Connect with us

Technology

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2023 RESULTS

Published

3 years ago

on

PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOPE), (“GCE” or the “Company”), is a publicly traded education services company that currently provides services to 25 university partners.  GCE provides a full array of support services in the post-secondary education sector and has developed significant technological solutions, infrastructure and operational processes to provide superior services in these areas on a large scale.  GCE today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. 

For the three months ended December 31, 2023:

Service revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $278.3 million, an increase of $19.6 million, or 7.6%, as compared to service revenue of $258.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in GCU enrollments to 117,279 at December 31, 2023, an increase of 8.0% over enrollments at December 31, 2022 and an increase in revenue per student year over year. The increase in revenue per student between years is primarily due to the service revenue impact of the increased room, board and other ancillary revenues at GCU in the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to the prior year period. In addition, service revenue per student for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at off-campus classroom and laboratory sites generates a significantly higher revenue per student than we earn under our agreement with GCU, as these agreements generally provide us with a higher revenue share percentage, the partners have higher tuition rates than GCU and the majority of their students take more credits on average per semester. The increase in revenue per student in the three months ended December 31, 2023 was negatively impacted by the timing of the Fall semester for the ground traditional campus. The Fall semester started one day earlier in 2023 than in 2022, which had the effect of shifting $1.2 million in service revenue from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2023 in comparison to the prior year.Partner enrollments totaled 121,250 at December 31, 2023 as compared to 112,955 at December 31, 2022. University partner enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites were 4,481, a decrease of 3.3% over enrollments at December 31, 2022, which includes 510 and 320 GCU students at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We opened six new off-campus classroom and laboratory sites in the year ended December 31, 2022 and five sites in the year ended December 31, 2023 increasing the total number of these sites to 40 at December 31, 2023. Enrollments for GCU ground students were 25,209 at December 31, 2023 up from 24,943 at December 31, 2022. GCU online enrollments were 92,070 at December 31, 2023, up from 83,696 at December 31, 2022, an increase of 10.0% between years.Operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $97.8 million, an increase of $7.1 million as compared to $90.7 million for the same period in 2022. The operating margin for each of the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was 35.1%. The fourth quarter operating margin was negatively impacted on a year over year basis by the timing difference between years in the start of the Fall semester for GCU’s ground traditional campus.Income tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $20.1 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 4.4%, as compared to income tax expense of $21.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Our effective tax rate was 19.9% during the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 22.8% during the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease in our effective tax rate between periods was primarily driven by other discrete tax items recorded in the respective periods.Net income increased 13.6% to $80.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $71.0 million for the same period in 2022. As adjusted net income was $82.5 million and $72.7 million for the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively.Diluted net income per share was $2.71 and $2.30 for the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $2.77 and $2.36 for the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively.Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.5% to $110.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $102.2 million for the same period in 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2023:

Service revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $960.9 million, an increase of $49.6 million, or 5.4%, as compared to service revenue of $911.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in GCU enrollments to 117,279 at December 31, 2023, an increase of 8.0% over enrollments at December 31, 2022.Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $249.3 million, an increase of $11.8 million as compared to $237.5 million for the same period in 2022. The operating margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 25.9%, compared to 26.1% for the same period in 2022.Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $54.7 million, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 1.4%, as compared to income tax expense of $55.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our effective tax rate was 21.1% during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 23.1% during the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in our effective tax rate between periods is attributable to other discrete tax items recorded in the respective periods and higher excess tax benefits of $0.9 million compared to excess tax benefits of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, partially offset by a lower contribution in lieu of state income taxes of $3.5 million in 2023 compared to $5.0 million in 2022.Net income increased 11.0% to $205.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $184.7 million for the same period in 2022. As adjusted net income was $212.2 million and $192.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.Diluted net income per share was $6.80 and $5.73 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $7.04 and $5.96 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.8% to $302.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $291.3 million for the same period in 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity position, as measured by cash and cash equivalents and investments increased by $62.8 million between December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023, which was largely attributable to cash flows from operations exceeding share repurchases, investment purchases, net of proceeds and capital expenditures during the year ended December 31, 2023.  Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments were $244.5 million and $181.7 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

2024 Outlook

Q1 2024:

Service revenue of between $271.5 million and $273.0 million;Operating margin of between 29.8% and 30.0%;Effective tax rate of 23.4%;Diluted EPS of between $2.15 and $2.18; and29.7 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.05 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $2.20 and $2.23. 

