Not a good buy right now for an impatient buyer: momentum is still bearish (MACD histogram negative and expanding) and price is sitting just above near-term support (S1 ~33.83), which risks a quick breakdown.
Upside exists longer-term (Street targets $39–$40), but near-term setup is unattractive with heavy insider selling and a statistically weak next-week bias (-5.43% expected move from the pattern set).
Best “buy-now” trigger would be reclaiming the pivot (~34.84) with improving momentum; without that, the odds favor chop/down into earnings (2026-02-19 pre-market).
Trend/Momentum: Bearish near-term. MACD histogram at -0.207 and negatively expanding signals downside momentum is strengthening.
RSI: RSI(6) ~35.1 (weak/near-oversold territory), suggesting selling pressure is elevated, but not yet a clear reversal signal.
Moving averages: Converging MAs typically imply consolidation; combined with bearish MACD, this favors a continuation lower unless price reclaims key levels.
Key levels (pre-market ~33.87):
Immediate support: S1 33.826 (price is hovering right on it); next support S2 33.201.
Resistance: Pivot 34.839 (must reclaim to improve the setup), then R1 35.851.
Pattern-based expectation: 40% chance to +1.79% next day, but negative skew over the next week (-5.43%), improving again over a month (+6.96%).
Options Data
Bullish
Open Interest Put-Call Ratio
Neutral
Option Volume Put-Call Ratio
Positioning/Sentiment (OI): Put/Call OI ratio 0.64 (more calls than puts) leans mildly bullish for positioning.
Flow (Volume): Put/Call volume ratio 1.0 is neutral (today’s options flow is not clearly bullish or bearish).
Volatility: IV30 ~36.86 vs historical vol ~25.39 implies options are pricing elevated uncertainty (likely into earnings); not a “calm confidence” read.
Activity: Very light volume (2 contracts) and today’s volume vs 30D average flagged high due to a low base—overall signal quality is limited.
Technical Summary
Sell
0
Buy
11
Positive Catalysts
on 2026-02-19 pre-market can be a catalyst if margins/EPS rebound vs the weak 2025/Q3 profit trend.
Neutral/Negative Catalysts
No supportive news flow in the last week to offset technical/insider pressure.
Financial Performance
Latest reported quarter: 2025/Q3.
Revenue: $400.224M, up +8.57% YoY (healthy top-line growth).
Profitability weakened sharply: Net income $34.487M, down -59.65% YoY; EPS $0.23, down -58.93% YoY.
Margins: Gross margin 20.91%, down -6.78% YoY (core operational pressure; explains EPS drop despite revenue growth).
Takeaway: Growth is present, but quality of earnings/margins is currently deteriorating—this limits “buy immediately” conviction ahead of the next earnings print.
Growth
Profitability
Efficiency
Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends
2025-12-10: JPMorgan initiated Overweight with a $40 PT, highlighting consistent high-single-digit growth, strong margins, and robust FCF (bullish foundational thesis).
2026-01-08: UBS raised PT to $39 from $36 and reiterated Buy (incrementally more bullish).
Wall Street pros: visibility vs peers, growth + cash flow narrative, continued Buy/Overweight stance.
Wall Street cons (based on current data): recent margin/EPS deterioration conflicts with the “strong margins” narrative; near-term technical weakness and heavy insider selling can overpower positive ratings.
Influential/political trading: No recent congress trading data available (no confirmed political catalyst from the provided dataset).
Wall Street analysts forecast LAUR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LAUR is 36.5 USD with a low forecast of 32 USD and a high forecast of 40 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.
4 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast LAUR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LAUR is 36.5 USD with a low forecast of 32 USD and a high forecast of 40 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.
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 34.470
Low
32
Averages
36.5
High
40
Current: 34.470
Low
32
Averages
36.5
High
40
UBS
Buy
maintain
$36 -> $39
AI Analysis
2026-01-08
Reason
UBS
Price Target
$36 -> $39
AI Analysis
2026-01-08
maintain
Buy
Reason
UBS raised the firm's price target on Laureate Education to $39 from $36 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares.
JPMorgan
Marcelo Santos
initiated
$40
2025-12-10
Reason
JPMorgan
Marcelo Santos
Price Target
$40
2025-12-10
initiated
Reason
JPMorgan analyst Marcelo Santos initiated coverage of Laureate Education with an Overweight rating and $40 price target. The firm says the company offers "consistent" high-single-digit growth, driven by increasing market penetration. Laureate has "strong" margins and "robust" free cash flow generation, supported by its good market structure, the analyst tells investors in a research note. JPMorgan adds that the company has greater visibility compared to its Brazilian peers due to limited government intervention and the absence of major structural changes.
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