatives to enhance student experiences and academic outcomes. Source
  • Intellipath learning platform in use: CTU and AIUS describe innovation in higher education through personalized learning technologies, including the intellipath learning platform. Source

Assumptions behind 2026 guidance

  • FTC settlement assumed no operating impact: Guidance assumes no significant operating impacts from the settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission or other legal or regulatory matters. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted measures may diverge: GAAP operating income and EPS guidance may not follow the same trends as adjusted guidance, because of adjustments for certain non-cash items. Source
  • Repurchases excluded from guidance: Guidance excludes any future impact from the company's stock repurchase program. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payment date: The $0.15 dividend is to be paid March 13, 2026 to holders of record as of March 2, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total student enrollments Source44,400 at December 31, 2025, up 7.3%
CTU enrollments Source29,950, up 6.6%
AIUS enrollments Source10,560, up 11.2%
USAHS enrollments Source3,890, up 2.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no material impact from federal budget reconciliation on the availability of federal student aid or the conditions for participating in it. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant impact from new or proposed regulations, which could require operational changes in how institutions attract, enroll and educate students. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes no material disruption to federal student aid from agency restructuring, government shutdowns, staffing changes or layoffs. Source
  • Demand: Guidance assumes no material impact from prospective students using AI in place of search engines. 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.