12,825 Shares in SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) Acquired by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 12,825 shares of the credit services provider's stock, valued at approximately $354,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in shares of SLM by 86.4% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 971 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SLM in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of SLM by 32.2% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,849 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of SLM in the fourth quarter valued at $86,000. Finally, Plato Investment Management Ltd purchased a new stake in SLM during the 4th quarter worth about $114,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.94% of the company's stock.

SLM Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ SLM traded down $0.83 during trading on Friday, reaching $28.90. The stock had a trading volume of 1,682,109 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,088,748. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.32. The stock has a market cap of $6.08 billion, a PE ratio of 10.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.23. SLM Co. has a one year low of $19.39 and a one year high of $32.65. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $29.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.45.

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SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The credit services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.06). SLM had a return on equity of 31.66% and a net margin of 20.73%. On average, research analysts forecast that SLM Co. will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SLM Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th were paid a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. SLM's payout ratio is currently 19.62%.

Insider Activity

In other SLM news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 40,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the director now directly owns 43,163 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,233,166.91. This trade represents a 48.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on SLM from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of SLM from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of SLM from $32.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of SLM from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of SLM from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $31.45.

SLM Company 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.