Bleecker Street's Short Position on Perdoceo Education Claims Fraud
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 17 2025
0mins
Bleecker Street's Allegations: Funds managed by Bleecker Street are short Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO), claiming that increased enrollments and retention rates are linked to enrollment fraud by criminal networks, which is a widespread issue in the education sector.
Impact of Fraud on Revenue: The firm estimates that ghost student fraud accounts for approximately 8% of PRDO's revenue and 34% of its operating income, based on industry expert estimates of potential ghost student enrollment.
Other Companies Targeted: In addition to PRDO, Bleecker Street is also short on American Public Education (APEI), Grand Canyon Education (LOPE), and Strategic Education (STRA), as mentioned in their report.
Widespread Issue: The report highlights that enrollment fraud is not an isolated incident but a significant problem affecting multiple companies within the education industry.
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Analyst Views on PRDO
Wall Street analysts forecast PRDO stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 34.330
Low
42.00
Averages
42.00
High
42.00
Current: 34.330
Low
42.00
Averages
42.00
High
42.00
About PRDO
Perdoceo Education Corporation, through its academic institutions, offers quality postsecondary education primarily online to a diverse student population, along with campus-based and blended learning programs. Its academic institutions include Colorado Technical University (CTU), the American InterContinental University System (AIUS), and University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), which provides degree programs from the associate through doctoral level as well as non-degree seeking and professional development programs. Its academic institutions offer students industry-relevant and career-focused academic programs. CTU offers academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of business and management, nursing, healthcare management, computer science, engineering, information systems and technology, cybersecurity and criminal justice, and others. AIUS offers academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of business studies, information technologies, and others.
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.
Perdoceo Education Director Sells Shares
- Transaction Overview: On June 4, 2026, Perdoceo Education director Kenda B. Gonzales exercised and sold 9,308 shares for approximately $324,000, reducing her direct holdings from 57,466 to 48,158 shares, indicating confidence in the company's future.
- Ownership Analysis: The sale represented 16.20% of her direct stock holdings, yet Gonzales retains 48,158 shares valued at around $1.64 million, reflecting her ongoing commitment and trust in Perdoceo's performance.
- Financial Performance Highlights: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, showcasing the company's stable growth potential in enrollment and tuition revenue.
- Market Reaction and Investor Focus: While Gonzales's stock sale has drawn attention, her substantial remaining stake suggests it is not a signal of executive exit but rather a strategy to convert part of her compensation into cash, prompting investors to monitor the company's future enrollment and cash flow performance.
See More
Analysis of Executive Stock Transactions at Perdoceo Education Corporation
- Stock Option Exercise: Kenda B. Gonzales exercised 9,308 stock options and immediately sold the shares on June 4, 2026, with a transaction value of approximately $324,000, indicating a liquidity-driven intent rather than a long-term investment perspective.
- Holding Status: Post-transaction, Gonzales retains 48,158 shares valued at around $1.64 million, maintaining significant economic interest in Perdoceo despite the sale, which suggests ongoing confidence in the company's future performance.
- Historical Trading Record: This marks Gonzales's only reported open-market sale in the past two years, with prior filings reflecting administrative or non-sale events, highlighting the uniqueness of this transaction and suggesting it may not indicate a broader trend of insider selling.
- Company Financial Performance: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, up 4.1% year-over-year, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, demonstrating stability in student enrollment and tuition revenue, which bolsters investor confidence in its future outlook.
See More
Perdoceo Education Director Exercises Stock Options and Sells Shares
- Stock Option Exercise: On June 4, 2026, Gonzales exercised 9,308 stock options and immediately sold them for approximately $324,000, indicating a liquidity-driven approach while retaining 48,158 shares valued at about $1.64 million, suggesting a continued positive outlook on the company.
- Market Performance Analysis: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, demonstrating stability in student enrollment and tuition revenue, which boosts investor confidence in future performance.
- Insider Trading Context: This marks Gonzales's only reported open-market sale in the past two years, indicating that the transaction is not a negative signal about the company's future but rather a conversion of part of her compensation into cash while maintaining significant economic interest in the firm.
- Investor Considerations: Despite the stock sale, Gonzales retains a substantial stake, and with the stock up about 6% over the past year, investors should focus on Perdoceo's ability to sustain enrollment and cash flow generation when evaluating its investment potential.
See More
Perdoceo Education Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.15
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Perdoceo Education declares a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and shareholder return strategy, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 1.74% provides investors with a relatively stable income source, reflecting the company's robust performance in the education sector.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Perdoceo reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.90 for Q1 2026, exceeding market expectations by $0.06, with revenue of $221.7 million surpassing forecasts by $3.27 million, showcasing the company's competitiveness and growth potential in the market.
- Future Outlook: The company forecasts adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $3.05 and $3.16, driven by retention and marketing investments, indicating confidence in future growth and strategic planning.
See More
Perdoceo Education Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Performance Exceeds Expectations: Perdoceo Education Corporation reported a net income of $54 million for Q1 2026, translating to $0.85 per diluted share, showcasing a strong balance between financial commitments and student support initiatives.
- Enrollment Growth: Total student enrollments increased by 1.9% at CTU and 3.1% at St. Augustine, although a 2.2% decline at AIUS was anticipated; this overall growth indicates the company's strong market appeal and competitive positioning.
- Revenue and Operating Income Increase: Q1 revenue rose by 4.1% to $221.7 million, with operating income surging 22% to $63.1 million, reflecting effective management in revenue growth and cost control strategies.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company expects full-year 2026 adjusted operating income to range between $254 million and $263 million, with adjusted earnings per diluted share projected between $3.05 and $3.16, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance.
