Wellington Management Group LLP Sells 58,442 Shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM)

Wellington Management Group LLP decreased its holdings in shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM - Free Report) by 22.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 197,464 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 58,442 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP owned approximately 0.09% of SLM worth $4,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Waldron Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SLM during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SLM during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted 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 valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 1,094 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in SLM in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in SLM in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.94% of the company's stock.

SLM Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ SLM traded down $0.07 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $27.68. 3,122,378 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,864,548. SLM Co. has a 52-week low of $18.04 and a 52-week high of $28.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a PE ratio of 9.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.21. 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 business's fifty day moving average price is $24.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.51.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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). The firm had revenue of $652.64 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $363.40 million. SLM had a return on equity of 35.92% and a net margin of 22.18%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.11 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that SLM Co. will post 2.73 EPS for the current year.

SLM Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th were given a $0.13 dividend. This is a positive change from SLM's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 5th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. SLM's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.12%.

Insider Activity at SLM

In other SLM news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.25, for a total transaction of $122,625.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 83,130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,265,292.50. This trade represents a 5.14 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on SLM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on SLM from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Barclays reduced their target price on SLM from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 target price on shares of SLM in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 target price on shares of SLM in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on SLM in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $27.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, SLM presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $26.80.

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.