As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2022, 80% of children enrolled in a preschool program were aged 4 years as compared to only 20% aged 5 years. Parents are adopting the “you’ve got to teach them young” policy, putting the focus on developing the early childhood care industry. That is probably why companies, like early childhood care and education provider Embark Education (ASX: EVO), are reporting impressive occupancy rates. 

Embark reported an occupancy rate of over 80% as of April 2023, up from 76.9% in April 2022. What’s more, the Company’s occupancy seems to be surpassing that of its competitor G8 Education (ASX: GEM), which reported an occupancy rate of 71% in 2022 affected by Covid and flooding. 

Even though G8’s revenue remains much higher at over $900 million, Embark is witnessing significant growth. For the first three months of 2023, its Australian revenue amounted to $13.9 million, or 21% ahead of the same period last year, and its Australian Centre-based EBITDA is $3 million or 47% ahead. Comparatively, G8’s revenue grew by 4% and its EBITDA by 5.2%.

Embark Education is one of Australia’s leading providers of early childhood education and care.  Initially present in New Zealand as well, Covid forced it to leave the country. It sold its New Zealand business at the end of September 2022. Since then, Embark has been fully focused on its Australian operations. For the year leading up to December 2022, its Australian revenue increased 35% to $59.5 million and its Underlying EBITDA increased 32% to $14.4 million.

Like G8, the Company is still reeling from the impact of Covid. Over the past two and a half years, New Zealand’s performance especially had been directly impacted by Government-mandated closures in response to the pandemic and closed borders. It led to teacher shortages, lower immigration levels and a detrimental impact on overall centre occupancy. 

The timing and extent of its recovery were inherently uncertain and largely conditional on factors outside the control of Embark. To address the losses, the Company decided to divest its New Zealand operations and refocus only on early childhood education activities in Australia. 

In December 2022 the Company repaid all its outstanding medium-term notes and currently holds no debt, compared with a debt of $33.7 million at the end of 2021. The company has cash reserves of $24.9 million as of 25 February 2023. Overall, this is a substantially stronger position than the same time last year.

The Company also undertook a new identity last year. In October 2022, it changed its name from Evolve to Embark. 

Embark undertook a host of strategic decisions—both with regard to its branding and the overall business. As the Covid effect subsides and normal life returns, the Company has its eyes on capturing the early childhood education and care market while poking the competitive bear.