SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) Announces Earnings Results

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The credit services provider reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.06), Zacks reports. SLM had a net margin of 22.18% and a return on equity of 35.92%. SLM updated its FY 2025 guidance to 3.000-3.100 EPS.

SLM Trading Up 0.8 %

NASDAQ SLM traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $29.30. 3,646,084 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,691,981. SLM has a 52 week low of $18.84 and a 52 week high of $29.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $27.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.79. The stock has a market cap of $6.22 billion, a PE ratio of 10.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.21.

SLM Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 5th. SLM’s payout ratio is 18.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on SLM from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of SLM from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of SLM in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $30.00 price target (up from $27.00) on shares of SLM in a report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of SLM in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $27.90.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of SLM stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.25, for a total transaction of $122,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 83,130 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,265,292.50. The trade was a 5.14 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

About SLM

SLM Corporation, through its subsidiaries, originates and services private education loans to students and their families to finance the cost of their education in the United States. It is also involved in the provision of retail deposit accounts, including certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and high-yield savings accounts; and interest-bearing omnibus accounts.