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Perdoceo Education Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 7 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income rose 22.0%: Operating income was $63.1 million against $51.7 million. Adjusted operating income was $72.5 million against $63.5 million, an increase of 14.1%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 30.8%: Diluted EPS was $0.85 against $0.65. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.90 against $0.70, a 28.6% increase. Net income was $54.0 million against $43.7 million. Source
  • USAHS moved to operating profit: USAHS revenue rose 9.8% to $43.0 million. USAHS operating income was $6.3 million, against a loss of $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Total enrollments rose 1.1%: Total student enrollments were 48,740 at March 31, 2026, up 1.1% from 48,190 a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $680.0 million: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $680.0 million at March 31, 2026, up from $643.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Full-year operating income guidance raised: Full-year 2026 operating income guidance is $217.1 million to $226.1 million, against $212.8 million to $225.8 million in the prior release. Source
  • Second-quarter guidance provided: Second-quarter 2026 operating income is guided to $53.6 million to $54.6 million, diluted EPS to $0.74 to $0.75, and adjusted diluted EPS to $0.79 to $0.80. Source

“First quarter results were ahead of our expectations which we believe continue to underscore the operating strength and value proposition of our academic institutions”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating income SourceSecond quarter 2026 (quarter ending June 30, 2026)$53.6M - $54.6MNew
Depreciation and amortization SourceSecond quarter 2026$9.4MNew
Adjusted operating income SourceSecond quarter 2026$63.0M - $64.0MNew
Diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$0.74 - $0.75New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$0.79 - $0.80New
Effective income tax rate SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 20.0%New
Amortization of acquired intangible assets, per diluted share SourceSecond quarter 2026$0.07New
Operating income SourceFull year 2026$217.1M - $226.1MRaised from $212.8M - $225.8M
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$36.9MLowered from $37.2M
Adjusted operating income SourceFull year 2026$254.0M - $263.0MRaised from $250.0M - $263.0M
Diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$2.86 - $2.97Raised from $2.78 - $2.93
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$3.05 - $3.16Raised from $2.97 - $3.12
Effective income tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 23.0%Lowered from approximately 24.0%
Amortization of acquired intangible assets, per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$0.25Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year guidance ranges for operating income, diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS were raised; adjusted operating income low end rose, high end unchanged. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year depreciation and amortization guidance fell to $36.9 million from $37.2 million; the full-year tax rate assumption fell to 23.0% from 24.0%. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance was started; the prior release gave guidance only for the first quarter and full year. Source
  • New: Stated capital allocation priorities now list investments in student enrollment; the prior release listed student support and technology projects only. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Operating income rose 22.0%: Operating income was $63.1 million against $51.7 million. Adjusted operating income was $72.5 million against $63.5 million, an increase of 14.1%. Source
  • Revenue grew 4.1%: Revenue was $221.7 million against $213.0 million a year earlier. Tuition and fees, net, made up $220.6 million, or 99.5% of revenue. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 30.8%: Diluted EPS was $0.85 against $0.65. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.90 against $0.70, a 28.6% increase. Net income was $54.0 million against $43.7 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • CTU revenue and operating income grew: CTU revenue rose 4.0% to $120.8 million. CTU operating income rose 8.1% to $50.5 million, against $46.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • AIUS revenue flat; operating income up: AIUS revenue rose 0.4% to $57.8 million. AIUS operating income rose 12.0% to $12.6 million, against $11.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • USAHS moved to operating profit: USAHS revenue rose 9.8% to $43.0 million. USAHS operating income was $6.3 million, against a loss of $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Corporate loss rose to $6.3 million: Corporate and other operating loss was $6.3 million, compared with $5.9 million in the prior year quarter. Source

“During the quarter, our academic institutions continued to generate strong levels of prospective student interest, while student retention and engagement trended near multi-year highs.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Enrollment and student demand

  • Total enrollments rose 1.1%: Total student enrollments were 48,740 at March 31, 2026, up 1.1% from 48,190 a year earlier. Source
  • AIUS enrollment declined as expected: Growth at CTU and USAHS was partly offset by the expected decline at AIUS. Source
  • CTU and USAHS enrollment grew: CTU enrollment rose 1.9% and USAHS enrollment rose 3.1% compared with March 31, 2025. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating margin rose to 28.5%: Operating income was 28.5% of revenue against 24.3% a year earlier. Total operating expenses were 71.5% of revenue against 75.7%. Source
  • Educational services fell as share of revenue: Educational services and facilities expense was $47.1 million, or 21.2% of revenue, against $48.5 million, or 22.8%. Source
  • G&A rose in dollars: General and administrative expense was $102.2 million, up from $100.9 million, and 46.1% of revenue against 47.4%. Source
  • Bad debt expense declined: Bad debt expense was $5.7 million against $7.6 million in the prior year quarter, according to the cash flow statement. Source

“We remain optimistic for 2026 and will continue to make selective investments that, we believe, will further improve academic outcomes and student experiences.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash and capital returns

  • Cash and investments reached $680.0 million: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $680.0 million at March 31, 2026, up from $643.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose 6.5%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $69.4 million against $65.1 million. Capital expenditures were $1.7 million, flat year on year. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.15: The board declared a $0.15 quarterly dividend on May 6, 2026, the same amount declared in February 2026. Source
  • Buybacks fell; dividends paid rose: Treasury stock purchases were $8.1 million against $25.2 million. Cash dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $10.3 million against $9.2 million. Source
  • Capital priorities and acquisition evaluation: Capital allocation is described as dividends alongside investments in enrollment, student support and technology, with future acquisitions and repurchases under evaluation. Source

Full-year and second-quarter guidance

  • Full-year operating income guidance raised: Full-year 2026 operating income guidance is $217.1 million to $226.1 million, against $212.8 million to $225.8 million in the prior release. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS guidance is $2.86 to $2.97, up from $2.78 to $2.93. Adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $3.05 to $3.16, up from $2.97 to $3.12. Source
  • Second-quarter guidance provided: Second-quarter 2026 operating income is guided to $53.6 million to $54.6 million, diluted EPS to $0.74 to $0.75, and adjusted diluted EPS to $0.79 to $0.80. Source
  • Full-year D&A and tax rate lowered: Full-year depreciation and amortization is guided to $36.9 million, down from $37.2 million. The full-year tax rate assumption is 23.0%, down from 24.0%. Source

Federal aid and regulatory assumptions

  • Federal aid legislation assumption: Guidance assumes no material impact from federal budget reconciliations or other legislation on federal student aid availability. The prior release carried the same assumption. Source
  • Grad PLUS elimination assumption: Guidance assumes the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program will not be material, because prospective students are assumed to have access to private lending sources. Source
  • FTC settlement assumed not significant: Guidance assumes no significant operating impacts from the settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission or other legal or regulatory matters. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Dividend payment on June 12: The $0.15 dividend is scheduled for payment on June 12, 2026, to holders of record as of June 1, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant effect from new or proposed regulations, or changed interpretations, that could require operational changes in how the institutions attract, enroll and educate students. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes no material disruption to federal student aid availability from agency restructuring, government shutdowns, staffing changes or layoffs. Source
  • Demand: Guidance assumes no material effect from the increased use of AI by prospective students in place of search engines. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company restated its expectation that quarterly dividend payments will be an integral and growing part of its capital allocation strategy. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected positive operating momentum to continue into 2026; the current release does not restate this view.

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.