Q2 2024:

Service revenue of between $221.0 million and $224.0 million;Operating margin of between 16.1% and 17.0%;Effective tax rate of 24.9%;Diluted EPS of between $0.98 and $1.04; and29.4 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.05 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $1.03 and $1.09.

Q3 2024:

Service revenue of between $236.5 million and $244.0 million;Operating margin of between 20.4% and 22.2%;Effective tax rate of 24.9%;Diluted EPS of between $1.30 and $1.46; and29.1 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.05 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $1.35 and $1.51. 

Q4 2024:

Service revenue of between $287.0 million and $299.0 million;Operating margin of between 34.9% and 37.0%;Effective tax rate of 22.8%;Diluted EPS of between $2.75 and $3.03; and28.9 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.06 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $2.81 and $3.09. 

Full Year 2024:

Service revenue of between $1,016.0 million and $1,040.0 million;Operating margin of between 26.1% and 27.4%;Effective tax rate of 23.7%;Diluted EPS between $7.17 and $7.69; and29.3 million diluted shares.

The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $6.5 million, which equates to a $0.22 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, Non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $7.39 and $7.91.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources.  These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new programs; whether regulatory, economic, or business developments or other matters may or may not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance; and management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions, the negative of these expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved.  Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause our actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: legal and regulatory actions taken against our university partners that impact their businesses and that directly or indirectly reduce the service revenue we can earn under our master services agreements; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of any of the key university partner agreements; our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with strategic initiatives, including potential acquisitions or divestitures of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties and new university partners, and expansion of services provided to our existing university partners; our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to us either directly as a third-party service provider or indirectly through our university partners, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act and the regulations thereunder, state laws and regulatory requirements, and accrediting commission requirements; the harm to our business, results of operations, and financial condition, and harm to our university partners resulting from epidemics, pandemics, or public health crises; the ability of our university partners’ students to obtain federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and private financing; potential damage to our reputation or other adverse effects as a result of negative publicity in the media, in the industry or in connection with governmental reports or investigations or otherwise, affecting us or other companies in the education services sector; risks associated with changes in applicable federal and state laws and regulations and accrediting commission standards, including pending rulemaking by the United States Department of Education applicable to us directly or indirectly through our university partners; competition from other education service companies in our geographic region and market sector, including competition for students, qualified executives and other personnel; our expected tax payments and tax rate; our ability to hire and train new, and develop and train existing employees; the pace of growth of our university partners’ enrollment and its effect on the pace of our own growth; fluctuations in our revenues due to seasonality; our ability to, on behalf of our university partners, convert prospective students to enrolled students and to retain active students to graduation; our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis for our university partners; risks associated with the competitive environment for marketing the programs of our university partners; failure on our part to keep up with advances in technology that could enhance the experience for our university partners’ students; our ability to manage future growth effectively; the impact of any natural disasters or public health emergencies; general adverse economic conditions or other developments that affect the job prospects of our university partners’ students; and other factors discussed in reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including as set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for period ended December 31, 2023, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made.  You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.  If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Conference Call

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will discuss its fourth quarter 2023 results and full year 2024 outlook during a conference call scheduled for today, February 13, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET).  

Live Conference Dial-In:

Those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session should follow the conference dial-in instructions below.  Participants may register for the call here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call seamlessly. Please dial in at least ten minutes prior to the start of the call.  Journalists are invited to listen only. 

Webcast and Replay:

Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live webcast of this event at: Q4 2023 Grand Canyon Education Inc. Earnings Conference Call. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call at the same link.

About Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (“GCE”), incorporated in 2008, is a publicly traded education services company that currently provides services to 25 university partners.  GCE is uniquely positioned in the education services industry in that its leadership has over 30 years of proven expertise in providing a full array of support services in the post-secondary education sector and has developed significant technological solutions, infrastructure and operational processes to provide superior services in these areas on a large scale.  GCE provides services that support students, faculty and staff of partner institutions such as marketing, strategic enrollment management, counseling services, financial services, technology, technical support, compliance, human resources, classroom operations, content development, faculty recruitment and training, among others.  For more information about GCE visit the Company’s website at www.gce.com.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc., 2600 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017, www.gce.com.

