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Perdoceo Education Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose 21% in quarter: Diluted EPS was $0.75 against $0.62, up 21.0%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80 against $0.67, up 19.4%. Net income was $48.0 million against $41.0 million. Source
  • CTU operating income fell on legal fees: CTU operating income was $44.5 million, down 5.1%, including higher legal fees on previously disclosed matters. CTU revenue was $115.5 million, up 0.9%. Source
  • Total enrollment up 0.7% to 46,830: Total student enrollments were 46,830 at June 30, 2026, up 0.7%. CTU rose 0.6% to 32,110, USAHS rose 6.0% to 4,210, and AIUS fell 1.0% to 10,510. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $734.8M: Cash, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $734.8 million at June 30, 2026, against $643.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 13.3% to $0.17: The board declared $0.17 per share, up 13.3% from the prior $0.15 quarter. Cash dividends paid year to date were $19.7 million, against $17.7 million. Source
  • Third-quarter guidance given for first time: Third-quarter operating income is guided to $54.5M-$55.5M and adjusted operating income to $64.0M-$65.0M. Diluted EPS is guided to $0.68-$0.69. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS is guided to $2.91-$2.97, from $2.86-$2.97. Adjusted diluted EPS is guided to $3.10-$3.16, from $3.05-$3.16. Source

“while building on the sustainable growth we have achieved over the past two years”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating income SourceThird quarter 2026 (ending September 30, 2026)$54.5M - $55.5MNew
Depreciation and amortization SourceThird quarter 2026$9.5MNew
Adjusted operating income SourceThird quarter 2026$64.0M - $65.0MNew
Diluted EPS SourceThird quarter 2026$0.68 - $0.69New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceThird quarter 2026$0.73 - $0.74New
Effective income tax rate SourceThird quarter 2026approximately 27.5%New
Operating income SourceFull year 2026$221.2M - $226.2MRaised from $217.1M - $226.1M
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$36.8MLowered from $36.9M
Adjusted operating income SourceFull year 2026$258.0M - $263.0MRaised from $254.0M - $263.0M
Diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$2.91 - $2.97Raised from $2.86 - $2.97
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$3.10 - $3.16Raised from $3.05 - $3.16
Effective income tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 23.5%Raised from approximately 23.0%

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance given for the first time in this release, covering operating income, EPS and tax rate. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year operating income low end raised to $221.2M from $217.1M; high end $226.2M from $226.1M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS low end raised to $2.91 from $2.86. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS low end raised to $3.10 from $3.05. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted operating income low end raised to $258.0M from $254.0M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year effective tax rate assumption raised to 23.5% from 23.0%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year depreciation and amortization estimate lowered to $36.8M from $36.9M. Source
  • New: New assumption that legal fees on current litigation remain generally in line with the Company's current expectations. Source

Quarter results and profit growth

  • Diluted EPS rose 21% in quarter: Diluted EPS was $0.75 against $0.62, up 21.0%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80 against $0.67, up 19.4%. Net income was $48.0 million against $41.0 million. Source
  • Revenue rose 1.8% in the quarter: Revenue was $213.4 million against $209.6 million, up 1.8%. Tuition and fees, net were 99.4% of total revenue in the quarter. Source
  • Operating income rose 6.8% in quarter: Operating income was $54.9 million, up 6.8%, and operating margin was 25.7% against 24.5%. Adjusted operating income was $64.2 million, up 4.4%. Source
  • Year-to-date profit and revenue higher: Year-to-date operating income was $118.0 million, up 14.4%, and revenue was $435.1 million, up 3.0%. Year-to-date diluted EPS was $1.60 against $1.27. Source

Segments and enrollment

  • CTU operating income fell on legal fees: CTU operating income was $44.5 million, down 5.1%, including higher legal fees on previously disclosed matters. CTU revenue was $115.5 million, up 0.9%. Source
  • AIUS operating income rose on lower revenue: AIUS operating income was $12.6 million, up 9.7%, while revenue was $57.2 million, down 1.8%. The revenue decline came mainly from non-Title IV and professional development programs. Source
  • USAHS revenue and profit improved: USAHS revenue was $40.5 million, up 10.2%. Operating income was $3.6 million against a $1.7 million loss a year earlier; year-to-date operating income was $10.0 million. Source
  • Total enrollment up 0.7% to 46,830: Total student enrollments were 46,830 at June 30, 2026, up 0.7%. CTU rose 0.6% to 32,110, USAHS rose 6.0% to 4,210, and AIUS fell 1.0% to 10,510. Source
  • Trident University enrollment dip at AIUS: Management said AIUS total enrollments were affected by a modest decrease in enrollments at Trident University. Source

