AFYA
Consumer DefensiveAfya Limited · Education & Training Services · $1B
What is Afya Limited?
Afya Limited is Brazil's leading medical education group, connecting aspiring and practicing physicians with undergraduate programs, residency prep, and digital clinical tools. The company operates across a broad network of campuses and online platforms throughout Brazil.
Afya generates revenue by enrolling students in medical and health sciences degree programs, offering postgraduate specialization courses, and selling residency preparatory content. It also monetizes a subscription-based digital health platform that provides clinical decision-support tools — including medical calculators, prescriptions, and lab exam references — to both students and practicing health professionals.
Afya was established in 2019 and is headquartered in Nova Lima, Brazil.
- Undergraduate and graduate medical school programs
- Medical residency preparatory courses
- Subscription-based digital clinical decision tools
- Health sciences and non-medical degree programs
Is AFYA a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates AFYA as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with meaningful strengths and some areas to watch.
Afya's Quality and Growth pillars both register as Good, suggesting the business generates earnings with reasonable efficiency and is expanding within Brazil's structurally undersupplied medical education market. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals.
The Moat and Risk pillars both land at Neutral, indicating that competitive advantages and risk factors are neither exceptional nor alarming — worth monitoring as the company scales.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does AFYA pay dividends?
Yes — Afya Limited pays a dividend.
Afya pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among growth-oriented education companies. This suggests management is confident in the business's cash generation. Investors seeking a combination of growth exposure and income may find this cadence appealing, though dividend levels should be verified on the company's investor relations page.
When does AFYA report earnings?
Afya Limited reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company's Good Quality and Growth pillar ratings suggest earnings have been broadly constructive, with the medical education segment continuing to expand its student base. Revenue diversification across digital subscriptions and campus-based programs adds some resilience to results.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Afya's official investor relations page.
AFYA Price History
-28.3% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Afya Limited?
Based on Afya Limited's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
AFYA Long-term Outlook
Afya's Good Growth pillar points to continued expansion potential, driven by Brazil's persistent shortage of licensed physicians and the company's growing digital health platform. The Neutral Risk pillar reflects real uncertainties — including regulatory exposure in Brazilian higher education and currency dynamics — that could affect the pace of that growth. The Attractive Valuation pillar suggests the market has not fully priced in the long-term opportunity, leaving room for upside if execution remains on track.
Growth drivers
- Structural undersupply of medical school seats in Brazil
- Expanding subscription revenue from the digital clinical tools platform
- Cross-selling postgraduate and residency prep programs to existing graduates
Key risks
- Regulatory changes to Brazilian medical education licensing
- Brazilian real currency volatility affecting USD-reported results
- Competitive pressure from other private education groups expanding into health sciences
AFYA vs Peers
Afya operates in a niche segment of the global education sector, but it can be compared to other listed education companies across different geographies and models.
Lincoln focuses on vocational and technical training in the United States, serving a very different student demographic and regulatory environment than Afya's Brazil-based medical programs.
Youdao is a China-based online learning and AI education technology company, competing more on digital content delivery than on campus-based professional degree programs.
APEI targets working adults and military-affiliated students in the US through online degree programs, with no meaningful overlap in medical education or the Brazilian market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Afya Limited do?
Afya operates medical schools and health sciences programs across Brazil, offering undergraduate degrees, postgraduate specializations, and residency preparatory courses. It also runs a subscription-based digital platform that helps physicians and students with clinical decision-making tools, medical calculators, and updated medical content.
Does AFYA pay dividends?
Yes, Afya pays a regular dividend. This is notable for a growth-stage education company and reflects the business's ability to generate distributable cash. Investors should check the company's investor relations page for current dividend details and payment schedules.
When does AFYA report earnings?
Afya reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Specific upcoming earnings dates are not covered by our data source — visit Afya's investor relations page for the latest schedule.
Is AFYA a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates AFYA as Good, with Attractive Valuation and Good ratings across Quality and Growth. That combination suggests a reasonably priced business with expansion potential. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and exposure to emerging market education. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is AFYA overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for AFYA is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals based on our scoring model. This does not guarantee price appreciation, but it suggests the market may not be fully pricing in the company's growth trajectory.
How does AFYA compare to its competitors?
Afya's closest listed peers — Lincoln Educational, Youdao, and American Public Education — operate in different geographies and serve different student segments. Afya's focus on medical education in Brazil gives it a distinct market position, as physician shortages create structural demand that is less common in vocational or general online education markets.
What is AFYA's market cap bracket?
Afya is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries more volatility and liquidity risk than large- or mega-cap peers, but it also means there may be more room for growth if the business continues to scale its campus network and digital platform.
Who founded Afya Limited?
Afya was formally established in 2019 as a holding company consolidating medical education assets in Brazil. Details on the founding team are publicly available through the company's official filings and investor relations materials.
Is AFYA a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, AFYA's Good UQS Score — supported by Good Quality and Growth pillars and an Attractive Valuation — suggests a reasonable foundation. The Neutral Moat and Risk ratings are worth watching over time, particularly given Brazil's regulatory environment for private higher education.
What sector does AFYA belong to?
Afya is classified under the Consumer Defensive sector. While education might not seem defensive at first glance, the essential and regulated nature of medical licensing in Brazil gives the business a degree of demand stability that aligns with this classification.
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Pro Analysis
AFYA — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 67.8 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.3 | 49.5 | 99.6 | 0.0 |
| May 22, 2026 | 67.8 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.3 | 49.5 | 99.8 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 67.8 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.4 | 49.5 | 99.6 | 0.0 |
| May 20, 2026 | 67.8 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.4 | 49.5 | 99.9 | 0.0 |
| May 18, 2026 | 67.8 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.5 | 49.5 | 99.7 | +0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 67.7 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 61.1 | 49.5 | 99.7 | -0.6 |
| May 14, 2026 | 68.3 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 63.8 | 49.5 | 99.7 | +0.2 |
| May 11, 2026 | 68.1 | 79.5 | 53.0 | 62.9 | 49.5 | 100.0 | -0.9 |
| May 10, 2026 | 69.0 | 82.9 | 53.0 | 62.9 | 49.5 | 100.0 | +0.2 |
| May 8, 2026 | 68.8 | 79.6 | 53.0 | 63.3 | 53.1 | 100.0 | +0.3 |
AFYA — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 79.5/100 (25%)Afya Limited demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 61.3/100 (20%)Afya Limited demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 49.5/100 (15%)Afya Limited has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 100.0/100 (15%)Afya Limited appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 53/100 (25%)Afya Limited possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for AFYA.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the AFYA UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Afya Limited is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Afya Limited's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Afya Limited is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.