LGCY
Legacy Education Inc.
Education & Training Services
Market Cap$139M
5Y Perf.+139.3%
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Side-by-side financial analysisLGCY
STRA
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Stock Comparison
LGCY vs STRA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
STRA
Strategic Education, Inc.
Education & Training Services
Market Cap$1.76B
5Y Perf.-16.4%
LGCY vs STRA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  LGCY |  STRA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $139M | $1.76B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $78M | $1.27B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $8M | $130M |
| Gross Margin | 46.7% | 37.4% |
| Operating Margin | 14.4% | 14.0% |
| Forward P/E | 16.4x | 10.6x |
| Total Debt | $18M | $109M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $20M | $141M |
LGCY vs STRA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LGCY
STRA
| Stock | Sep 24 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Education In… (LGCY) | 100 | 239.3 | +139.3% |
| Strategic Education… (STRA) | 100 | 83.6 | -16.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LGCY vs STRA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LGCY leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Strategic Education, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇LGCY emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
LGCY
Legacy Education Inc.
The Income Pick
LGCY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.44
- Rev growth 39.5%, EPS growth 34.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.9%
- 173.9% 10Y total return vs STRA's 103.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
STRA
Strategic Education, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
STRA is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 6.6%, current ratio 1.27x
- Beta 0.39, yield 3.3%, current ratio 1.27x
- Lower P/E (10.6x vs 16.4x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  LGCY | 39.5% revenue growth vs STRA's 4.0% |
| Value |  STRA | Lower P/E (10.6x vs 16.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | LGCY | 10.9% margin vs STRA's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | STRA | Beta 0.39 vs LGCY's 1.44, lower leverage |
| Dividends | STRA | 3.3% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LGCY | +22.5% vs STRA's -5.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LGCY | 11.7% ROA vs STRA's 6.2%, ROIC 27.1% vs 9.0% |
LGCY vs STRA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
LGCY vs STRA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLGCYLAGGINGSTRA
STRAStrategic Education, …
2leads
LGCYLegacy Education Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs STRAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LGCY3/4
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
STRA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LGCY5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LGCY6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
STRA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LGCY leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STRA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.3B annually — 16.3x LGCY's $78M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.9% (LGCY) to 10.2% (STRA).
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $78M | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12M | $216M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $8M | $130M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $174M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.7% | +37.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +14.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | +13.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +0.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +19.4% |
LGCY leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
STRA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.3x trailing earnings, STRA trades at a 23% valuation discount to LGCY's 18.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, STRA's 7.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LGCY's 13.1x.
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $139M | $1.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $137M | $1.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.66x | 14.28x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.35x | 10.63x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.90x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.10x | 7.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.17x | 1.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.40x | 1.07x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.12x | 11.43x |
STRA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LGCY leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LGCY delivers a 18.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $8 for STRA. STRA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LGCY's 0.43x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STRA scores 8/9 vs LGCY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.8% | +7.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.7% | +6.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.1% | +9.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +24.9% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.43x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$3M | -$32M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $20M | $141M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18M | $109M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 136.29x | — |
LGCY leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LGCY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LGCY five years ago would be worth $27,388 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,413 for STRA. Over the past 12 months, LGCY leads with a +22.5% total return vs STRA's -5.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGCY at 39.9% vs STRA's 3.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.4% | +0.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.5% | -5.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +11.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +14.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.9% | +103.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +39.9% | +3.8% |
LGCY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 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. STRA currently trades 87.5% from its 52-week high vs LGCY's 74.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.44x | 0.39x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.70 | $88.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.94 | $69.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.9% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.0 | 51.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 58K | 257K |
STRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGCY as "Buy" and STRA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.7% upside for LGCY (target: $15) vs 12.4% for STRA (target: $87). STRA is the only dividend payer here at 3.26% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LGCYLegacy Education … | STRAStrategic Educati… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $87.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +3.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.52 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +7.9% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
LGCY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). STRA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallLegacy Education Inc. (LGCY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LGCY vs STRA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGCY or STRA 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 4. 0% for Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA). Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (10. 6x 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 STRA?
On trailing P/E, Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the cheapest at 14. 3x versus Legacy Education Inc. at 18. 7x. On forward P/E, Strategic Education, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGCY or STRA?
Over the past 5 years, Legacy Education Inc.
(LGCY) delivered a total return of +173. 9%, compared to +14. 1% for Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LGCY returned +173. 9% versus STRA's +103. 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 — LGCY or STRA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Legacy Education Inc. 's 1. 44β — meaning LGCY is approximately 273% 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 43% for Legacy Education Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LGCY or STRA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Legacy Education Inc.
(LGCY) is pulling ahead at 39. 5% versus 4. 0% for Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Legacy Education Inc. grew EPS 34. 1% year-over-year, compared to 16. 1% for Strategic Education, Inc.. 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 STRA?
Legacy Education Inc.
(LGCY) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 7% net margin versus 10. 0% for Strategic Education, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LGCY leads at 15. 6% versus 15. 5% for STRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STRA leads at 49. 0%, 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 STRA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Strategic Education, Inc.
(STRA) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 4x for Legacy Education Inc. — 5. 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 STRA?
In this comparison, STRA (3.
3% yield) pays a dividend. LGCY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LGCY 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. 39), 3. 3% yield, +103. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRA: +103. 5%, 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 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: LGCY is a small-cap high-growth stock; STRA is a small-cap deep-value stock. STRA 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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