Graham Holdings Stock Price, News & Analysis

Kaplan's latest survey of over 200 college admissions officers reveals that 75% believe college rankings have lost prestige in recent years, up from 56% in 2023. This comes as U.S. News & World Report releases its 2025 rankings and some top institutions consider withdrawing participation. 13% of schools are considering or definitely dropping out of rankings.

Admissions officers express concerns about rankings' methodology, accuracy, and influence on the admissions process. They suggest that rankings shouldn't be the main factor for students choosing schools and that U.S. News should clarify that lower-ranked schools aren't necessarily bad.

Kaplan advises students to consider multiple factors when choosing schools, including financial aid, campus visits, and discussions with current students, alumni, and faculty, rather than relying solely on rankings.

The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company has launched Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Training for financial professionals pursuing the AIF® designation. Fi360, a Broadridge Company, has named the College an official education provider for the AIF® exam training requirement. U.S. News & World Report ranks the AIF® designation as one of the best financial certifications.

The AIF® designation ensures that those managing or advising on investor assets understand fiduciary duties, standards of conduct, and the process for carrying out fiduciary responsibilities. The College's president, Dirk Pantone, emphasized their commitment to empowering students to make a difference in clients' lives and thrive in their careers through this training.

John Faustino, head of Broadridge's Fi360, expressed enthusiasm about the College becoming an official education provider, highlighting the AIF®'s credibility and relatively low time commitment as advantages for financial professionals.

Kaplan has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court against entities distributing counterfeit 'Kaplan Schweser' educational materials in India. On September 13, 2023, the court issued an interim order prohibiting unauthorized sale and misuse of Kaplan's trademark and copyrighted materials. Local commissioners conducted raids at seven premises, seizing a substantial amount of counterfeit products.

Ashley Pomonis, Executive Director of Legal, Intellectual Property & Corporate Governance at Kaplan, emphasized the company's commitment to ensuring access to authentic, high-quality educational resources. Kaplan is pursuing a summary judgment against several defendants to swiftly resolve the issue and protect the integrity of its offerings. This legal action demonstrates Kaplan's readiness to defend its intellectual property vigorously.

Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) has announced a significant stock repurchase program. The company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of its Class B common stock. This move represents a potential buyback of approximately 14.7% of the outstanding Class B shares, based on the 3,406,903 shares outstanding as of August 31, 2024.

Notably, the company has not set a ceiling price or time limit for these purchases, providing flexibility in the execution of the buyback program. This authorization demonstrates Graham Holdings' confidence in its financial position and commitment to enhancing shareholder value.

Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) has announced a regular quarterly dividend of $1.72 per share. The dividend will be payable on November 7, 2024, to shareholders of record as of October 17, 2024. This declaration demonstrates the company's commitment to returning value to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments. The announcement provides important information for current and potential investors, highlighting Graham Holdings' financial stability and shareholder-friendly policies.

A Kaplan survey of 300 buyer's agents reveals mixed reactions to new real estate commission rules. Key findings include:

• Only 20% view the changes positively, while 56% see them negatively
• 72% feel prepared to navigate the new landscape
• 66% don't plan to exit the industry, but 30% are undecided

The changes, effective August 17, require buyer's agents to negotiate their commissions directly with clients. Toby Schifsky, VP of real estate education at Kaplan, notes that while agents feel prepared, the new structure may hurt buyers and add volatility to the housing market. Kaplan has launched a Buyer Agency Professional™ (BAP™) designation to help agents adapt to these changes.

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) has announced the college decisions for its 17th cohort of scholars in the Kaplan Leadership Program. Established in 2006, this program supports high-potential, low-income, and underrepresented community college students in completing their associate's degrees and transferring to top four-year institutions. The program's holistic approach includes tutoring, academic advisement, leadership training, and financial support.

Key achievements of the program include:

• 92% of Kaplan Scholars have earned a bachelor's degree
• The 2024 cohort gained admission to over 25 top schools nationwide
• Scholars were accepted into prestigious institutions such as Princeton, Brown, and USC

KEF recently received a three-year grant to fund a new Community College Bridge Program, extending its mission to help high school students from underserved communities prepare for community college and successful transfer to four-year institutions.

Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) reported its Q2 2024 financial results, showing revenue growth of 7% to $1,185.3 million. However, operating income decreased to $25.9 million from $58.1 million in Q2 2023, primarily due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges at World of Good Brands. The company's adjusted operating cash flow slightly declined to $98.5 million. For the first six months of 2024, revenue increased by 9% to $2,337.9 million, while operating income decreased to $61.4 million. GHC reported a net loss of $21.0 million for Q2 2024, compared to a net income of $122.8 million in Q2 2023. The company's performance was mixed across divisions, with growth in education, healthcare, and automotive, offset by declines in television broadcasting, manufacturing, and other businesses.

Kaplan comments on major changes to the ACT® exam set to launch in 2025. The test will be reduced from three to two hours, with shorter passages and fewer questions. Science section will become optional, offering flexibility for students to showcase their strengths. These changes come amid a trend of top universities reinstating standardized test requirements post-COVID.

Kaplan's 2023 survey reveals that 15% of test-optional schools are considering or will definitely reinstate the requirement. Additionally, 67% of these schools state that competitive test scores enhance applications. Kaplan plans to educate stakeholders about these changes and update their preparation courses accordingly.