SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) Shares Sold by Los Angeles Capital Management LLC

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) by 82.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 190,460 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 923,623 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned 0.09% of SLM worth $5,253,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SLM. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SLM in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in SLM by 358.7% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 1,094 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in SLM in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of SLM during the 4th quarter valued at about $86,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of SLM by 110.3% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 4,404 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 2,310 shares during the period. 98.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at SLM

In related news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.57, for a total value of $1,142,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 43,163 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,233,166.91. The trade was a 48.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

SLM Trading Up 0.3 %

NASDAQ:SLM opened at $30.10 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $28.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.33 billion, a PE ratio of 11.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.22. SLM Co. has a 12 month low of $19.39 and a 12 month high of $32.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.27.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The credit services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.06). SLM had a net margin of 20.73% and a return on equity of 31.66%. Research analysts predict that SLM Co. will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SLM Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.73%. SLM’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.62%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SLM has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of SLM from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of SLM from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on SLM from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays lifted their target price on SLM from $34.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on SLM from $26.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $30.91.

SLM Profile

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.