 

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Income Statements

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

2023

2022

2023

2022

(In thousands, except per share data)

Service revenue

$

278,284

$

258,700

$

960,899

$

911,306

Costs and expenses:

Technology and academic services

39,227

38,357

154,870

150,493

Counseling services and support

82,754

72,540

302,319

273,313

Marketing and communication

46,003

44,853

202,800

196,090

General and administrative

10,397

10,168

43,235

45,491

Amortization of intangible assets

2,104

2,104

8,419

8,419

Total costs and expenses

180,485

168,022

711,643

673,806

Operating income

97,799

90,678

249,256

237,500

Interest expense

(6)

3

(33)

(2)

Investment interest and other

2,970

1,327

10,452

2,621

Income before income taxes

100,763

92,008

259,675

240,119

Income tax expense

20,054

20,981

54,690

55,444

Net income

$

80,709

$

71,027

$

204,985

$

184,675

Earnings per share:

Basic income per share

$

2.73

$

2.32

$

6.83

$

5.75

Diluted income per share

$

2.71

$

2.30

$

6.80

$

5.73

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

29,555

30,669

29,991

32,131

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

29,761

30,835

30,147

32,237

 

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 

As of December 31,

(In thousands, except par value)

2023

2022

ASSETS:

(Unaudited)

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

146,475

$

120,409

Investments

98,031

61,295

Accounts receivable, net

78,811

77,413

Income taxes receivable

1,316

2,788

Other current assets

12,889

11,368

Total current assets

337,522

273,273

Property and equipment, net

169,699

147,504

Right-of-use assets

92,454

72,719

Amortizable intangible assets, net

168,381

176,800

Goodwill

160,766

160,766

Other assets

1,641

1,687

Total assets

$

930,463

$

832,749

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$

17,676

$

20,006

Accrued compensation and benefits

31,358

36,412

Accrued liabilities

26,725

22,473

Income taxes payable

10,250

12,167

Current portion of lease liability

11,024

8,648

Total current liabilities

97,033

99,706

Deferred income taxes, noncurrent

26,749

26,195

Other long-term liabilities

410

436

Lease liability, less current portion

88,257

68,793

Total liabilities

212,449

195,130

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2022

—

—

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 53,970 and 53,830 shares
issued and 29,953 and 31,058 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December
31, 2022, respectively

540

538

Treasury stock, at cost, 24,017 and 22,772 shares of common stock at December 31, 2023
and December 31, 2022, respectively

(1,849,693)

(1,711,423)

Additional paid-in capital

322,512

309,310

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(57)

(533)

Retained earnings

2,244,712

2,039,727

Total stockholders’ equity

718,014

637,619

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

930,463

$

832,749

 

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Year Ended

December 31, 

(In thousands)

2023

2022

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

Net income

$

204,985

$

184,675

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Share-based compensation

13,204

12,642

Depreciation and amortization

23,554

22,758

Amortization of intangible assets

8,419

8,419

Deferred income taxes

402

401

Other, including fixed asset disposals

(442)

853

Changes in assets and liabilities:

   Accounts receivable from university partners

(1,398)

(7,350)

   Other assets

(1,639)

(2,604)

   Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities

2,105

1,193

   Accounts payable

(3,109)

(3,894)

   Accrued liabilities

(1,974)

(1,023)

   Income taxes receivable/payable

(445)

4,759

   Deferred revenue

—

(10)

Net cash provided by operating activities

243,662

220,819

Cash flows used in investing activities:

Capital expenditures

(44,537)

(35,232)

Additions of amortizable content

(897)

(397)

Purchases of investments

(98,853)

(171,549)

Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments

63,815

110,039

Net cash used in investing activities

(80,472)

(97,139)

Cash flows used in financing activities:

Repurchase of common shares and shares withheld in lieu of income taxes

(137,124)

(604,212)

Net cash used in financing activities

(137,124)

(604,212)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

26,066

(480,532)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

120,409

600,941

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

146,475

$

120,409

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

Cash paid for interest

$

33

$

2

Cash paid for income taxes

$

59,026

$

48,573

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable

$

1,909

$

1,131

ROU Asset and Liability recognition

$

19,735

$

15,067

Excise tax on treasury stock repurchases

$

1,146

$

—

 

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Adjusted EBITDA  (Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense, less interest income and other gain (loss) recognized on investments, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i)  contributions to private Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes; (ii) share-based compensation, and (iii) unusual charges or gains, such as litigation and regulatory reserves, impairment charges and asset write-offs, and exit or lease termination costs.  We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance.  We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA.  All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance.  Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period and does not consider the items for which we make adjustments (as listed above) to be reflective of our core performance.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance.  We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above.  Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring.  Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool in that, among other things it does not reflect:

cash expenditures for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements;interest expense, or the cash required to replace assets that are being depreciated or amortized; andthe impact on our reported results of earnings or charges resulting from the items for which we make adjustments to our EBITDA, as described above and set forth in the table below.

