SLM Corporation (NASDAQ:SLM) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of SLM Corporation (NASDAQ:SLM) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the twelve analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $31.60.

SLM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on SLM from $35.00 to $30.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of SLM from $40.00 to $31.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $29.00 target price (down from $38.00) on shares of SLM in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on SLM from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised SLM from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 25th.

Key SLM News

Here are the key news stories impacting SLM this week:

• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms have filed or announced class actions alleging securities law violations tied to SLM’s July 25–August 14, 2025 period, and are seeking lead plaintiffs; deadline to move for lead plaintiff is Feb. 17, 2026. SLM Corporation (SLM) Shareholders Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit
• Negative Sentiment: Levi & Korsinsky and other firms notified investors they may join or lead the suit seeking recovery for alleged investor losses during the same class period. Lost Money on SLM Corporation (SLM)? Join Class Action Suit Seeking Recovery – Contact Levi & Korsinsky
• Negative Sentiment: Robbins Geller and other prominent firms are soliciting plaintiffs and publicizing the suit (captioned Zappia v. SLM), keeping litigation visibility high. SLM INVESTOR DEADLINE: SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit
• Negative Sentiment: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman and others confirm a filed class action alleging investor harm; this increases the likelihood of coordinated plaintiff efforts. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae Investors to Act: Class Action Filed Alleging Investor Harm
• Negative Sentiment: Additional firms (Schall, Berger Montague, Gross Law Firm, Portnoy, Bernstein Liebhard, Gainey McKenna & Egleston) have issued alerts—keeping the story widely disseminated and increasing short-term selling pressure. SLM Investors Have Opportunity to Lead SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae Securities Fraud Lawsuit with the Schall Law Firm

SLM Price Performance

NASDAQ:SLM opened at $27.61 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.27. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $27.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.36. SLM has a 52-week low of $23.81 and a 52-week high of $34.97. The firm has a market cap of $5.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.69, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.12.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 14th. The credit services provider reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter. SLM had a net margin of 21.76% and a return on equity of 30.13%. The company had revenue of ($3.44) million during the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that SLM will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SLM Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 4th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 4th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. SLM’s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.25%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SLM. City Holding Co. purchased a new position in shares of SLM during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new position in SLM in the third quarter worth approximately $69,000. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SLM in the third quarter worth about $118,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of SLM by 118.2% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,995 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $131,000 after acquiring an additional 2,164 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Longboard Asset Management LP bought a new stake in shares of SLM during the 2nd quarter worth $207,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.94% of the company’s stock.

About SLM

SLM Corporation, operating as Sallie Mae Bank, is a leading U.S.-based consumer banking company specializing in education financing and related banking products. The company provides a range of private student loans for undergraduate and graduate studies, Parent PLUS loans, and specialized financing for career and certificate programs. In addition to its core lending services, Sallie Mae offers deposit products including savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and credit cards tailored to students and young adults.

Founded in 1972 as the Student Loan Marketing Association—a government-sponsored enterprise—Sallie Mae was privatized in 2004 and has since focused on expanding its private education loan offerings and digital banking solutions.