SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) Receives $24.83 Average Target Price from Analysts

SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $24.83.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on SLM shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of SLM from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Barclays boosted their target price on SLM from $23.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on SLM from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Bank of America began coverage on SLM in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $27.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on SLM from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 7th.

Insider Transactions at SLM

In related news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of SLM stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.70, for a total value of $102,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 101,093 shares in the company, valued at $2,294,811.10. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of SLM

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SLM. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in SLM by 2,187.0% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 66,254 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 63,357 shares in the last quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SLM during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of SLM by 294.9% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 51,248 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,172,000 after buying an additional 38,269 shares in the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of SLM by 16.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 1,291,153 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $29,529,000 after buying an additional 186,522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI grew its position in shares of SLM by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI now owns 307,409 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $7,030,000 after buying an additional 5,205 shares during the last quarter. 98.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

SLM Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of SLM stock opened at $23.03 on Friday. SLM has a fifty-two week low of $12.26 and a fifty-two week high of $23.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a current ratio of 1.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.17, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $21.81 and a 200 day moving average of $21.47.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The credit services provider reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.32. SLM had a return on equity of 41.84% and a net margin of 24.67%. The firm had revenue of $783.28 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $368.97 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that SLM will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year.

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.