Laureate Education is the top YTD performer amongst educational services stocks

[Graduation Cap]
Ancika/iStock via Getty Images

The S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector has struggled to keep pace with the broader market in 2025, gaining +7.2% year-to-date, falling short of the S&P 500’s (SP500 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SP500#hasComeFromMpArticle=false#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews]) overall performance.

The sector is the eighth best performing this year among the 11 other major sectors. Its accompanying State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLY]) is +9.1% YTD.

As we look at the sub-sectors within the broader consumer discretionary index, below is a list of the top 10 educational services stocks ranked by their year-to-date performance. The list includes metrics such as market capitalization, recent price changes, and quant ratings.

The list is topped by Laureate Education (LAUR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LAUR]), with a YTD performance of 83.00%. Graham Holdings (GHC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GHC]) and TAL Education (TAL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TAL]) follow in the top three, with YTD performances of +27.52% and +9.98%. Adtalem Global Education (ATGE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ATGE]) and Grand Canyon Education (LOPE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LOPE]) round out the top five.

Performances range from the strong positive return of Laureate Education (LAUR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LAUR]) down to negative returns, with Duolingo (DUOL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DUOL]) marking the lowest YTD performance at -43.59%. Stride, (LRN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LRN]) also struggled, posting a YTD decline of -36.71% and carrying a Strong Sell Quant Rating.

Here is the list:

*
Laureate Education (LAUR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LAUR]), YTD perf: +83.00%, Quant Rating: Buy 3.89

*
Graham Holdings (GHC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GHC]), YTD perf: +27.52%, Quant Rating: Buy 4.15

*
TAL Education (TAL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TAL]), YTD perf: +9.98%, Quant Rating: Buy 4.42

*
Adtalem Global Education (ATGE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ATGE]), YTD perf: +9.41%, Quant Rating: Hold 2.81

*
Grand Canyon Education (LOPE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LOPE]), YTD perf: +0.63%, Quant Rating: Hold 2.68

*
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BFAM]), YTD perf: -6.65%, Quant Rating: Buy 3.84

*
Pearson (PSO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PSO]), YTD perf: -12.53%, Quant Rating: Buy 3.91

*
New Oriental Education & Technology Group (EDU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EDU]), YTD perf: -13.76%, Quant Rating: Hold 2.78

*
Stride (LRN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LRN]), YTD perf: -36.71%, Quant Rating: Strong Sell 1.11

*
Duolingo (DUOL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DUOL]), YTD perf: -43.59%, Quant Rating: Hold 2.95

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY ETFS: (XLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLY]), (VCR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VCR]), (FXD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FXD]), (FDIS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FDIS]), (RSPD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RSPD]), and (RXI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RXI]).

MORE ON CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY STOCKS

* Why I Think XLY And XLC Stand Out Over Tech In 2026 [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4854522-why-i-think-xly-and-xlc-stand-out-over-tech-in-2026]
* XLY: Consumer Discretionary Dashboard For December [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4853711-xly-consumer-discretionary-dashboard-for-december]
* VCR: Benefits And Risk Of This Consumer Discretionary ETF [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4848074-vcr-benefits-and-risk-of-this-consumer-discretionary-etf]
* Best performing apparel, accessories and luxury goods stocks YTD [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4533745-best-performing-apparel-accessories-and-luxury-goods-stocks-ytd]
* DoorDash is the top performing stock amongst restaurants YTD [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4533685-doordash-is-the-top-performing-stock-amongst-restaurants-ytd]