Stride Inc Faces 54% Stock Crash Amid Fraud Allegations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LRN?
Source: Globenewswire
Stride Inc's stock surged by 6.70% today, reaching a 20-day high, amidst a broader market rally with the Nasdaq-100 up 1.08% and the S&P 500 up 0.84%.
This increase comes despite significant negative news surrounding the company, including allegations of inflating enrollment figures with 'ghost students', which led to a catastrophic 54% stock price drop in a single day. The company is facing legal action and compliance risks that could severely impact its financial health and investor confidence.
The implications of these allegations are profound, as they not only threaten Stride's reputation but also raise concerns about its operational stability and future growth prospects.
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Analyst Views on LRN
Wall Street analysts forecast LRN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LRN is 106.75 USD with a low forecast of 82.00 USD and a high forecast of 125.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 86.430
Low
82.00
Averages
106.75
High
125.00
Current: 86.430
Low
82.00
Averages
106.75
High
125.00
About LRN
Stride, Inc. is a technology company providing an educational platform to deliver online learning to students throughout the U.S. It provides a range of services including K-12 education, career learning, professional skills training, and talent development. Its platform hosts products and services to attract, enroll, educate, track progress, and support students. These products and services, spanning curriculum, systems, instruction, and support services, are designed to help learners of all ages reach their full potential through inspired teaching and personalized learning. Its platform addresses two markets in the K-12 space: General Education and Career Learning. Products and services for the General Education market are focused on core subjects for kindergarten through twelfth grade students to help build a common foundation of knowledge. Career Learning products and services are focused on developing skills to enter and succeed in careers in high-growth and in-demand industries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Purchase Overview: On January 5, 2026, Mullin disclosed purchases of 10 stocks, each ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, indicating his ongoing interest in small and mid-cap stocks, with most having market capitalizations below $20 billion.
- Small-Cap Characteristics: Notably, two of these stocks have market caps under $5 billion, reinforcing Mullin's preference for smaller stocks, which could influence his decisions on the Armed Services Committee, particularly regarding future government contracts.
- Historical Trade Review: Prior to this, on December 29, 2025, Mullin bought six of the Magnificent Seven stocks, investing at least $50,000, highlighting his preference for tech stocks, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) being the largest investment.
- Potential Conflict of Interest: Given Mullin's role on the Armed Services Committee, Benzinga will closely monitor his future stock trades, especially concerning potential conflicts arising from military actions in countries like Venezuela.
See More
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- Board Investigation: Berger Montague is investigating Stride, Inc.'s Board of Directors for potential breaches of fiduciary duties, particularly regarding oversight of public statements about the company's operations and financial performance, which may harm shareholder interests.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: The investigation aims to safeguard the rights of Stride shareholders, who can contact Berger Montague for more information, highlighting the law firm's commitment to protecting investor interests.
- Education Technology Company Profile: Stride, Inc., headquartered in Reston, Virginia, focuses on providing online learning programs and curricula to schools and districts nationwide, underscoring its significance in the education technology sector.
- Law Firm Expertise: Berger Montague is a leading firm in complex civil litigation and class actions, having recovered over $50 billion for clients over 55 years, demonstrating its strong capabilities and influence in the legal field.
See More
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- Revenue Growth: Stride's revenue for Q2 FY2026 rose 7.5% year-over-year to $631.3 million, driven by a 7.8% increase in total enrollments to 248,500, with career learning enrollments surging 17.6% to 111,500, indicating a sustained demand for alternatives to traditional education models.
- Profitability Improvement: Adjusted EBITDA surged 17.2% to $188.1 million, demonstrating Stride's ability to enhance profitability while scaling operations, with adjusted earnings per share increasing 5.5% to $2.50, surpassing consensus estimates of $2.01.
- Stable Growth Forecast: Management anticipates full-year revenue between $2.480 billion and $2.555 billion for FY2026, with adjusted operating income projected at $485 million to $505 million, reflecting approximately 5% and 6% year-over-year growth, respectively, indicating a positive outlook for future growth.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the earnings announcement, Stride's stock price surged 14.25%, closing at $10.32, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company's performance and future growth potential.
See More
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- Intel Stock Surge: Intel's stock rose over 11% following a DigiTimes report indicating that Nvidia will shift chip production to Intel by 2028, enhancing its competitive position in the semiconductor market.
- AT&T Profit Guidance Upgrade: AT&T's stock increased by 5% after raising its annual profit guidance, expecting free cash flow to exceed $21 billion in 2028, surpassing analysts' estimates of $19.61 billion, indicating robust financial health.
- Seagate Strong Earnings Boost: Seagate's stock soared 19% after reporting adjusted earnings of $3.11 per share, exceeding the expected $2.81, reflecting strong performance in the storage infrastructure sector.
- Stride Earnings Beat Expectations: Stride's stock surged 21% after reporting adjusted earnings of $2.50 per share, significantly above analysts' expectations of $2.01, showcasing strong demand in the virtual education market.
See More
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- Company Performance: Stride shares increased by 22% following the release of their Q2 results.
- Earnings Report: The company's Q2 results exceeded market expectations, contributing to the surge in share price.
See More
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- Momentum Indicator Alert: As of January 28, 2026, two stocks in the consumer discretionary sector are signaling caution for momentum traders, particularly with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) exceeding 70, indicating potential overvaluation.
- Key Overbought Stocks: Gold.com Inc (NYSE:GOLD) and Stride Inc (NYSE:LRN) are identified as major overbought stocks, prompting investors to carefully assess their short-term performance risks.
- RSI Interpretation: The RSI serves as a momentum indicator by comparing the strength of a stock on up days versus down days, helping traders gauge short-term performance, with overbought conditions potentially leading to price corrections.
- Market Impact Analysis: Given the prevalence of momentum trading strategies, investors should be aware of the potential pullback risks associated with these overvalued stocks to avoid losses amid market volatility.
See More