“The breadth of program offerings across the portfolio of our academic institutions has allowed us to execute against our objective of sustainable and responsible growth.”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and operating margin

  • Operating expenses fell as share of revenue: Total operating expenses were $158.5 million, 74.3% of revenue, against 75.5% a year earlier. General and administrative was $98.2 million, 46.0% of revenue, against 46.7%. Source
  • Educational services costs held near flat: Educational services and facilities cost $50.9 million, 23.9% of revenue, against $50.2 million and 24.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization declined: Depreciation and amortization was $9.3 million against $10.1 million in the quarter; year to date it was $18.7 million against $22.0 million. Source
  • Year-to-date operating margin rose: Year-to-date operating margin was 27.1% against 24.4%; general and administrative was 46.1% of revenue against 47.0%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarter operating cash flow slipped: Net cash from operating activities was $74.6 million, down 5.3% from $78.8 million. Year to date it was $144.0 million, against $143.9 million. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $734.8M: Cash, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $734.8 million at June 30, 2026, against $643.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Capital spending was lower: Capital expenditures were $1.5 million in the quarter, against $2.8 million, and $3.3 million year to date, against $4.5 million. Source
  • Deferred revenue higher at period end: Deferred revenue was $80.4 million at June 30, 2026, against $37.8 million at December 31, 2025. Student receivables, net were $40.0 million against $27.2 million. Source

“providing us with the flexibility to invest organically while also evaluating incremental investment strategies and return capital to shareholders”

Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dividend and share repurchases

  • Quarterly dividend raised 13.3% to $0.17: The board declared $0.17 per share, up 13.3% from the prior $0.15 quarter. Cash dividends paid year to date were $19.7 million, against $17.7 million. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks lower: Treasury stock purchases were $15.0 million year to date, against $46.1 million. Employee tax payments on stock compensation were $10.3 million, against $7.5 million. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Weighted average diluted shares were 63.6 million for the quarter, against 66.6 million a year earlier. Source

Guidance for third quarter and year

  • Third-quarter guidance given for first time: Third-quarter operating income is guided to $54.5M-$55.5M and adjusted operating income to $64.0M-$65.0M. Diluted EPS is guided to $0.68-$0.69. Source
  • Full-year operating income guidance raised: Full-year operating income is guided to $221.2M-$226.2M, from $217.1M-$226.1M. Full-year depreciation and amortization is guided to $36.8M, from $36.9M. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS is guided to $2.91-$2.97, from $2.86-$2.97. Adjusted diluted EPS is guided to $3.10-$3.16, from $3.05-$3.16. Source
  • Adjusted operating income low end raised: Full-year adjusted operating income is guided to $258.0M-$263.0M, from $254.0M-$263.0M. Source
  • Tax rate assumptions updated: The diluted EPS estimate assumes an effective tax rate of about 27.5% for the third quarter and 23.5% for the full year. Source
  • Repurchases excluded from guidance: Guidance excludes any future impact from the stock repurchase program. Future strategy decisions to enhance stockholder value may affect the figures. Source

Strategy and capital priorities

  • Capital allocation priorities: Capital allocation also prioritizes investments in student enrollment, student support and technology projects, alongside dividends. Source
  • Sustainable and responsible growth objective: The CEO described the company's objective as sustainable and responsible growth, supported by breadth of program offerings across its academic institutions. Source
  • Acquisitions and repurchases under evaluation: Management said it is evaluating acquisitions and repurchases under its authorized stock repurchase program. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Dividend payment date: The $0.17 quarterly dividend is set to be paid September 10, 2026, to holders of record as of September 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total student enrollments at June 30, 2026 Source46,830
CTU total student enrollments at June 30, 2026 Source32,110
AIUS total student enrollments at June 30, 2026 Source10,510
USAHS total student enrollments at June 30, 2026 Source4,210

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no significant impact from new or proposed regulations or from updated interpretations of current regulations. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no material disruption to federal student aid availability from agency restructuring, shutdowns or funding changes. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program will not be material to enrollments, since students are assumed to have private lending access. Source
  • Financial: Guidance assumes no significant operating impact from the FTC settlement or other legal and regulatory matters. Source
  • Operational: Regulatory or agency changes could require operational changes in how the institutions attract, enroll, support and educate students. Source
  • Demand: Guidance assumes prospective student interest and student retention and engagement trends remain consistent with recent experience. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes no material impact from prospective students using artificial intelligence in place of traditional internet search engines. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company states it expects quarterly dividend payments to be an integral and growing part of its capital allocation strategy. 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.