SLM's (SLM) "Neutral" Rating Reiterated at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Key Points

• JPMorgan Chase & Co. has reiterated a "neutral" rating on SLM (NASDAQ: SLM) and decreased its price target from $38.00 to $29.00, indicating a potential 6.93% upside from the stock's previous close.
• While SLM's stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $33.89, various analysts have varying opinions, with some recommending "outperform" and others adjusting their targets downwards.
• In its latest quarterly earnings report, SLM posted a net income decline of 21.4% year-over-year, reporting $0.32 EPS, which missed the consensus estimate of $0.49 EPS.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "neutral" rating reaffirmed by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $29.00 price objective on the credit services provider's stock, down from their prior price objective of $38.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s price target points to a potential upside of 6.93% from the stock's previous close.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of SLM in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of SLM from $43.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of SLM to $40.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of SLM from $37.00 to $31.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of SLM from $33.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, SLM currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $33.89.

SLM Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of SLM stock opened at $27.12 on Tuesday. SLM has a 1-year low of $21.10 and a 1-year high of $34.97. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $30.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.02, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.65 billion, a PE ratio of 13.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.11.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The credit services provider reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $403.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $370.26 million. SLM had a return on equity of 21.93% and a net margin of 15.46%.The company's revenue for the quarter was down 21.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.11 earnings per share. SLM has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.100 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that SLM will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Kerri A. Palmer sold 55,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.21, for a total value of $1,771,550.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 119,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,841,139.13. The trade was a 31.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in SLM by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 34,709 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $957,000 after purchasing an additional 1,436 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of SLM by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 7,800 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $229,000 after buying an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of SLM by 355.4% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,899 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 1,482 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of SLM by 19.2% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 8,034 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $236,000 after buying an additional 1,294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt raised its position in SLM by 162.2% during the first quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 82,600 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $2,423,000 after purchasing an additional 51,100 shares during the period. 98.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About SLM

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.