STG vs TAL vs EDU vs COUR

For growth investors, TAL Education Group (TAL) is the stronger pick with 51.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 8% for Sunlands Technology Group (STG). Sunlands Technology Group (STG) offers the better valuation at 0. 8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (EDU) a "Buy" — based on 24 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.

On trailing P/E, Sunlands Technology Group (STG) is the cheapest at 0.

8x versus New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. at 24. 5x. On forward P/E, Coursera, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) delivered a total return of -61. 5%, compared to -82. 7% for Coursera, Inc. (COUR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EDU returned +47. 3% versus STG's -97. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sunlands Technology Group (STG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

69β versus TAL Education Group's 0. 96β — meaning TAL is approximately 39% more volatile than STG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coursera, Inc. (COUR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 31% for Sunlands Technology Group — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), TAL Education Group (TAL) is pulling ahead at 51.

2% versus -7. 8% for Sunlands Technology Group (STG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TAL Education Group grew EPS 24. 7% year-over-year, compared to -46. 0% for Sunlands Technology Group. Over a 3-year CAGR, EDU leads at 16. 4% 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.

Sunlands Technology Group (STG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

2% net margin versus -6. 7% for Coursera, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STG leads at 15. 0% versus -10. 3% for COUR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STG leads at 84. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Coursera, Inc.

(COUR) trades at 15. 2x forward P/E versus 18. 1x for TAL Education Group — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TAL: 57. 9% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, EDU (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. STG, TAL, COUR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.

(EDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 1. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EDU: +47. 3%, TAL: +27. 3%), 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.

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: STG is a small-cap deep-value stock; TAL is a small-cap high-growth stock; EDU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COUR is a small-cap quality compounder stock. EDU pays a dividend while STG, TAL, COUR do 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.