Education & Training Services
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AMBO vs PRDO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Education & Training Services
AMBO vs PRDO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $301K | $2.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $60M | $855M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $12M | $170M |
| Gross Margin | 40.1% | 51.8% |
| Operating Margin | -22.5% | 24.3% |
| Forward P/E | 4.5x | 12.0x |
| Total Debt | $7M | $105M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $831K | $132M |
AMBO vs PRDO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambow Education Hol… (AMBO) | 100 | 12.8 | -87.2% |
| Perdoceo Education … (PRDO) | 100 | 211.5 | +111.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AMBO vs PRDO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AMBO is the clearest fit if your priority is value and quality.
- Lower P/E (4.5x vs 12.0x)
- 20.7% margin vs PRDO's 19.9%
- 77.7% ROA vs PRDO's 13.2%, ROIC 0.6% vs 15.3%
PRDO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.48, yield 1.6%
- Rev growth 24.2%, EPS growth 10.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.8%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs AMBO's -94.9%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 24.2% revenue growth vs AMBO's -86.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (4.5x vs 12.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 20.7% margin vs PRDO's 19.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.48 vs AMBO's 0.91, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.6% yield; 5-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +15.4% vs AMBO's -36.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 77.7% ROA vs PRDO's 13.2%, ROIC 0.6% vs 15.3% |
AMBO vs PRDO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
AMBO 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 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRDO is the larger business by revenue, generating $855M annually — 14.2x AMBO's $60M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 20.7% (AMBO) to 19.9% (PRDO).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $60M | $855M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$13M | $247M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12M | $170M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10M | $221M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.1% | +51.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -22.5% | +24.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.7% | +19.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +25.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +4.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +30.8% |
Valuation Metrics
AMBO leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 4.5x trailing earnings, AMBO trades at a 68% valuation discount to PRDO's 14.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AMBO's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PRDO's 9.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $301,346 | $2.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6M | $2.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4.49x | 14.23x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 12.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.09x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.14x | 8.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.03x | 2.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.74x | 2.34x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 9.97x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PRDO leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AMBO delivers a 71.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $71 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 AMBO's 0.79x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PRDO scores 7/9 vs AMBO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +71.0% | +17.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +77.7% | +13.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.6% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.8% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.79x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6M | -$27M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $831,000 | $132M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7M | $105M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -255.32x | 50.21x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PRDO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PRDO five years ago would be worth $29,850 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $872 for AMBO. Over the past 12 months, PRDO leads with a +15.4% total return vs AMBO's -36.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PRDO at 43.5% vs AMBO's -2.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -24.5% | +18.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -36.3% | +15.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.3% | +195.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -91.3% | +198.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.9% | +505.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -2.8% | +43.5% |
Risk & Volatility
PRDO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRDO is the less volatile stock with a 0.48 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMBO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PRDO currently trades 89.5% from its 52-week high vs AMBO's 31.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.91x | 0.48x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.75 | $38.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.47 | $26.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +31.3% | +89.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.7 | 46.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11K | 584K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
PRDO is the only dividend payer here at 1.62% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.56 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +5.6% |
PRDO leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AMBO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
AMBO vs PRDO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMBO or PRDO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the stronger pick with 24.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -86. 2% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO). Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) a "Hold" — based on 9 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 — AMBO or PRDO?
On trailing P/E, Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
(AMBO) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus Perdoceo Education Corporation at 14. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AMBO or PRDO?
Over the past 5 years, Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) delivered a total return of +198.
5%, compared to -91. 3% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PRDO returned +505. 6% versus AMBO's -94. 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 — AMBO or PRDO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
48β versus Ambow Education Holding Ltd. 's 0. 91β — meaning AMBO is approximately 88% 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 79% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AMBO or PRDO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is pulling ahead at 24.
2% versus -86. 2% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Perdoceo Education Corporation grew EPS 10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -97. 0% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PRDO leads at 6. 8% 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 — AMBO or PRDO?
Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
9% net margin versus 14. 4% for Ambow Education Holding Ltd. — 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 1. 2% for AMBO. 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — AMBO or PRDO?
In this comparison, PRDO (1.
6% yield) pays a dividend. AMBO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is AMBO 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.
48), 1. 6% yield, +505. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PRDO: +505. 6%, AMBO: -94. 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.
09What are the main differences between AMBO 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.
In terms of investment character: AMBO is a small-cap deep-value stock; PRDO is a small-cap high-growth stock. PRDO pays a dividend while AMBO 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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