SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $25.45.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SLM shares. Bank of America started coverage on shares of SLM in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $27.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of SLM from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 7th.

SLM Price Performance

NASDAQ:SLM traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $23.85. 950,602 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,796,142. SLM has a 52-week low of $13.93 and a 52-week high of $24.59. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $22.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21. The company has a market cap of $5.06 billion, a P/E 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The credit services provider reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.30). SLM had a net margin of 22.18% and a return on equity of 35.92%. The business had revenue of $652.64 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $363.40 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.11 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that SLM will post 2.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

SLM Increases Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SLM

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Waldron Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in SLM in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in SLM by 358.7% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,094 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in SLM during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in SLM during the 2nd quarter worth $60,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in SLM by 378.1% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,050 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $66,000 after acquiring an additional 2,412 shares during the last quarter. 98.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.