In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure.  Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity.  We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

2023

2022

2023

2022

(Unaudited, in thousands)

(Unaudited, in thousands)

Net income

$

80,709

$

71,027

$

204,985

$

184,675

Plus: interest expense

6

(3)

33

2

Less: investment interest and other

(2,970)

(1,327)

(10,452)

(2,621)

Plus: income tax expense

20,054

20,981

54,690

55,444

Plus: amortization of intangible assets

2,104

2,104

8,419

8,419

Plus: depreciation and amortization

6,560

5,735

23,554

22,758

EBITDA

106,463

98,517

281,229

268,677

Plus: contributions in lieu of state income taxes

—

—

3,500

5,000

Plus: loss on fixed asset disposal

166

94

741

1,249

Plus: litigation and regulatory reserves

1,057

452

3,628

3,768

Plus: share-based compensation

3,246

3,158

13,204

12,642

Adjusted EBITDA

$

110,932

$

102,221

$

302,302

$

291,336

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share

The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted income per share information that excludes amortization of intangible assets and loss on disposal of fixed assets allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company’s performance over time.  Accordingly, for the three-months and years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the table below provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP items to GAAP net income and GAAP diluted income per share, respectively:

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

2023

2022

2023

2022

(Unaudited, in thousands except per share data)

GAAP Net income

$

80,709

$

71,027

$

204,985

$

184,675

Amortization of intangible assets

2,104

2,104

8,419

8,419

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

166

94

741

1,249

Income tax effects of adjustments(1)

(452)

(501)

(1,929)

(2,232)

As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Net income

$

82,527

$

72,724

$

212,216

$

192,111

GAAP Diluted income per share

$

2.71

$

2.30

$

6.80

$

5.73

Amortization of intangible assets (2)

0.06

0.06

0.22

0.20

Loss on disposal of fixed assets (3)

0.00

0.00

0.02

0.03

As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Diluted income per share

$

2.77

$

2.36

$

7.04

$

5.96

(1)

The income tax effects of adjustments are based on the effective income tax rate applicable to adjusted (non-GAAP) results. 

(2)

The amortization of acquired intangible assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 and $0.02 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and net of an income tax benefit of $0.06 for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

(3)

The loss on disposal of fixed assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.00 for each of the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 and $0.01 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Investor Relations Contact:
Daniel E. Bachus
Chief Financial Officer
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
602-639-6648
Dan.bachus@gce.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grand-canyon-education-inc-reports-fourth-quarter-2023-results-302061042.html

SOURCE Grand Canyon Education

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

Tech Beats Tariffs: Global Trade Growth Accelerates and Globalization Sets New Record

Published

43 minutes ago

on

October 20, 2026

By

The AI boom has become a powerful driver of global trade – outweighing tariffs and geopolitical shocks, according to the latest DHL Globalization TrackerThe trade outlook has improved, with growth through 2029 now forecast to outpace the previous decadeSouth and Central Asia to have the second-fastest goods-trade growth over 2026–29, behind only the Middle East & North AfricaIndia continues to strengthen its trade resiliency by developing new trade agreementsGlobalization has reached a record level of 25.8%

NEW DELHI, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global race to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence is giving world trade strong momentum at a time of higher tariffs and geopolitical conflicts.

This is one of the key findings of the latest edition of the DHL Globalization Tracker, released by DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business. Based on more than 30 million data points, the report analyzes international flows of trade, capital, information, and people. It offers the most comprehensive view of globalization available. This edition marks the report’s first publication under its new name. It was previously known as the “DHL Global Connectedness Tracker”.

AI buildout boosts global trade

The report shows that global goods trade grew faster in the first half of 2026 than in any half-year in the past 15 years, apart from the exceptional Covid rebound. A major driver was strong demand for goods used to build AI infrastructure, such as semiconductors and data-transmission equipment. Trade in AI-enabling goods drove 42% of goods trade growth in 2025, and this share rose to 76% during the first quarter of 2026, according to WTO and OECD analysis.

