ASPEN GROUP, INC.

ASPU
About the company

Aspen Group, Inc., an education technology company, provides online higher education services in the United States. The company offers associates, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in nursing and health sciences, business and technology, and education fields through Aspen University and United States University.

Country: United StatesPrice: $0.22Market Cap: $7.0M

Investment snapshot

12%positive consensus
Scored 1d ago

Positive

2

BUY / PASS

Neutral / negative

3 / 11

NEUTRAL / FAIL

Median fair value

—

No comparable estimates

Models with upside

0 / 17

Positive margin of safety

Strongest signal

7 of 12 pass — Buffett, Lynch, Akre +2 more object

Key risk

No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion

Framework analysis

VerdictMeaning
BUYPositive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met.
PASSThe company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state.
NEUTRALNeither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position.
FAILThe company does not clear the framework's requirements.
RankedRanked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL.

Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.

MetricGraham

Defensive Value

Buffett

Quality Compounder

Lynch

GARP

Greenblatt

Magic Formula

Piotroski

F-Score

Dreman

Contrarian Value

Munger

Quality Focus

Pabrai

Dhandho Framework

Akre

Three-Legged Stool

Marks

Risk-Aware Value

Ackman

Activist Value

Templeton

Global Bargain Hunter

Sleep

Scale Economies Shared

Asness

Systematic Factors

Neff

Low-P/E Total Return

Schloss

Asset-Value Discipline

O'Shaughnessy

Systematic Factor Composite

VerdictFAILFAILFAILFAIL · Rank #2526 (Top 81.6%)FAILFAILFAILFAILFAILFAILFAILPASSNEUTRALBUYFAILNEUTRALNEUTRAL
Score
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Intrinsic Value (annual)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Margin of SafetyN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Financial Basis

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Market data at 2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Qualitative assessment

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Qualitative assessment

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Market data at 2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Qualitative assessment

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2022 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2022-07-29

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Where It Passes

  • Debt & Leverage58% pass✓ 9✗ 6▾

    7 of 12 pass — Buffett, Lynch, Akre +2 more object

    Debt Levels0.35
    ✓MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3
    LT Debt vs Net Current AssetsLT Debt $14.9M vs NCA $22.5M
    ✓GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current Assets
    Debt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 0.35, IC: -12.5x
    ✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5x
    Total Debt / Equity0.35
    ✗Lynch< 0.33
    Cash - Long-term Debt$-8.4M
    ✗LynchPositive preferred
    LT Debt / Total Assets Change16.34% -> 16.34%
    ✓PiotroskiDecreased YoY
    Current Assets / Current Liabilities2.34
    ✓Dreman> 1.5✓SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)
    Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity0.35
    ✓Dreman< 0.8✓Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✓SchlossD/E < 1.00x
    Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=-12.5x, D/EBITDA=N/A
    ✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4x
    Total Debt / Shareholders Equity0.35
    ✓Ackman<= 1.0
    Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-0.3496; #2131/4210 (top 50.6%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

Where It Falls Short

  • Valuation0% pass✓ 8✗ 20▾

    No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion

    Price / 3-yr avg EPS
    ✗Graham<= 15x
    Price-to-Book Ratio0.1x
    ✓Graham<= 1.5x
    P/E x P/B
    ✗Graham<= 22.5
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    EBIT / Enterprise Value-58.2%
    ✗Greenblatt> 10%
    Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-58.2%, ROC=-30.3%
    ✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%
    Price / EPS
    ✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)
    Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)
    ✗Dreman< 8x
    Price / Book Value per Share0.1x
    ✓Dreman< 1.2x✓Templeton< 1.5x✓SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)
    Valuation ReasonablenessOE Yield=-186.2%
    ✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%
    P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-220.3%
    ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%
    P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=0.1x
    ✓MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0
    Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)
    ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value
    Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)
    ✗Ackman<= 25
    Price vs. Trailing Low345% of trailing low ($0.06)
    ✗Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)
    Net income / market capitalization-136.76%; #5531/6340 (top 87.2%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Positive book equity / market capitalization+6.0700; #252/6449 (top 3.9%)
    ✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Price / Diluted EPS
    ✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)
    (EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E
    ✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)
    Price / Tangible Book Value per Share0.13x
    ✓SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)
    Book Value per Share Change-8.5%
    ✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)
    Revenue / market capitalization+10.9419; #302/5247 (top 5.8%)
    ✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-220.26%; #4224/4519 (top 93.5%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Trailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-29.46%; #4399/6202 (top 70.9%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
  • Cash Flow0% pass✗ 12▾

    All 10 investors flag ASPU's cash flow

    Free Cash Flow Proxy$-10.4M
    ✗BuffettPositive and growing
    FCF Positive and Growing$-15.4M
    ✗LynchPositive and growing
    Operating Cash Flow$-11.3M
    ✗PiotroskiCFO > 0
    (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-12.38%, ROA=-10.53%
    ✗PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA
    Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)
    ✗Dreman< 8x
    P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-220.3%
    ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%
    FCF Positive0/12 years FCF positive
    ✗MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years
    (OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap-277.1%
    ✗Ackman>= 4%
    Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)
    ✗Ackman<= 25
    Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency1/13 years positive
    ✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available years
    Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$-15.4M
    ✗Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)
    (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-220.26%; #4224/4519 (top 93.5%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
  • Profitability13% pass✓ 5✗ 30▾

    14 of 16 flag ASPU's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +11 more

    Positive EPS (10 years)0/14 years positive
    ✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 years
    EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)N/A (negative base EPS)
    ✗Graham>= 33% growth
    Net Income Positive (10+ years)0/14 years positive
    ✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ years
    ROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-23.0%
    ✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)
    Operating Margin (10-yr trend)-11.7% (latest)
    ✓BuffettStable or rising over 10 years
    Free Cash Flow Proxy$-10.4M
    ✗BuffettPositive and growing
    Earnings Variance (10-yr CoV)N/A (negative mean EPS)
    ✗BuffettCoV < 0.3
    Retained Earnings Effectiveness
    ✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value created
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    3-5 Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to pass
    ROE-22.5%
    ✗Lynch> 15%
    EBIT / Enterprise Value-58.2%
    ✗Greenblatt> 10%
    Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-58.2%, ROC=-30.3%
    ✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%
    Net Income / Total Assets-10.53%
    ✗PiotroskiROA > 0
    ROA Change YoY-10.53% -> -10.53% (delta: +0.00%)
    ✗PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA
    (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-12.38%, ROA=-10.53%
    ✗PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA
    Gross Margin Change YoY54.0% -> 54.0%
    ✗PiotroskiImproved YoY
    Pre-Tax Income / Revenue-11.9%
    ✗Dreman>= 8%
    Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-22.5%
    ✗Dreman> 12%
    Margin of SafetyP/B=0.1x
    ✓PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15
    Return on Equity-22.1% (3-yr avg)
    ✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)
    Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)
    ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value
    Positive Net Income Frequency0/13 years positive
    ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years
    Operating Income / Revenue-11.7%
    ✗Ackman>= 15%
    Net Income / Shareholders Equity-22.5%
    ✗Ackman>= 15%
    5-Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)
    Operating Margin Trend-12.2% (2020) -> -11.7% (2022)
    ✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 years
    Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 56.6% -> 54.0%, operating margin -12.2% -> -11.7%
    ✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding
    Net income / market capitalization-136.76%; #5531/6340 (top 87.2%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Gross profit / total assets+45.50%; #788/3702 (top 21.3%)
    ✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Net income / positive book equity-22.53%; #3748/5226 (top 71.7%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Negative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0455; #2454/5884 (top 41.7%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR
    ✗Neff7%-20% annualized
    Positive Diluted-EPS Years0/10 years positive
    ✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule)
  • Growth13% pass✓ 4✗ 9▾

    7 of 8 flag ASPU's growth — Graham, Lynch, Dreman +4 more

    EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)N/A (negative base EPS)
    ✗Graham>= 33% growth
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    3-5 Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to pass
    Inventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthN/A (no inventory)
    ✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growth
    EPS Growth Direction$-0.14 (2011) -> $-0.38 (2022)
    ✗DremanPositive over recent years
    EPS CAGR
    ✗Dreman> 5% annualized
    Positive Net Income Frequency0/13 years positive
    ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years
    3yr Median Revenue Growth13.1%
    ✓Ackman>= 5%
    Positive EPS Growth Frequency2/5 years with positive EPS growth
    ✗AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years
    5-Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)
    Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 56.6% -> 54.0%, operating margin -12.2% -> -11.7%
    ✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding
    5-year Revenue CAGR28.3%
    ✓SleepCAGR > 7%
    3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR
    ✗Neff7%-20% annualized
  • Verdicts14% pass✓ 2✗ 12▾

    Split decision: 11 FAIL · 3 NEUTRAL · 1 PASS · 1 BUY

    Overall verdict
    ✗GrahamFAIL (3/9)✗BuffettFAIL (1/9)✗LynchFAIL (1/7)✗GreenblattRank #2526✗PiotroskiFAIL (F-Score 1)✗DremanFAIL (3/11)✗MungerFAIL (1/4)✗PabraiFAIL (1/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (1/5)✗AckmanFAIL (3/9)✓TempletonPASS (4/8)•SleepNEUTRAL (4/6)✓AsnessBUY (Rank #582/2370 (Top 24.6%))✗NeffFAIL (1/6)•SchlossNEUTRAL (4/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
  • Efficiency25% pass✓ 2✗ 9▾

    6 of 8 flag ASPU's efficiency — Buffett, Greenblatt, Piotroski +3 more

    Current Ratio2.34
    ✓Graham>= 2.0
    ROIC (3-5 yr avg)-19.4%
    ✗Buffett> 10%
    ROIC - WACC-29.4%
    ✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)
    EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)-30.3%
    ✗Greenblatt> 25%
    Current Ratio Change YoY2.34 -> 2.34
    ✗PiotroskiIncreased YoY
    Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.84x -> 0.84x
    ✗PiotroskiImproved YoY
    Current Assets / Current Liabilities2.34
    ✓Dreman> 1.5
    Return on Invested Capital-12.3%
    ✗Munger> 15%
    ROIC (high and growing)FY2020: ROIC=-13.3%; FY2021: ROIC=-12.3%; FY2022: ROIC=-12.3%
    ✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in each
    Reinvestment Rate x ROICN/A (non-positive net income)
    ✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%
    ROIC (5-year)0/5 years above 12% (latest -12.3%)
    ✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years

Business & financials

Financial snapshot: annual FY 2022. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.

Company Profile

Industry: Personal Services
SIC Sector: Educational Services
Size: Micro Cap($7.0M)
Revenue: $76.7M+0.0% YoY
Net Income: $9.6M+0.0% YoY

Financial Snapshot

Operating Margin-11.7%
Return on Equity-22.5%
Debt / Equity0.35
Current Ratio2.34
EPS (Diluted)$-0.38
Shares Retired−0.1% / −1.3% 2y

Similar Companies

EDUNew Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.
$8.3B
HRBH&R BLOCK INC
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GHCGraham Holdings Co
$5.2B
LAURLAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.
$4.8B

Shareholder Return

Fiscal 2022

Issued 0.1% of shares last year, 1.3% issued over two.

Buybacks
—
Dividends
—

Company Financials

Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years

TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.

MetricFY 2022
Sources
  • 10-K · 2022-07-29
FY 2021
Sources
  • 10-K · 2022-07-29
FY 2020
Sources
  • 10-K · 2021-07-13
FY 2019
Sources
  • 10-K · 2020-07-07
FY 2018
Sources
  • 10-K · 2020-07-07
Market Cap$7.0Mcurrent$56.3Mest.$235.5Mest.$190.0Mest.$86.3Mest.
Revenue$76.7M$76.7M↑13%$67.8M↑38%$49.1M↑44%$34.0M
Operating Income-$9.0M-$9.0M↓9%-$8.2M↓104%-$4.0M↑56%-$9.1M
Net Income-$9.6M-$9.6M↑8%-$10.4M↓85%-$5.7M↑39%-$9.3M
EPS (Diluted)$-0.38$-0.38↑14%$-0.44↓52%$-0.29↑42%$-0.50
Gross Margin54.0%54.0%↓4%56.6%↓7%61.0%↑15%53.0%
Operating Margin-11.7%-11.7%↑4%-12.2%↓48%-8.2%↑69%-26.8%
ROE-22.5%-22.5%↓6%-21.3%↓57%-13.6%↑61%-35.1%
Total Debt$14.9M$14.9M$0$0↓100%$50.0K
Shareholders' Equity$42.5M$42.5M↓13%$49.1M↑18%$41.7M↑58%$26.5M
Current Ratio2.342.34↑14%2.05↓37%3.22↓3%3.31
Debt / Equity0.350.350.000.00↓100%0.00
Operating Cash Flow-$11.3M-$11.3M↓1244%$985.6K↑117%-$5.7M↑44%-$10.2M
Free Cash Flow-$15.4M-$15.4M↓96%-$7.9M↑13%-$9.0M↑29%-$12.7M

Score history

Historical Score Timeline

Industry peers

Industry Peers

Similar companies in Personal Services

ASPU vs Peers — Financial Grading

Revenue$76.7MBottom 25%
Net Income$9.6MBottom 25%
ROE-22.5%Bottom 25%
D/E0.35Median
Op. Margin-11.7%Bottom 25%
Curr. Ratio2.34Top 25%
CompanyMarket CapPriceRevenueNet IncomeROED/EOp. MarginCurr. RatioGrahamBuffettLynchGreenblattPiotroskiDreman
New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.EDU$8.3B$53.28$4.9B$371.7M10.2%0.008.7%1.581/92/93/71/3F-Score 76/11
H&R BLOCK INCHRB$6.1B$50.01$3.8B$605.8M681.4%20.7322.0%0.903/94/93/71/3F-Score 44/11
Graham Holdings CoGHC$5.2B$1244.05$4.9B$292.3M6.1%0.184.8%1.756/90/93/70/3F-Score 65/11
LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.LAUR$4.8B$35.03$1.7B$281.6M23.7%0.1125.3%0.671/95/96/73/3F-Score 64/11
UNIFIRST CORPUNF$4.3B$235.39$2.4B$148.3M6.8%—7.6%3.183/95/92/70/3F-Score 63/11
Covista Inc.CVSA$3.9B$118.17$2.0B$251.6M17.4%0.4619.6%1.091/94/95/70/3F-Score 64/11
BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC.BFAM$2.5B$52.68$2.9B$193.1M14.4%0.5610.7%0.521/91/94/70/3F-Score 83/11
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INCUTI$1.2B$21.99$835.6M$63.0M19.2%0.2710.0%1.071/94/91/70/3F-Score 62/11