📊 LAUR Key Takeaways
Is Laureate Education, Inc.. (LAUR) a Good Investment?
Laureate Education faces critical profitability challenges with negative operating income (-10.1% margin), deteriorating net income trends, and severe liquidity constraints (0.57x current ratio) that pose near-term solvency risks. Despite 8.6% revenue growth and positive free cash flow generation, the company is destroying shareholder value with negative ROE (-2.1%) and ROA (-0.9%), indicating fundamental business model stress rather than transient losses.
Laureate delivers solid revenue growth with strong operating margins and ROE, converting fundamentals into healthy free cash flow. A low leverage profile and exceptional interest coverage support resilience and reinvestment. While sub-1x liquidity and slight net income softness are watchpoints, core operations remain robust.
Why Buy Laureate Education, Inc.. Stock? LAUR Key Strengths
- Strong free cash flow generation (53.6M, 19.7% FCF margin) despite GAAP losses indicates operational cash generation ability
- Manageable leverage profile (0.15x Debt/Equity) provides balance sheet flexibility
- Revenue growth accelerating at 8.6% YoY demonstrates market demand in educational services segment
- Strong operating and net margins with high ROE/ROA
- Very low leverage and high interest coverage
- Healthy free cash flow and disciplined capex
LAUR Stock Risks: Laureate Education, Inc.. Investment Risks
- Critical liquidity crisis: 0.57x current ratio indicates current liabilities exceed current assets, raising short-term solvency concerns
- Persistent negative profitability across all metrics (operating margin -10.1%, net margin -7.9%, ROE -2.1%) with deteriorating net income YoY
- Negative interest coverage (-5.9x) limits financial flexibility and refinancing options
- Negative shareholder returns (ROE/ROA) suggest business is destroying rather than creating value
- Sub-1x current ratio signals tighter short-term liquidity
- Enrollment/regulatory and FX exposure in key markets
- Potential margin pressure from cost inflation or competition
Key Metrics to Watch
- Current ratio trajectory - any movement toward 1.0x+ critical for solvency
- Operating margin trend - path to profitability in educational services market
- Free cash flow sustainability - whether positive FCF can fund operations and debt service through restructuring
- Enrollment and tuition growth
- Current ratio and FCF conversion
Laureate Education, Inc.. (LAUR) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
LAUR Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
LAUR vs Services Sector: How Laureate Education, Inc.. Compares
How Laureate Education, Inc.. compares to Services sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Laureate Education, Inc.. Stock Overvalued? LAUR Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Laureate Education, Inc.. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Services sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Laureate Education, Inc.. Balance Sheet: LAUR Debt, Cash & Liquidity
LAUR Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Laureate Education, Inc..'s revenue has grown significantly by 40% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $0.68 reflects profitable operations.
LAUR Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
LAUR Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $236.2M | -$19.5M | $-0.13 |
| Q3 2025 | $368.6M | $34.5M | $0.23 |
| Q2 2025 | $499.2M | $75.6M | $0.50 |
| Q1 2025 | $236.2M | -$10.8M | $-0.07 |
| Q3 2024 | $361.5M | $36.2M | $0.23 |
| Q2 2024 | $462.1M | $29.6M | $0.18 |
| Q1 2024 | $251.3M | -$10.8M | $-0.07 |
| Q3 2023 | $301.0M | $30.3M | $0.17 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Laureate Education, Inc.. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
LAUR SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Laureate Education, Inc.. (CIK: 0000912766)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about LAUR
What is the AI rating for LAUR?
Laureate Education, Inc.. (LAUR) has a Combined AI Rating of HOLD from Claude (SELL) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 79% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are LAUR's key strengths?
Claude: Strong free cash flow generation (53.6M, 19.7% FCF margin) despite GAAP losses indicates operational cash generation ability. Manageable leverage profile (0.15x Debt/Equity) provides balance sheet flexibility. ChatGPT: Strong operating and net margins with high ROE/ROA. Very low leverage and high interest coverage.
What are the risks of investing in LAUR?
Claude: Critical liquidity crisis: 0.57x current ratio indicates current liabilities exceed current assets, raising short-term solvency concerns. Persistent negative profitability across all metrics (operating margin -10.1%, net margin -7.9%, ROE -2.1%) with deteriorating net income YoY. ChatGPT: Sub-1x current ratio signals tighter short-term liquidity. Enrollment/regulatory and FX exposure in key markets.
What is LAUR's revenue and growth?
Laureate Education, Inc.. reported revenue of $272.6M.
Does LAUR pay dividends?
Laureate Education, Inc.. pays dividends, with $0.1M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find LAUR SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Laureate Education, Inc.. (CIK: 0000912766) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is LAUR's EPS?
Laureate Education, Inc.. has a diluted EPS of $-0.15.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is LAUR a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, Laureate Education, Inc.. has a HOLD rating with 79% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is LAUR stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for LAUR: ROE of -2.1% (sector avg: 16%), net margin of -7.9% (sector avg: 10%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
Should I buy LAUR stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Laureate Education, Inc.. a combined HOLD rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is LAUR's free cash flow?
Laureate Education, Inc..'s operating cash flow is $61.9M, with capital expenditures of $8.3M. FCF margin is 19.7%.
How does LAUR compare to other Services stocks?
Vs Services sector averages: Net margin -7.9% (avg: 10%), ROE -2.1% (avg: 16%), current ratio 0.57 (avg: 1.5).