“The biggest story in global trade right now is AI – not tariffs,” said John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “Every AI query ultimately depends on logistics. Chips, networking equipment and the many other goods behind this technology must be in the right place at the right time. DHL connects the businesses and markets behind these complex supply chains. Whenever innovation creates new trade flows, our global network helps keep them moving.”

Global effects of Iran war and tariffs remain limited

At the same time, the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted important trade routes. But the effects remained concentrated. Economies dependent on the Strait were hit particularly hard. For example, the value of trade fell 37% in Saudi Arabia and 7% in the United Arab Emirates in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

Trade policy created a separate headwind. U.S. tariffs reached their highest levels in decades, but their global impact was limited. One reason is that the U.S. accounted for only 13% of world imports in recent years, with roughly half of those imports exempt from the tariff increases as of August 2026. Another is that most countries refrained from broad retaliation. Many instead increased efforts to secure access to alternative markets through new trade agreements.

Trade outlook upgraded despite recent shocks

Looking ahead, global goods trade is projected to expand by an average of 3.4% per year through 2029. That would be substantially faster than the 2.7% rate recorded over the previous decade.

“The surprise is not only that global trade kept growing through new tariffs and the Iran war,” said Prof. Steven A. Altman, Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern’s Center for the Future of Management. “The outlook is now stronger than it was before either shock. This reminds us to look beyond the most visible disruptions and recognize the deeper reasons why trade remains so resilient. The AI trade boom highlights the demand for goods and services that can only be provided efficiently when specialized producers work together across countries. It also shows how companies continually adapt to keep trade moving through disruptions and policy shifts.”

India sits within one of the world’s strongest trade-growth regions, East Asia and the Pacific leads the way in 2026

Among all regions, East Asia and the Pacific recorded the strongest trade growth. The value of its trade rose 24% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Europe followed with 12% and Sub-Saharan Africa with 11%. South and Central Asia recorded a trade value growth of 9.6%. Looking forward, the region’s forecast remain the second-fastest for goods-trade growth over 2026–29, behind only the Middle East and North Africa.

East Asia and the Pacific not only recorded the strongest growth, but also saw a larger share of its trade stay within the region. This share increased from 57% in 2025 to 60% in the first five months of 2026. Strong Asian supply chains serving the AI boom contributed to this increase.

India focuses on market diversification

One of the major changes in international flows is the weakening of U.S.–China ties. Yet the global impact remains surprisingly small. For example, trade between the U.S. and China accounted for 3.5% of world trade at its peak in 2015, before falling to only 1.6% during the first five months of 2026. The U.S.–China share of international business investment is even smaller – less than 1%. Meanwhile, close U.S. allies have largely maintained their relationships with China. These findings challenge the idea that U.S.–China decoupling is dividing the world economy into rival blocs.

A closer look also shows that direct trade figures understate U.S. reliance on China. Goods imported into the U.S. from other countries contain growing amounts of Chinese materials and components. When these indirect imports are also taken into account, U.S. reliance on China has declined only slightly through 2024, the latest year for which data are available.

While U.S.-China ties are weakening, India’s trade relationship with the U.S. remains strong. At the same time, trade resilience remains a focus as India continues to expand its trade relationships, developing trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, the European Free Trade Association, New Zealand, and Oman.

Globalization reaches a new record

Beyond trade and investment patterns, the report tracks the broader development of globalization based on international flows of trade, capital, information and people. It uses a scale from 0% (no cross-border flows) to 100% (borders and distance have no impact). In 2025, globalization reached a record level of 25.8%, supported in part by AI-related trade and investment.

All four flow categories contributed to the new record, reaching higher levels of internationalization. Information flows remain the most globalized, followed by capital and trade flows. People flows remain the least globalized.

The DHL Globalization Tracker

The DHL Globalization Tracker is a concise report and interactive website that provides regular updates on globalization and global trade. It complements the renowned DHL Globalization Report, published regularly since 2011. Drawn from over 25 public, private, and academic sources, the Tracker analyzes more than 30 million data points on international flows of trade, capital, information, and people.
It includes interactive online charts that make it easy for users to explore trends by region, geopolitical alignment, and for individual countries. It also supports easy data and chart downloads for offline use.

The DHL Globalization Tracker is commissioned by DHL and authored by Prof. Steven A. Altman and Caroline R. Bastian of New York University Stern School of Business. It is available, together with further resources, at dhl.com/globalization.

