Education & Training Services
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FEDU vs TAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Education & Training Services
FEDU vs TAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $2M | $773M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $251M | $2.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $801K | $171M |
| Gross Margin | 18.8% | 54.4% |
| Operating Margin | -6.3% | 2.7% |
| Forward P/E | 18.8x | 18.2x |
| Total Debt | $98M | $333M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $211M | $1.77B |
FEDU vs TAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Seasons Educat… (FEDU) | 100 | 43.9 | -56.1% |
| TAL Education Group (TAL) | 100 | 19.7 | -80.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FEDU vs TAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FEDU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.29, yield 100.0%
- Rev growth 100.1%, EPS growth -81.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.29, Low D/E 19.5%, current ratio 2.19x
TAL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 26.4% 10Y total return vs FEDU's -88.5%
- Lower P/E (18.2x vs 18.8x)
- 6.5% margin vs FEDU's 0.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 100.1% revenue growth vs TAL's 51.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (18.2x vs 18.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 6.5% margin vs FEDU's 0.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.29 vs TAL's 0.96 | |
| Dividends | 100.0% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +36.2% vs TAL's +24.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.1% ROA vs FEDU's 0.1%, ROIC -0.3% vs -3.0% |
FEDU vs TAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FEDU vs TAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TAL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.7B annually — 10.6x FEDU's $251M. TAL is the more profitable business, keeping 6.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FEDU's 0.3%. On growth, FEDU holds the edge at +83.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $251M | $2.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$11M | $72M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $801,000 | $171M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $441M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +54.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -6.3% | +2.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +6.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -14.8% | +16.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +83.0% | +38.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.3% | -21.4% |
Valuation Metrics
FEDU leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.1x trailing earnings, TAL trades at a 52% valuation discount to FEDU's 18.8x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2M | $773M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$14M | -$664M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.84x | 9.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 18.18x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | -16.31x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.06x | 0.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.03x | 0.21x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 2.71x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TAL leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TAL delivers a 4.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $0 for FEDU. TAL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FEDU's 0.19x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.2% | +4.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.1% | +3.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.0% | -0.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | -0.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$112M | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $211M | $1.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $98M | $333M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TAL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FEDU five years ago would be worth $6,337 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,063 for TAL. Over the past 12 months, FEDU leads with a +36.2% total return vs TAL's +24.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TAL at 26.8% vs FEDU's 9.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.2% | -0.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.2% | +24.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.7% | +103.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -36.6% | -79.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.5% | +26.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.3% | +26.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FEDU and TAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FEDU is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TAL's 0.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TAL currently trades 85.6% from its 52-week high vs FEDU's 60.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.29x | 0.96x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.30 | $13.37 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.68 | $9.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.7% | +85.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.3 | 46.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1K | 3.3M |
Analyst Outlook
FEDU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FEDU as "Hold" and TAL as "Hold". FEDU is the only dividend payer here at 100.00% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $18.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +100.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $164.29 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
TAL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). FEDU leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
FEDU vs TAL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FEDU or TAL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
(FEDU) is the stronger pick with 100. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 51. 2% for TAL Education Group (TAL). TAL Education Group (TAL) offers the better valuation at 9. 1x trailing P/E (18. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. (FEDU) a "Hold" — based on 1 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 — FEDU or TAL?
On trailing P/E, TAL Education Group (TAL) is the cheapest at 9.
1x versus Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. at 18. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FEDU or TAL?
Over the past 5 years, Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
(FEDU) delivered a total return of -36. 6%, compared to -79. 4% for TAL Education Group (TAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TAL returned +26. 4% versus FEDU's -88. 5%. 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 — FEDU or TAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
(FEDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus TAL Education Group's 0. 96β — meaning TAL is approximately 233% more volatile than FEDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TAL Education Group (TAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 19% for Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FEDU or TAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
(FEDU) is pulling ahead at 100. 1% versus 51. 2% for TAL Education Group (TAL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TAL Education Group grew EPS 24. 7% year-over-year, compared to -81. 9% for Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FEDU leads at 0. 1% 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 — FEDU or TAL?
TAL Education Group (TAL) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
8% net margin versus 0. 3% for Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TAL leads at -0. 3% versus -6. 3% for FEDU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TAL leads at 53. 3%, 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 — FEDU or TAL?
In this comparison, FEDU (100.
0% yield) pays a dividend. TAL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FEDU or TAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
(FEDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), 100. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FEDU: -88. 5%, TAL: +26. 4%), 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 FEDU and TAL?
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.
FEDU pays a dividend while TAL 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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- Sector: Consumer Defensive
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 41%
- Dividend Yield > 40.0%
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