See More
Perdoceo Education Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Perdoceo Education reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.90, exceeding expectations by $0.06, indicating a sustained enhancement in profitability and reflecting its competitive position in the education market.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q1 revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $3.27 million, demonstrating steady improvement in customer demand and market share.
- Future Outlook: For Q2 2026, operating income is projected to be between $53.6 million and $54.6 million, with an actual figure of $51.4 million, showcasing the company's confidence in future growth despite slight shortfalls.
- Adjusted Earnings: The expected adjusted EPS for 2026 is between $0.79 and $0.80, significantly up from $0.67 in 2025, reflecting effective strategies in cost control and profitability enhancement.
See More
Perdoceo Education Director Sells Shares
- Transaction Overview: On June 4, 2026, Perdoceo Education director Kenda B. Gonzales exercised and sold 9,308 shares for approximately $324,000, reducing her direct holdings from 57,466 to 48,158 shares, indicating confidence in the company's future.
- Ownership Analysis: The sale represented 16.20% of her direct stock holdings, yet Gonzales retains 48,158 shares valued at around $1.64 million, reflecting her ongoing commitment and trust in Perdoceo's performance.
- Financial Performance Highlights: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, showcasing the company's stable growth potential in enrollment and tuition revenue.
- Market Reaction and Investor Focus: While Gonzales's stock sale has drawn attention, her substantial remaining stake suggests it is not a signal of executive exit but rather a strategy to convert part of her compensation into cash, prompting investors to monitor the company's future enrollment and cash flow performance.
See More
Analysis of Executive Stock Transactions at Perdoceo Education Corporation
- Stock Option Exercise: Kenda B. Gonzales exercised 9,308 stock options and immediately sold the shares on June 4, 2026, with a transaction value of approximately $324,000, indicating a liquidity-driven intent rather than a long-term investment perspective.
- Holding Status: Post-transaction, Gonzales retains 48,158 shares valued at around $1.64 million, maintaining significant economic interest in Perdoceo despite the sale, which suggests ongoing confidence in the company's future performance.
- Historical Trading Record: This marks Gonzales's only reported open-market sale in the past two years, with prior filings reflecting administrative or non-sale events, highlighting the uniqueness of this transaction and suggesting it may not indicate a broader trend of insider selling.
- Company Financial Performance: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, up 4.1% year-over-year, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, demonstrating stability in student enrollment and tuition revenue, which bolsters investor confidence in its future outlook.
See More
Perdoceo Education Director Exercises Stock Options and Sells Shares
- Stock Option Exercise: On June 4, 2026, Gonzales exercised 9,308 stock options and immediately sold them for approximately $324,000, indicating a liquidity-driven approach while retaining 48,158 shares valued at about $1.64 million, suggesting a continued positive outlook on the company.
- Market Performance Analysis: Perdoceo recently reported first-quarter revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, with operating income rising 22% to $63.1 million, demonstrating stability in student enrollment and tuition revenue, which boosts investor confidence in future performance.
- Insider Trading Context: This marks Gonzales's only reported open-market sale in the past two years, indicating that the transaction is not a negative signal about the company's future but rather a conversion of part of her compensation into cash while maintaining significant economic interest in the firm.
- Investor Considerations: Despite the stock sale, Gonzales retains a substantial stake, and with the stock up about 6% over the past year, investors should focus on Perdoceo's ability to sustain enrollment and cash flow generation when evaluating its investment potential.
See More
Perdoceo Education Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.15
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Perdoceo Education declares a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and shareholder return strategy, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 1.74% provides investors with a relatively stable income source, reflecting the company's robust performance in the education sector.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Perdoceo reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.90 for Q1 2026, exceeding market expectations by $0.06, with revenue of $221.7 million surpassing forecasts by $3.27 million, showcasing the company's competitiveness and growth potential in the market.
- Future Outlook: The company forecasts adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $3.05 and $3.16, driven by retention and marketing investments, indicating confidence in future growth and strategic planning.
See More
Perdoceo Education Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Performance Exceeds Expectations: Perdoceo Education Corporation reported a net income of $54 million for Q1 2026, translating to $0.85 per diluted share, showcasing a strong balance between financial commitments and student support initiatives.
- Enrollment Growth: Total student enrollments increased by 1.9% at CTU and 3.1% at St. Augustine, although a 2.2% decline at AIUS was anticipated; this overall growth indicates the company's strong market appeal and competitive positioning.
- Revenue and Operating Income Increase: Q1 revenue rose by 4.1% to $221.7 million, with operating income surging 22% to $63.1 million, reflecting effective management in revenue growth and cost control strategies.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company expects full-year 2026 adjusted operating income to range between $254 million and $263 million, with adjusted earnings per diluted share projected between $3.05 and $3.16, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance.
See More
Perdoceo Education Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Perdoceo Education reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.90, exceeding expectations by $0.06, indicating a sustained enhancement in profitability and reflecting its competitive position in the education market.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q1 revenue of $221.7 million, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $3.27 million, demonstrating steady improvement in customer demand and market share.
- Future Outlook: For Q2 2026, operating income is projected to be between $53.6 million and $54.6 million, with an actual figure of $51.4 million, showcasing the company's confidence in future growth despite slight shortfalls.
- Adjusted Earnings: The expected adjusted EPS for 2026 is between $0.79 and $0.80, significantly up from $0.67 in 2025, reflecting effective strategies in cost control and profitability enhancement.
See More
