Education & Training Services
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Side-by-side financial analysisStock Comparison
LGCY vs PRDO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Education & Training Services
LGCY vs PRDO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $139M | $2.13B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $78M | $855M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $8M | $170M |
| Gross Margin | 46.7% | 71.1% |
| Operating Margin | 14.4% | 24.3% |
| Forward P/E | 16.4x | 11.7x |
| Total Debt | $18M | $105M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $20M | $132M |
LGCY vs PRDO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 24 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Education In… (LGCY) | 100 | 239.3 | +139.3% |
| Perdoceo Education … (PRDO) | 100 | 153.1 | +53.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LGCY vs PRDO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LGCY is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 39.5%, EPS growth 34.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.9%
- 39.5% revenue growth vs PRDO's 24.2%
- +22.5% vs PRDO's +8.7%
PRDO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.28, yield 1.6%
- 5.2% 10Y total return vs LGCY's 173.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.28, Low D/E 10.8%, current ratio 5.06x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 39.5% revenue growth vs PRDO's 24.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.7x vs 16.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 19.9% margin vs LGCY's 10.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.28 vs LGCY's 1.44, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +22.5% vs PRDO's +8.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 13.2% ROA vs LGCY's 11.7%, ROIC 15.3% vs 27.1% |
LGCY vs PRDO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
LGCY vs PRDO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRDO leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRDO is the larger business by revenue, generating $855M annually — 11.0x LGCY's $78M. PRDO is the more profitable business, keeping 19.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LGCY's 10.9%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $78M | $855M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12M | $247M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $8M | $170M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $221M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.7% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +24.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +19.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | +25.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +4.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +30.8% |
Valuation Metrics
PRDO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.1x trailing earnings, PRDO trades at a 25% valuation discount to LGCY's 18.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PRDO's 8.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LGCY's 13.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $139M | $2.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $137M | $2.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.66x | 14.07x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.35x | 11.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.06x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.10x | 8.87x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.17x | 2.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.40x | 2.32x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.12x | 9.85x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LGCY leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LGCY delivers a 18.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $17 for PRDO. PRDO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LGCY's 0.43x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PRDO scores 7/9 vs LGCY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.8% | +17.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.7% | +13.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.1% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +24.9% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.43x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$3M | -$27M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $20M | $132M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18M | $105M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 136.29x | 35.92x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PRDO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PRDO five years ago would be worth $27,448 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $27,388 for LGCY. Over the past 12 months, LGCY leads with a +22.5% total return vs PRDO's +8.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PRDO at 42.1% vs LGCY's 39.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.4% | +18.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.5% | +8.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +186.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +174.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +522.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +39.9% | +42.1% |
Risk & Volatility
PRDO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRDO is the less volatile stock with a 0.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LGCY's 1.44 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PRDO currently trades 88.4% from its 52-week high vs LGCY's 74.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.44x | 0.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.70 | $38.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.94 | $26.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.9% | +88.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.0 | 59.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 58K | 539K |
Analyst Outlook
PRDO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGCY as "Buy" and PRDO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 31.7% upside for LGCY (target: $15) vs 29.3% for PRDO (target: $44). PRDO is the only dividend payer here at 1.64% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $44.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.56 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +5.7% |
PRDO leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LGCY leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency).
LGCY vs PRDO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGCY or PRDO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Legacy Education Inc.
(LGCY) is the stronger pick with 39. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 24. 2% for Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO). Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (11. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY) a "Buy" — based on 3 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — LGCY or PRDO?
On trailing P/E, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the cheapest at 14.
1x versus Legacy Education Inc. at 18. 7x. On forward P/E, Perdoceo Education Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGCY or PRDO?
Over the past 5 years, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) delivered a total return of +174.
5%, compared to +173. 9% for Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PRDO returned +522. 4% versus LGCY's +173. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LGCY or PRDO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
28β versus Legacy Education Inc. 's 1. 44β — meaning LGCY is approximately 415% more volatile than PRDO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 43% for Legacy Education Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LGCY or PRDO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Legacy Education Inc.
(LGCY) is pulling ahead at 39. 5% versus 24. 2% for Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Legacy Education Inc. grew EPS 34. 1% year-over-year, compared to 10. 5% for Perdoceo Education Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LGCY leads at 27. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — LGCY or PRDO?
Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
9% net margin versus 11. 7% for Legacy Education Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PRDO leads at 23. 2% versus 15. 6% for LGCY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PRDO leads at 71. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is LGCY or PRDO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) trades at 11.
7x forward P/E versus 16. 4x for Legacy Education Inc. — 4. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LGCY: 31. 7% to $14. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — LGCY or PRDO?
In this comparison, PRDO (1.
6% yield) pays a dividend. LGCY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LGCY or PRDO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
28), 1. 6% yield, +522. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PRDO: +522. 4%, LGCY: +173. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between LGCY and PRDO?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
PRDO pays a dividend while LGCY does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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