Stride (LRN) stock jumps 26% premarket after earnings and outlook; what to watch at the open

28 January 2026

New York, January 28, 2026, 07:39 EST — Premarket

Stride shares jumped 26% in premarket trading following its quarterly results and an updated outlook
Revenue climbed 7.5% in the December quarter, with Career Learning growth remaining the key driver
Investors are watching to see if Tuesday’s early rally will extend into the cash session

Shares of Stride Inc surged 26.3% to $91.50 in premarket trading Wednesday following its second-quarter earnings report and full-year guidance. The education technology firm’s stock had closed Tuesday up 1.2% at $72.43.

This move is crucial as Stride aims to show it can sustain enrollment growth and minimize operational glitches that might unsettle school partners and families. Traders often see mid-year guidance here as a signal for demand heading into the next enrollment period.

Late Tuesday, Stride reported a 7.5% revenue increase to $631.3 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31, with adjusted EPS climbing to $2.50 from $2.37 the previous year. The company guided full-year revenue between $2.480 billion and $2.555 billion, and adjusted operating income from $485 million to $505 million. For Q3, it expects revenue of $615 million to $645 million and adjusted operating income in the range of $130 million to $140 million.

Total enrollments climbed 7.8% to 248,500, driven largely by Career Learning programs, according to post-results data. GuruFocus News pointed to a near 29% surge in Career Learning revenue from middle-to-high school, reaching roughly $275.6 million.

During the earnings call, Chief Executive James Rhyu told investors that “the core issues are behind us” regarding previous platform troubles. He added, “Families continue to seek alternatives to the traditional model of education to address their specific needs.” Investing.com

Stride filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending Dec. 31 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The SEC accepted the filing Tuesday evening, according to the filing detail page.

The filing outlined an active capital return plan and recent buybacks: the board approved a stock repurchase program capped at $500 million, lasting through Oct. 31, 2026. Cash used in financing activities climbed in the first half of the fiscal year, partly due to $88.7 million spent on treasury stock purchases.

Analyst notes hit before the opening bell. BMO Capital Markets bumped up its price target on Stride to $94 from $75 on Wednesday, according to StreetInsider.

Premarket jumps often evaporate quickly when the regular session kicks off, particularly following a major earnings-driven shift. If the platform faces fresh hiccups, enrollment growth stalls, or funding and regulatory pressure intensify around virtual schooling, the stock could easily slide back.

The immediate question for the market is straightforward: can Stride maintain its early gains through the 9:30 a.m. ET open? After that, attention will shift to the quarter ending March 31, as investors seek clearer signals on retention, demand, and whether the guidance is on the mark or off the mark.

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Shan Ahmed Khan is a senior markets reporter at TS2.tech. His coverage ranges from stocks and technology to economic developments across global markets. He worked in investment research and market analysis before becoming a financial journalist and is a graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

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