Education & Training Services
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CHGG vs STRA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Education & Training Services
CHGG vs STRA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $143M | $1.80B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $319M | $1.27B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-86M | $130M |
| Gross Margin | 61.9% | 37.4% |
| Operating Margin | -11.1% | 14.0% |
| Forward P/E | — | 11.0x |
| Total Debt | $84M | $109M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $31M | $141M |
CHGG vs STRA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chegg, Inc. (CHGG) | 100 | 2.1 | -97.9% |
| Strategic Education… (STRA) | 100 | 46.6 | -53.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CHGG vs STRA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CHGG is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.97
- +79.3% vs STRA's -7.8%
STRA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.0%, EPS growth 16.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.0%
- 114.9% 10Y total return vs CHGG's -70.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.48, Low D/E 6.6%, current ratio 1.27x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 4.0% revenue growth vs CHGG's -39.0% | |
| Quality / Margins | 10.2% margin vs CHGG's -26.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.48 vs CHGG's 2.97, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.2% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +79.3% vs STRA's -7.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.2% ROA vs CHGG's -26.3%, ROIC 9.0% vs -13.4% |
CHGG vs STRA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CHGG vs STRA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STRA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STRA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.3B annually — 4.0x CHGG's $319M. STRA is the more profitable business, keeping 10.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CHGG's -26.9%. On growth, STRA holds the edge at +0.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $319M | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11M | $216M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$86M | $130M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$25M | $174M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.9% | +37.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -11.1% | +14.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -26.9% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.0% | +13.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -47.9% | +0.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +101.2% | +19.4% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — CHGG and STRA each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, STRA's 7.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CHGG's 12.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $143M | $1.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $196M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.33x | 14.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 11.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.94x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.82x | 7.22x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.38x | 1.42x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.15x | 1.10x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 11.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
STRA leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STRA delivers a 7.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-63 for CHGG. STRA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CHGG's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STRA scores 8/9 vs CHGG's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -62.9% | +7.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -26.3% | +6.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -13.4% | +9.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -26.5% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $53M | -$32M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $31M | $141M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $84M | $109M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -525.53x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
STRA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in STRA five years ago would be worth $11,782 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $150 for CHGG. Over the past 12 months, CHGG leads with a +79.3% total return vs STRA's -7.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STRA at 1.3% vs CHGG's -49.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +30.6% | +1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +79.3% | -7.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.3% | +3.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.5% | +17.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -70.8% | +114.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -49.8% | +1.3% |
Risk & Volatility
STRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.48 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CHGG's 2.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STRA currently trades 84.6% from its 52-week high vs CHGG's 67.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.97x | 0.48x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $1.90 | $93.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.53 | $69.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.4% | +84.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.3 | 47.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 315K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CHGG as "Hold" and STRA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2276.6% upside for CHGG (target: $30) vs 10.0% for STRA (target: $87). STRA is the only dividend payer here at 3.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.42 | $87.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.52 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +7.7% |
STRA leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
CHGG vs STRA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CHGG or STRA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the stronger pick with 4. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 0% for Chegg, Inc. (CHGG). Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 is the better long-term investment — CHGG or STRA?
Over the past 5 years, Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) delivered a total return of +17. 8%, compared to -98. 5% for Chegg, Inc. (CHGG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STRA returned +114. 9% versus CHGG's -70. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CHGG or STRA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 48β versus Chegg, Inc. 's 2. 97β — meaning CHGG is approximately 513% more volatile than STRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 70% for Chegg, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — CHGG or STRA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is pulling ahead at 4. 0% versus -39. 0% for Chegg, Inc. (CHGG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chegg, Inc. grew EPS 88. 1% year-over-year, compared to 16. 1% for Strategic Education, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STRA leads at 6. 0% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — CHGG or STRA?
Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 0% net margin versus -27. 4% for Chegg, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STRA leads at 15. 5% versus -16. 8% for CHGG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CHGG leads at 60. 2%, 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.
06Is CHGG or STRA more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHGG: 2276.
6% to $30. 42.
07Which pays a better dividend — CHGG or STRA?
In this comparison, STRA (3.
2% yield) pays a dividend. CHGG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CHGG or STRA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 48), 3. 2% yield, +114. 9% 10Y return). Chegg, Inc. (CHGG) carries a higher beta of 2. 97 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRA: +114. 9%, CHGG: -70. 8%), 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 CHGG and STRA?
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: CHGG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STRA is a small-cap deep-value stock. STRA pays a dividend while CHGG 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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