Note: The DHL Globalization Tracker and DHL Globalization Report were formerly known as the “DHL Global Connectedness Tracker” and “DHL Global Connectedness Report”. Their new names more directly reflect the focus of the research. The scope and underlying approach remain unchanged, ensuring continuity with previous editions.

At a glance: The October 2026 edition of the DHL Globalization Tracker

What is the main finding of the report?

The global boom in artificial intelligence is giving world trade strong momentum despite higher tariffs and geopolitical conflicts. Global goods trade grew faster in the first half of 2026 than in any half-year in the past 15 years, apart from the exceptional Covid rebound.

Beyond trade, the report tracks the broader development of globalization based on international flows of trade, capital, information and people. In 2025, globalization reached a record level of 25.8%. The report measures this using a scale from 0% (no cross-border flows) to 100% (borders and distance have no impact). All four types of flows contributed to the record, becoming more international.

What is the outlook for global trade?

The outlook has improved. Global goods trade is projected to grow by an average of 3.4% per year through 2029. That would be significantly faster than the 2.7% annual growth rate recorded over the previous decade. Notably, current forecasts are more optimistic than those made before both the 2025-26 U.S. tariff increases and the Iran war, suggesting that recent shocks have had a smaller impact on the global economy than many expected.

How have tariffs and geopolitical conflicts affected global trade?

Tariffs and geopolitical conflicts continue to create risks and disruptions. But their overall impact on global trade has been limited. While the Iran war affected important shipping routes and hit economies dependent on the Strait of Hormuz particularly hard, the effects remained largely concentrated. U.S. tariffs rose to their highest levels in decades, but the United States accounted for only 13% of world imports in recent years, and roughly half of U.S. imports were exempt from tariff increases as of August 2026. Many countries also avoided broad retaliation and instead expanded trade links with alternative markets. As a result, global trade continued to grow.

Where is trade growing fastest?

East Asia and the Pacific saw the strongest trade growth among all regions. The value of its trade rose 24% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Europe followed with 12% and Sub-Saharan Africa with 11%.

East Asia and the Pacific not only recorded the strongest growth, but also saw a larger share of its trade stay within the region. This share increased from 57% in 2025 to 60% in the first five months of 2026. Strong Asian supply chains serving the AI boom contributed to this increase.

Is U.S.–China decoupling splitting the world into rival blocs?

No, not so far. The United States and China have significantly reduced their ties with each other over the past decade. But this has not led to a broader split in the global economy. Close U.S. allies have largely maintained their economic relationships with China. Another reason is that direct U.S.–China ties account for a surprisingly small share of the global economy. For example, trade between the two countries represented 3.5% of world goods trade at its peak in 2015, before falling to 1.6% in the first five months of 2026. The U.S.–China share of international business investment is even smaller – less than 1%.

Has the United States become less dependent on China?

Direct trade between the two countries has declined sharply, but the picture is more complex when supply chains are taken into account. Goods imported into the United States from third countries increasingly contain Chinese materials and components. When these indirect imports are considered, U.S. reliance on China declined only slightly through 2024.

Should companies redesign their supply chains to improve resilience?

For business leaders, the report recommends preparing for disruptions without giving up the advantages of international engagement. While specific economies, industries or trade routes can still face significant risks, overall global flows remain strong. Decisions such as relocating production should therefore balance supply-chain resilience with the benefits of global reach and market access. Companies that pull back from international markets while competitors remain globally active may risk weakening their competitive position.

– End –

The report and further resources are available at dhl.com/globalization.

DHL Group is the world’s leading logistics company. The Group connects people and markets and is an enabler of global trade. It aspires to be the first choice for customers, employees, investors and green logistics worldwide. To this end, DHL Group is focusing on accelerating sustainable growth in its profitable core logistics businesses and Group growth initiatives. The Group contributes to the world through sustainable business practices, corporate citizenship, and environmental activities. By the year 2050, DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics.

DHL Group is home to two strong brands: DHL offers a comprehensive range of parcel, express, freight transport, and supply chain management services as well as e-commerce logistics solutions. Deutsche Post is the largest postal service provider in Europe and the market leader in the German mail market. DHL Group employs approximately 584,000 people in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion Euros in 2025.

The logistics company for the world.

