LAUR
Laureate Education, Inc. Consumer Defensive - Education & Training Services Investor Relations →
Laureate Education, Inc. (LAUR) closed at $33.29 as of 2026-03-20, trading 95.4% above its 200-week moving average of $17.04. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 102.5% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 54, indicating neutral momentum.
A big spike in selling this week — 5.8x the usual volume, and the price dropped. Sometimes this kind of heavy selling marks the end of a decline. The idea is that the last reluctant holders have finally sold, leaving fewer sellers left to push the price lower.
Over the past 428 weeks of data, LAUR has crossed below its 200-week moving average 9 times. On average, these episodes lasted 9 weeks. Historically, investors who bought LAUR at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +30.3%.
With a market cap of $4.8 billion, LAUR is a mid-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 7.0%, which is healthy. Return on equity stands at 26.4%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 4.0x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 9.0% over the past three years. LAUR passes our Buffett quality screen: high return on equity, low debt, and positive free cash flow.
Over the past 8.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in LAUR would have grown to $504, compared to $261 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 21.7% vs 12.4% for the index — confirming LAUR as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 28% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: LAUR vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After LAUR Crosses Below the Line?
Across 9 historical episodes, buying LAUR when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +20.6% after 12 months (median +19.0%), compared to +13.3% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 89% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +35.9% vs +30.2% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment LAUR crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
LAUR has crossed below its 200-week MA 9 times with an average 1-year return of +30.3% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2018 | May 2018 | 16 | 10.8% | +10.6% | +403.9% |
| Jun 2018 | Jul 2018 | 1 | 1.2% | +9.6% | +399.3% |
| Nov 2018 | Nov 2018 | 1 | 1.3% | +13.9% | +393.8% |
| Dec 2018 | Dec 2018 | 1 | 5.3% | +25.9% | +414.8% |
| Mar 2019 | Mar 2019 | 1 | 1.4% | +26.1% | +393.1% |
| Mar 2020 | Dec 2020 | 39 | 44.6% | -2.0% | +381.8% |
| Dec 2020 | May 2021 | 21 | 14.7% | +49.5% | +391.4% |
| Jul 2021 | Jul 2021 | 2 | 0.5% | +40.3% | +394.2% |
| Nov 2021 | Nov 2021 | 1 | 20.0% | +98.7% | +504.9% |
| Average | 9 | — | +30.3% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LAUR below its 200-week moving average?
No. Laureate Education, Inc. (LAUR) is currently 95.4% above its 200-week moving average of $17.04. It would need to fall to $17.04 to cross below the line.
What is LAUR's 200-week moving average price?
Laureate Education, Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $17.04 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when LAUR drops below its 200-week moving average?
LAUR has crossed below its 200-week moving average 9 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +30.3%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 9 weeks on average.
Is LAUR a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about LAUR as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 54. Free cash flow yield is 7.0%. Return on equity is 26.4%. Price-to-book is 4.0x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does LAUR compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 8.2 years, $100 invested in LAUR would have grown to $504, compared to $261 for the S&P 500. That's 21.7% annualized vs 12.4% for the index. LAUR has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20