KinderCare Learning [KLC] vs Strategic Education [STRA] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 20 vital metrics comparison: KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. wins in 4 metrics, Strategic Education Inc. wins in 14 metrics, with 0 ties. Strategic Education Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. Strategic Education Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 28.08 12.78 Strategic Education Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 0.52 1.00 KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 335.20 6.68 Strategic Education Inc.
PEG Ratio 1.00 0.68 Strategic Education Inc.
EV/EBITDA 9.93 6.52 Strategic Education Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) -4.13% 10.21% Strategic Education Inc.
Operating Margin (TTM) 5.09% 14.12% Strategic Education Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 5.09% 14.12% Strategic Education Inc.
Return on Equity -13.94% 7.91% Strategic Education Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.66% 5.95% Strategic Education Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $110.26M $153.95M Strategic Education Inc.
Dividend Yield N/A 3.65% N/A
1-Year Return -68.70% -15.87% Strategic Education Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 0.14 1.29 KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.
Enterprise Value $2.79B $1.58B KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.
EV/Revenue Ratio 1.02 1.25 KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 20.17% N/A N/A
Revenue per Share (TTM) $23 $57 Strategic Education Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $-0.95 $5.65 Strategic Education Inc.
Short % of Float 12.60% 7.61% Strategic Education Inc.

KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. vs Strategic Education Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.-3.83%-0.79%-5.28%2.17%-13.13%-9.38%
Strategic Education Inc.-0.14%2.28%2.70%-8.00%-0.73%0.60%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
KinderCare Learning Companies Inc.-68.70%-86.49%-86.49%-86.49%-86.49%-86.49%
Strategic Education Inc.-15.87%-2.14%5.24%62.26%-47.01%-24.70%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. vs Strategic Education Inc.

MetricKLCSTRA
Market Information
Market Cap i$394.37M$1.64B
Market Cap CategorySmall capSmall cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i954,417304,137
90 Day Avg. Volume i1,801,472306,649
Last Close$3.77$79.05
52 Week Range$1.75 - $12.10$69.70 - $93.45
% from 52W High-68.84%-15.41%
All-Time High$29.89 (Oct 28, 2024)$262.44 (Apr 19, 2010)
% from All-Time High-87.39%-69.88%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.06%0.01%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.06%0.10%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i-0.04%0.10%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.05%0.14%
Return on Equity (TTM) i-0.14%0.08%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i335.206.68
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$6.38$72.45
Cash per Share (MRQ)$1.13$6.97
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$238.54M$217.92M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$50.11M$156.21M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A3.65%
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$3.00

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. vs Strategic Education Inc.

MetricKLC (Apr 24, 2026)STRA (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i28.0812.78
Forward P/E i11.248.97
PEG Ratio i1.000.68
Price to Sales (TTM) i0.141.29
Price to Book (MRQ) i0.521.00
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$394.37M$1.64B
Enterprise Value i$2.79B$1.58B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i1.021.25
Enterprise to EBITDA i9.936.52
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta iN/AN/A
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$6.38$72.45

Financial Statements Comparison: KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. vs Strategic Education Inc.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricKLC (2025)STRA (2025)
Revenue/Sales i2.73B1.27B
Cost of Goods Sold i2.13B647.11M
COGS % of Revenue i77.9%51.0%
Gross Profit i605.19M621.11M
Gross Margin i22.1%49.0%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i183.99M196.14M
Operating Margin i6.7%15.5%
EBITDA i318.65M266.46M
EBITDA Margin i11.7%21.0%
Pre-Tax Income i-93.34M177.39M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i-3.4%14.0%
Income Tax i19.54M50.78M
Income Tax % of Revenue i0.7%4.0%
Net Income (Profit) i-112.88M126.61M
Profit Margin i-4.1%10.0%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricKLC (2025)STRA (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i133.21M140.76M
Total Current Assets i358.02M277.86M
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i13.1%21.9%
Total Current Liabilities i484.87M217.94M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i17.7%17.2%
Long-Term Debt i2.37B93.22M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i86.6%7.4%
Total Shareholders Equity i755.26M1.65B
Retained Earnings i-82.62M255.50M
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i-3.0%20.1%
Property, Plant & Equipment i1.50B91.14M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricKLC (2025)STRA (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i92.65M189.72M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i3.4%15.0%
Capital Expenditures i-127.98M-42.05M
Free Cash Flow i110.26M153.95M
FCF Margin i4.0%12.1%
Debt Repayment i-11.20M0
Common Stock Repurchase iN/A-138.89M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricKLCSTRA
Shares Short i3.98M1.19M
Short Ratio i2.043.53
Short % of Float i12.60%7.61%
Shares Outstanding i118.34M22.61M
Float Shares i34.11M21.74M
% Held by Insiders i5.79%3.63%
% Held by Institutions i92.50%98.75%
% Held by Public i1.71%-2.38%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: KinderCare Learning Companies Inc. vs Strategic Education Inc.

MetricKLCSTRA
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$3.00
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A3.65%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend iN/A$2.60
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield iN/A0.68%
3-Year Total Dividends iN/A$7.80
Ex-Dividend DateN/AMar 09, 2026