WallStSmart
UTI

Universal Technical Institute Inc

NYSE: UTI · CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES

$36.08
+1.52% today

Updated 2026-04-29

Market cap
$1.99B
P/E ratio
37.58
P/S ratio
2.32x
EPS (TTM)
$0.96
Dividend yield
52W range
$21 – $40
Volume
0.7M

Universal Technical Institute Inc (UTI) Stock Valuation Analysis

Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for UTI.

WallStSmart Verdict
Overvalued

Current price exceeds what fundamentals support. Risk/reward skewed unfavorably.

Smart Value Score: 40 / 100
P/E (TTM)
37.6x
vs 5Y median of 36.9x
PEG
3.12
Elevated vs growth
Margin of Safety
-10.05%
Fair value $24.67 vs $36.08
EV / EBITDA
0.0x

UTI historical valuation range

Where current P/E sits in UTI's own 5Y range.

NOW
13.0x
5Y Low
26.1x
25th
36.9x
Median
44.4x
75th
172.8x
5Y High
UTI is trading more expensive than 63% of the last 5Y.
63th percentile · Above median

UTI intrinsic value (DCF)

DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.

Current price
$36.08
Market value
Intrinsic value
$24.67
DCF estimate
Margin of safety
-10.05%
-31.6% upside to fair value

Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.

UTI valuation signals

Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.

PEG above 2.0
PEG of 3.12 suggests price is running ahead of growth rate. Caution warranted.
!
P/E in mid-range
P/E sits at the 63th percentile of the 5Y range. Neither cheap nor rich historically.
Premium to fair value
Price exceeds DCF intrinsic value by 10.1%. Limited downside protection.
Weak financial quality
Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 suggests deteriorating fundamentals. Valuation requires closer scrutiny.

P/E Ratio — History

Current: 37.58x

P/S Ratio — History

Current: 2.32x

Is UTI overvalued in 2026?

Universal Technical Institute Inc (UTI) currently trades at $36.08 per share with a market capitalization of $1,985,140,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock appears richly valued with a Smart Value Score of 40/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.

The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 37.6x, above its 5-year median of 36.9x. The PEG ratio of 3.12 indicates the price has run ahead of the underlying growth rate.

Looking at its own history, UTI is currently trading more expensive than 63% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 63th percentile of its historical range, a reasonable but unremarkable position.

Our discounted cash flow model estimates UTI's intrinsic value at $24.67 per share, against the current market price of $36.08. This implies a premium to fair value of -10.05%. The current price sits well above what projected cash flows justify, implying investors are paying for growth that has not yet materialized.

Financial quality is a concern. The Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 flags weakening fundamentals that deserve closer scrutiny before the valuation case can be fully trusted.

Bottom line: UTI appears richly valued on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 40/100. At current levels the risk/reward is skewed against the buyer. A materially lower price or significant operational improvement would be needed to change the picture.

Frequently asked questions

Is UTI overvalued in 2026?

Based on a Smart Value Score of 40/100, UTI appears overvalued. Current price exceeds what fundamentals currently justify.

What is UTI's fair value?

Our DCF model estimates UTI's intrinsic value at $24.67 per share, versus the current price of $36.08. This produces a margin of safety of -10.05%.

What P/E ratio does UTI trade at?

UTI trades at a P/E of 37.6x on trailing twelve-month earnings, compared to its 5-year median of 36.9x.

Is UTI a buy based on valuation?

WallStSmart does not issue buy or sell recommendations. Our Smart Value Score of 40/100 reflects the combined read on growth, quality, and price. The profile skews cautious. Consider waiting for a better price or clearer operational improvement.

How does UTI's valuation compare to its history?

On P/E, UTI currently sits in the 63th percentile of its own 5Y range. That is above its long-run median relative to where it has traded over the period.

What is UTI's Smart Value Score?

UTI's Smart Value Score is 40/100. The Smart Value Score is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation attractiveness into a single 0-100 read. Scores above 75 are rare and indicate strong multi-factor alignment.