Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Has $25.48 Million Stock Position in SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM - Free Report) by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,114,083 shares of the credit services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 111,258 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned 0.52% of SLM worth $25,479,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of SLM. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in SLM by 3,800.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,406,384 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $55,034,000 after buying an additional 2,344,691 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in SLM by 107.1% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,366,642 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $49,202,000 after buying an additional 1,224,015 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in SLM by 253.8% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,290,997 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $26,840,000 after buying an additional 926,120 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in SLM by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,453,521 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $92,589,000 after buying an additional 859,625 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners grew its stake in SLM by 5.7% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 12,461,356 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $271,626,000 after buying an additional 674,424 shares during the last quarter. 98.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on SLM shares. Bank of America started coverage on shares of SLM in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $27.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price objective on shares of SLM in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of SLM from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $25.45.

SLM Price Performance

Shares of SLM stock traded up $0.69 on Monday, reaching $23.90. 1,662,325 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,799,854. The firm's 50 day moving average is $22.21 and its 200-day moving average is $21.62. SLM Co. has a one year low of $13.93 and a one year high of $24.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.29. The firm has a market cap of $5.07 billion, a PE ratio of 8.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.16.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The credit services provider reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.30). SLM had a return on equity of 35.92% and a net margin of 22.18%. The firm had revenue of $652.64 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $363.40 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.11 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that SLM Co. will post 2.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

SLM Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. This is an increase from SLM's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 5th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. SLM's dividend payout ratio is presently 15.33%.

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.