SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) Posts Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.06 EPS

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The credit services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.06), Zacks reports. SLM had a net margin of 22.18% and a return on equity of 35.92%.

SLM Stock Performance

Shares of SLM stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $29.30. 3,624,583 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,682,386. The company has a market cap of $6.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.21. The company's 50 day moving average is $27.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $23.79. SLM has a 1 year low of $18.84 and a 1 year high of $29.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.27.

SLM Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 5th. SLM's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on SLM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on SLM from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of America started coverage on SLM in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $27.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 target price on shares of SLM in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 target price on shares of SLM in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and set a $30.00 price objective (up from $27.00) on shares of SLM in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, SLM presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $27.90.

Insider Transactions at SLM

In related news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of the firm'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 value of $122,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 83,130 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,265,292.50. This trade represents a 5.14 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

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.

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