New York University Stern School of Business, located in the heart of Greenwich Village and deeply connected to the city after which it is named, is one of the United States’ premier management education schools and research centers. NYU Stern offers a broad portfolio of transformational programs at graduate, undergraduate, and executive levels, all of them enriched by the dynamism and deep resources of one of the world’s business capitals. NYU Stern is a welcoming community that inspires its members to embrace and lead change in a rapidly transforming world. Visit www.stern.nyu.edu.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/tech-beats-tariffs-global-trade-growth-accelerates-and-globalization-sets-new-record-302912407.html

Continue Reading

Technology

ASTRI Welcomes Government Appointments of New Board Chairman and Board Members

Published

44 minutes ago

on

October 20, 2026

By

HONG KONG, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s appointment of Prof Chan Chi-hou as the new Board Chairman, effective 21 October 2026, for a two-year term. He succeeds Ir Prof Sunny Lee, who concludes a seven-year tenure as ASTRI’s Board Chairman on 20 October 2026.

Prof Chan Chi-hou said: “I am deeply honoured that the Hong Kong SAR Government has entrusted me to serve ASTRI and contribute to our country and Hong Kong’s technological innovation and development goals outlined in the Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. I would also like to thank Ir Prof Sunny Lee for his visionary leadership, particularly in steering the successful merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), which has strengthened ASTRI’s interdisciplinary research and development (R&D) capabilities and heightened its profile at home and abroad.”

“As Hong Kong accelerates investment in technology infrastructure and talent development, I look forward to working closely with fellow Board members and Ir Dr Ted Suen, CEO of ASTRI, to advance innovation, foster collaboration across government, industry, academia, research, and investment communities, and expedite the commercialisation and adoption of research outcomes. Together, we will help enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness, create greater value for society and reinforce the city’s position as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub,” he added.

Prof Chan is an internationally-recognised expert in applied electromagnetics, terahertz science and wireless communications. He currently serves as Vice-President (Community Engagement), Director of the State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimetre Waves, and Chair Professor of Electronic Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityU). Before joining CityU in 1996, he was a tenured Associate Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Washington, and a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University and his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. An IEEE Fellow, Prof Chan has received numerous international honours in recognition of his pioneering research and contributions to the field.

Outgoing Chairman Ir Prof Sunny Lee congratulated Prof Chan on the appointment and said: “It has been my great privilege to serve on ASTRI’s Board as a member and Chairman for nearly 14 years to witness its remarkable growth into a leading R&D centre that delivers tangible impact for industry, the economy and society. I am confident that, with Prof Chan’s distinguished expertise, strategic vision and extensive leadership experience, ASTRI will continue to scale new heights, drive impactful innovations and accelerate the translation of research excellence into real-world applications, creating lasting value for Hong Kong and beyond.”

Under Ir Prof Lee’s stewardship, ASTRI has actively supported national development priorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy agenda. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique role as a super-connector between Chinese Mainland and the world, ASTRI has reinforced its position bridging stakeholders in the global I&T ecosystem.

Six New Board Members Appointed

In addition, the Hong Kong SAR Government has appointed six new members to the ASTRI Board: Prof Chan Shing-chow, Professor & Associate Dean (Masters), Faculty of Engineering, University of Hong Kong; Mr Ricky Chan Wai-chung, Chief Executive Officer, Jing Mei Automotive Limited; Mr Alan Chiu Chi-wai, Managing Partner, ELLALAN; Ms Irene Chow Man-ling, Director, DSL Investments Limited; Mr Hui Chi-wai, Chief Executive Officer (AXM), ASMPT SEMI China (AXM); and Prof Gary Wong Ka-leung, Associate Provost (Quality Assurance and Accountability) and Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong. Their two-year terms will run from 21 October 2026 to 20 October 2028.

ASTRI expresses its heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Board Chairman Ir Prof Sunny Lee and members Dr Felix Chow Bok-hin, Mr Theodore Ma Heng, Dr Alfred Ng Man-cheuk, Ir Dr Samson Tai Kin-hon and Mr Anthony Tong Tat-hay for their dedicated service and invaluable guidance.

