SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Compass Point Analyst Says

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) had its price target hoisted by equities research analysts at Compass Point from $31.00 to $34.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the credit services provider’s stock. Compass Point’s target price suggests a potential upside of 11.63% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of SLM in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of SLM from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on SLM from $26.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $30.00 target price (up previously from $27.00) on shares of SLM in a report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of SLM from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, SLM presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $28.64.

SLM Stock Up 4.0 %

SLM stock opened at $30.46 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.61, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $27.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.83. SLM has a twelve month low of $18.84 and a twelve month high of $31.49.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The credit services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.06). SLM had a return on equity of 35.92% and a net margin of 22.18%. As a group, research analysts expect that SLM will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at SLM

In other news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 4,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.25, for a total transaction of $122,625.00. Following 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of SLM

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in SLM during the third quarter worth $31,000. Waldron Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SLM during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in SLM by 358.7% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,094 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of SLM in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in SLM by 110.3% during the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 4,404 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 2,310 shares in the last quarter. 98.94% of the stock is 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.