LOPE
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Consumer Defensive - Education & Training Services Investor Relations →
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) closed at $162.45 as of 2026-03-20, trading 16.4% above its 200-week moving average of $139.59. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 17.8% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 54, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.2x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.16 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 856 weeks of data, LOPE has crossed below its 200-week moving average 14 times. On average, these episodes lasted 15 weeks. Historically, investors who bought LOPE at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +15.4%.
With a market cap of $4.5 billion, LOPE is a mid-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 4.4%. Return on equity stands at 28.2%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 5.8x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 11.8% over the past three years. LOPE passes our Buffett quality screen: high return on equity, low debt, and positive free cash flow.
Over the past 16.5 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in LOPE would have grown to $1002, compared to $842 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 15.0% vs 13.8% for the index — confirming LOPE as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 8.8% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($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: LOPE vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After LOPE Crosses Below the Line?
Across 14 historical episodes, buying LOPE when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +15.4% after 12 months (median +1.0%), compared to +15.8% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 57% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +45.3% vs +30.5% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment LOPE crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
LOPE has crossed below its 200-week MA 14 times with an average 1-year return of +15.4% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | Nov 2009 | 1 | 2.6% | +16.0% | +901.5% |
| Aug 2010 | Sep 2010 | 5 | 14.6% | -3.4% | +897.2% |
| Oct 2010 | Nov 2010 | 4 | 4.9% | -10.1% | +763.6% |
| Dec 2010 | Dec 2010 | 3 | 2.4% | -22.1% | +768.7% |
| Jan 2011 | Feb 2012 | 57 | 32.4% | -3.6% | +766.9% |
| Feb 2012 | May 2012 | 12 | 8.8% | +42.0% | +860.7% |
| Jul 2012 | Aug 2012 | 2 | 11.1% | +100.8% | +812.6% |
| Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | 2 | 6.4% | +71.0% | +372.8% |
| Nov 2019 | Dec 2019 | 4 | 1.1% | -3.6% | +91.4% |
| Jan 2020 | May 2020 | 14 | 31.9% | +8.5% | +107.5% |
| Jun 2020 | Aug 2020 | 6 | 6.2% | +0.6% | +80.8% |
| Aug 2020 | Feb 2021 | 25 | 18.3% | -4.8% | +80.4% |
| May 2021 | Mar 2022 | 47 | 28.9% | N/A | +71.9% |
| Apr 2022 | Oct 2022 | 26 | 16.0% | +23.7% | +69.3% |
| Average | 15 | — | +15.4% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LOPE below its 200-week moving average?
No. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) is currently 16.4% above its 200-week moving average of $139.59. It would need to fall to $139.59 to cross below the line.
What is LOPE's 200-week moving average price?
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $139.59 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 LOPE drops below its 200-week moving average?
LOPE has crossed below its 200-week moving average 14 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +15.4%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 15 weeks on average.
Is LOPE a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about LOPE 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 4.4%. Return on equity is 28.2%. Price-to-book is 5.8x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does LOPE compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 16.5 years, $100 invested in LOPE would have grown to $1002, compared to $842 for the S&P 500. That's 15.0% annualized vs 13.8% for the index. LOPE 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