SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) Sets New 1-Year High - What's Next?

Shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $28.34 and last traded at $28.34, with a volume of 216 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SLM has been the topic of several research reports. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of SLM in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Barclays cut their target price on SLM from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of SLM in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on SLM from $26.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of SLM in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $27.00 target price for the company. Two equities research 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 an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $27.27.

SLM Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $25.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $23.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.21.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) last posted 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). The firm had revenue of $652.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $363.40 million. SLM had a return on equity of 35.92% and a net margin of 22.18%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.11 earnings per share. 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 was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th were paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. This is an increase from SLM's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 5th. SLM's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.12%.

Insider Buying and Selling at SLM

In other news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 83,130 shares in the company, valued at $2,265,292.50. The trade was a 5.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SLM

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Waldron Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of SLM during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SLM in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of SLM by 358.7% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,094 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in SLM in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SLM during the second quarter worth approximately $60,000. 98.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.