Effective from 21 October 2026, the members of ASTRI’s Board of Directors are as follows:

Chairman

Prof Chan Chi-hou

Members (listed in alphabetical order of surname)

Prof Chan Shing-chowMr Ricky Chan Wai-chungProf Christopher Chao Yu-hangProf Cheng Shuk-han, MHMr Alan Chiu Chi-waiMr Jason Chiu Tsz-kiu, JPMs Irene Chow Man-ling, JPMr Dennis Ho Chiu-pingMr William Ho TatMr Hui Chi-waiIr Arthur Lee Kam-hungHon Jack Ng Wun-kit, JPArchitect So Ching, JPProf Michael Tse Chi-kongProf Martin Wong Ding-fatProf Gary Wong Ka-leungMr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui, BBS, JP

Official Members

Mr Kevin Choi, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and IndustryMr Ivan KB Lee, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/4B1pToO

About ASTRI

Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city’s largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/astri-welcomes-government-appointments-of-new-board-chairman-and-board-members-302913400.html

SOURCE Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

Continue Reading

Technology

Neo’s European Integrated Magnet Project Selected for €126 Million Grant Under EU Innovation Fund

Published

44 minutes ago

on

October 20, 2026

By

Grant would help fund an expanded integrated rare earth separation, metallization and magnet manufacturing platform in Estonia

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — Neo Performance Materials Inc. (“Neo” or the “Company”) (TSX: NEO) (OTCQX: NOPMF) today announced that the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (“CINEA”) has invited Neo to prepare a grant agreement for its Green Assets from European Union Strategic Supply (“Project GAUSS”) under the European Union’s Innovation Fund. Neo’s Project was selected with a grant of up to €126 million (approximately US$141 million).

Neo’s project, co-funded by the Innovation Fund, would support an expanded rare earth magnet value chain in Estonia, spanning separation, metallization and magnet manufacturing, including adding up to 3,000 metric tonnes of permanent magnets per year. One third of that capacity would be allocated to offshore wind farms in the EU.

The project includes the following scope:

Separation (Silmet 2.0): light and heavy rare earth separation tripling its total separation capacity. Earlier this month, the European Commission designated Silmet 2.0 a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.Metallization: conversion of separated light and heavy rare earth oxides into metals.Magnet Manufacturing (Phase 1B): the Phase 1B expansion of the European permanent magnet facility, which is expected to increase its nameplate capacity from its current 2,000 metric tonnes to approximately 5,000 metric tonnes per year, with the addition of capabilities to support offshore wind farms.Digital Infrastructure for Competitiveness: digital twins and artificial intelligence across rare earth separation, metallization and magnet manufacturing, learning from plant data and operator expertise to predict quality, optimize resource use and progressively translate validated insights into physical process control.

“Neo’s strategy includes building the most vertically integrated rare earth magnetics value chain in Europe, and this project brings that strategy together, from separation to metallization and finished magnets,” said Rahim Suleman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neo. “The EU’s selection of Neo’s project, following the Strategic Project designation of Silmet 2.0 earlier this month, is strong recognition of that plan. This funding would help us further scale magnet production for European customers in wind energy, electromobility and industrial automation. I want to thank the European Commission, CINEA and the Government of Estonia for their continued support.”

Neo expects the value of the project to be approximately €400 million. Neo intends to update the capital cost estimate as project planning and engineering activities progress. The timetable set by CINEA provides for signature of the grant agreement by March 23, 2027 and the project is expected to take between two to three years to complete.

The project remains subject to final investment decisions and a final grant agreement, which include legal entity validation, a financial capacity assessment, a non-exclusion check and ethics and security reviews.  

About Neo Performance Materials

Neo manufactures the building blocks of many modern technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability. Neo’s advanced industrial materials – magnetic powders, rare earth magnets, magnetic assemblies, specialty chemicals, metals, and alloys – are critical to the performance of many everyday products and emerging technologies. Neo’s products fast-forward technologies for the net-zero transition. The business of Neo is organized along three segments: Magnequench, Chemicals & Oxides and Rare Metals. Neo is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; with corporate offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States; Singapore; and Beijing, China. Neo has a global platform that includes manufacturing facilities located in Canada, Estonia, China, Germany, Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as a dedicated research and development center in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.neomaterials.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved” or the negative connotation thereof. Specific forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the signing and timing of the grant agreement with CINEA, the amount of the grant, final investment decisions, the scope, capacity, development, financing and timing of Project GAUSS, including Silmet 2.0 and Phase 1B, expected emissions avoidance and job creation, and other matters relating thereto. In making the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on its current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking information in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information.  There are many risk factors associated with the development of a new Project.  A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company, including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the nature of operations including the risks of a material adverse change in the Company’s assets or revenues, or risks of unknown liabilities that may arise.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

For more information on Neo, investors should review Neo’s continuous disclosure filings that are available under Neo’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE Neo Performance Materials, Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending