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Here are 1-3 brief analogies to describe Laureate Education (LAUR):

• Imagine them as a Marriott or Hilton for universities, operating a global network of higher education institutions across different countries rather than hotels.

• You could also think of them as an HCA Healthcare for universities, owning and managing a large, for-profit network of higher education campuses and programs.

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• Undergraduate Degree Programs: Comprehensive academic courses for students seeking a bachelor's degree across fields like business, health sciences, and engineering.
• Graduate Degree Programs: Advanced academic instruction for students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in specialized areas such as business, healthcare, and technology.

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Laureate Education (LAUR) primarily sells its higher education programs and services directly to individual students.

The company serves the following categories of customers:

• Undergraduate Students: Individuals pursuing their first university degree, such as a bachelor's degree.
• Graduate Students: Individuals seeking advanced degrees, including master's, doctoral, or other postgraduate qualifications.
• Career-Focused Adult Learners and Professionals: Individuals, often working adults, who enroll in programs in areas like business, health sciences, and engineering to acquire new skills, advance their careers, or reskill for new professional opportunities. These learners may pursue either undergraduate or graduate-level programs.

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Eilif Serck-Hanssen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Eilif Serck-Hanssen has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Laureate Education, Inc. since January 2018, having joined the company in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer and later serving as President and Chief Administrative Officer. Before joining Laureate, he was Chief Financial Officer and President of International Operations at XOJET, Inc. and was part of the team that founded Eos Airlines, Inc., where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He also held various executive positions at US Airways, Inc. (now American Airlines, Inc.) and Northwest Airlines, Inc. (now Delta Airlines, Inc.), and spent time with PepsiCo, Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Under his leadership, Laureate undertook a strategic review that resulted in the successful sale of over $5 billion in assets and managed the company's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also overseen more than $5 billion in divestiture transactions and incubated multiple EdTech ventures.

Rick Buskirk, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Rick Buskirk assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer for Laureate Education, Inc. in April 2021. Previously, he was Laureate's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, playing a key role in managing the company's strategic review process and portfolio optimization strategies. He also led Laureate's Financial Planning and Analysis organization and multiple financial transformation initiatives. Prior to joining Laureate in 2015, Rick was a CPA with EY, an investment banker with Deutsche Bank, and held various financial, strategy, and operations positions at global brands including Vodafone, NII Holdings, Inc. (formerly Nextel International), and Sprint/Nextel.

Marcelo Cardoso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Marcelo Cardoso serves as Chief Operating Officer for Laureate Education, Inc. since June 2021, overseeing operations in Mexico and Peru, as well as the Academic Quality organization. He has held several senior positions within Laureate, including Chief Transformation Officer, Regional Vice President of Operations for Brazil, and Chief Executive Officer of Laureate Brazil. He is recognized for his transformational history across various sectors and his expertise in leadership, strategy, operations, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds, business planning, and international business.

Leslie S. Brush, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Leslie S. Brush serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary for Laureate Education, Inc. She possesses extensive legal experience, particularly within the higher education and services industry across U.S., European, and Latin American markets. Her expertise includes government relations, management, nonprofit organizations, partnerships, and licensing.

Martin N. Fienkeng, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer

Martin N. Fienkeng holds the positions of Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Laureate Education, Inc. He earned a Ph.D. and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Civil Engineering from Liverpool University (UK), and an Executive MBA from Loyola College of Maryland. He is also a Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO).

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Key Risks to Laureate Education (LAUR)

1. Geographic Concentration and Political/Economic Instability: Laureate Education's substantial reliance on its operations in Mexico and Peru exposes the company to significant political, economic, and regulatory risks specific to these countries. Any adverse political developments, economic downturns, or unfavorable regulatory changes in Mexico or Peru could directly and materially impact the company's business performance and financial results.
2. Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Volatility: As Laureate Education reports its earnings in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies of Mexico and Peru (Mexican Peso and Peruvian Sol) can negatively affect the company's reported revenue and profitability. A stronger U.S. dollar can reduce the value of local currency earnings when translated back into U.S. dollars, even if the underlying business operations are performing well.
3. Sensitivity to Household Income and Competition: Laureate Education's private-pay model means that demand for its higher education programs is closely tied to the disposable income of households in its operating markets. During economic downturns, prospective students may delay or forgo private education, impacting enrollment and revenue. Additionally, the company faces competitive pressure from both traditional public and private universities, as well as emerging online education providers, which can lead to aggressive pricing and require continuous investment to maintain market position and brand value.

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The clear emerging threat to Laureate Education is the accelerating trend towards alternative credentialing, micro-degrees, and skills-based hiring. This involves the increasing adoption by employers of certifications and short-form educational programs, often delivered online by tech companies (e.g., Google Career Certificates, IBM SkillsBuild) or specialized platforms in partnership with universities (e.g., Coursera, edX professional certificates), as viable or preferred pathways to employment and skill acquisition. This trend directly challenges the traditional value proposition of longer, more expensive degree programs offered by institutions like Laureate by providing quicker, more affordable, and often job-specific alternatives that are gaining recognition and acceptance in the job market, potentially diverting prospective students from traditional degree enrollment.

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Laureate Education (LAUR) provides higher education programs and services, including undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business and management, medicine and health sciences, and engineering and information technology through campus-based, online, and hybrid programs in Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

Addressable Market Sizes for Laureate Education

United States

• The overall higher education market in the United States was valued at approximately USD 218.27 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 668.33 billion by 2033, demonstrating a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.24% from 2024 to 2033. Another report indicates a revenue of USD 192,918.6 million in 2023, expected to grow to USD 370,409.0 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2024 to 2030.

• The online education market in the U.S. is valued at USD 74.8 billion. It is projected to reach USD 128.54 billion by 2034, growing from USD 12.35 billion in 2025, with a significant CAGR of 26.40% during the period of 2026-2034.

Mexico

• The higher education market in Mexico generated a revenue of USD 14,293.4 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 26,642.4 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 9.3% from 2024 to 2030. The university student population in Mexico was approximately 5.39 million in 2024-2025.

• The online education market in Mexico was valued at USD 740.8 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 6,261.6 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 25.96% from 2026 to 2034. Another estimate values the Mexico E-Learning and Online Education Market at USD 2.5 billion based on historical analysis.

Peru

• Peru has a significant higher education student population, with over one million university students, and enrollment numbers of 2 million in 2024.

• While a specific market size in USD for Peru's online education was not readily available, the broader Latin America online education market, which includes Peru, reached USD 5,081.5 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 25,531.3 million by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.06% during 2026-2034.

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Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth for Laureate Education (LAUR)

Laureate Education (LAUR) is anticipated to drive future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years through several key strategies:

• Student Enrollment Growth: The company projects continued growth in its total student enrollments, with guidance for 4-5% growth in 2026, reaching between 516,000 and 521,000 students. This consistent increase in the student base is a primary contributor to revenue expansion. Laureate reported an 8% increase in new enrollments and a 5% rise in total enrollments for the full year 2025.
• Expansion of Digital and Online Programs: Laureate Education is strategically investing in and scaling its online education offerings, particularly targeting working adults in Mexico and Peru. Management has highlighted a focus on expanding digital education tools, including AI-driven online programs, which are seen as core drivers of performance and market penetration.
• New Campus Openings and Diversified Academic Offerings: To address capacity constraints and meet demand, especially in Peru, Laureate is expanding its physical footprint by opening new campuses. The company is also investing in expanding its academic programs, such as in health sciences, to broaden its appeal and offerings.
• Increased Monetization per Student: Analysis suggests that Laureate's revenue growth has outpaced its student enrollment growth in recent periods, indicating an increased monetization per student. This can result from factors such as tuition adjustments, a favorable mix shift towards higher-value programs, or improved student retention leading to longer enrollment periods.

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Share Repurchases

• Laureate Education expanded its share repurchase authorization by $250 million in February 2026, bringing the total program size to $400 million.
• The company completed a buyback of approximately $218.89 million under its existing program as of February 2026.
• In 2025, Laureate repurchased approximately $217 million of its common stock.

Share Issuance

• Laureate Education's shares outstanding have consistently declined over the past few years, from 0.190 billion in 2021 to 0.147 billion in 2025, indicating no significant share issuances.

Inbound Investments

• CPV Partners, LLC significantly increased its stake in Laureate Education on March 1, 2024, adding 14,964,335 shares at $13.50 per share, marking a 465.45% increase in its position.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Laureate Education by 5.8% during the third quarter (likely 2025), acquiring an additional 49,832 shares.

Outbound Investments

• Laureate Education completed the sale of Walden University to Adtalem for $1.48 billion in August 2021, which resulted in a $1.29 billion cash distribution to eligible stockholders in October 2021.
• The company divested its universities in Australia, New Zealand, and Chile by November 2020, with the Australian and New Zealand operations sold to Strategic Education, Inc. for $642.7 million.
• The sale of its Brazilian operations to Anima Holding was completed in May 2021.

Capital Expenditures

• Capital expenditures for the last 12 months (as of early March 2026) were -$103.04 million.
• Laureate Education's capital expenditure program focuses on capacity expansion at institutions, new campuses in existing markets, and investments in information technology.
• The company is making investments in campus and digital capabilities, particularly in AI-driven online education, with capital spending in Mexico and Peru expected to remain elevated.