Short interest for SLM gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of SLM's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

SLM Stock (NASDAQ:SLM), Short Interest Report

SLM Corp is the largest student lender in the country. It makes and holds student loans through the guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program as well as through private channels. It also engages in debt-management operations, including accounts receivable and collections services, and runs college savings programs.

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Across the recent three months, 5 analysts have shared their insights on SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $24.4, with a high estimate of $28.00 and a low estimate of $22.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 7.02% from the previous average price target of $22.80.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714075248_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of SLM by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Richard Shane</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Chiaverini</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Kaye</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Shane</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to SLM. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of SLM compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of SLM's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of SLM's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on SLM analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind SLM</h2>
SLM Corp is the largest student lender in the country. It makes and holds student loans through the guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program as well as through private channels. It also engages in debt-management operations, including accounts receivable and collections services, and runs college savings programs.
<h3>Breaking Down SLM's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Growth: SLM's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 December, 2023, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 29.99%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: SLM's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 36.96%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): SLM's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 10.3% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): SLM's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 0.56%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: SLM's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 3.21, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

The Analyst Landscape: 5 Takes On SLM

JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $22 to $23.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on SLM, Raises Price Target to $23

RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $24 to $25.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on SLM, Raises Price Target to $25

As of April 25, 2024, three stocks in the financial sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.  
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Barclays PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On April 25, Barclays posted a first-quarter GAAP EPS of 52 cents. The company's stock gained around 4% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BCS">52-week high of</a> $9.98.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 70.48&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>BCS Price Action: Shares of Barclays fell 1% to close at $9.60 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">SLM Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On April 24, SLM posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The company's stock gained around 6% over the past five days and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM">has a 52-week high</a> of $22.21.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 71.88</li>
<li>SLM Price Action: Shares of SLM gained 0.8% to close at $22.10 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On April 19, American Express said first-quarter revenue (net of interest expense) grew 11% year-on-year to $15.80 billion, marginally beating the consensus of $15.79 billion. Chair and CEO Stephen J. Squeri said, "Our fee-based products accounted for around 70 percent of the new account acquisitions we saw in the quarter, and we continue to see strong demand from Millennial and Gen Z consumers, who accounted for over 60 percent of new consumer account acquisitions globally. Our credit metrics remain best in class." The company's stock gained around 10% over the past five days and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP">52-week high</a> of $240.55.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 73.04</li>
<li>AXP Price Action: Shares of American Express gained 0.1% to close at $239.12 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38402061/jim-cramer-says-this-energy-stock-is-terrific-calls-caseys-general-stores-a-winner">Jim Cramer Says This Energy Stock Is &#8216;Terrific,&#8217; Calls Casey&#8217;s General Stores A &#8216;Winner&#8217;</a>

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Rosenblatt raised the price target for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) from $520 to $562. Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett maintained a Buy rating. Meta Platforms shares fell 0.5% to close at $493.50 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this </a>stock.</li>
<li>Wedbush boosted the price target for SLM Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) from $26 to $28. Wedbush analyst David Chiaverini maintained an Outperform rating. SLM shares rose 0.8% to close at $22.10 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer lowered Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) price target from $415 to $370. Oppenheimer analyst Michael Wiederhorn maintained an Outperform rating. Humana shares fell 3.7% to close at $315.98 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HUM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>DA Davidson cut the price target for Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HELE#NASDAQ">HELE</a>) from $151 to $139. DA Davidson analyst Linda Bolton Weiser maintained a Buy rating. Helen of Troy shares fell 9.5% to close at $90.71 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HELE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. cut Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) price target from $325 to $300. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Andrew Fein maintained a Buy rating. Biogen shares rose 4.6% to close at $201.99 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BIIB/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna cut Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>) price target from $880 to $850. Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini maintained a Neutral rating. Lam Research shares fell 0.3% to close at $884.89 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LRCX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird raised the price target for Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>) from $125 to $175. Baird analyst Tristan Gerra maintained a Neutral rating. Texas Instruments shares gained 5.6% to close at $174.81 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TXN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wedbush raised Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) price target from $2,850 to $3,200. Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan maintained a Neutral rating. Chipotle shares rose 0.4% to close at $2,926.76 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CMG/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities lowered Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DECK#NYSE">DECK</a>) price target from $875 to $860. B of A Securities analyst Christopher Nardone downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral. Deckers Outdoor shares rose 2.7% to close at $851.71 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DECK/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank boosted Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) price target from $467 to $487. Deutsche Bank analyst Scott Deuschle maintained a Hold rating. Lockheed Martin shares fell 0.2% to close at $459.14 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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Wedbush analyst David Chiaverini maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $26 to $28.

Wedbush Maintains Outperform on SLM, Raises Price Target to $28

Guidance

SLM Sees FY24 EPS $2.60-$2.70 Vs $2.69 Est

SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.27 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.07 by 18.69 percent. This is a 170.21 percent increase over earnings of $0.47 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $387.00 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $387.89 million by 0.23 percent. This is a 4.46 percent decrease over sales of $405.07 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

SLM Q1 Adj $1.27 Beats $1.07 Estimate, Sales $387.00M Miss $387.89M Estimate

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Kaye maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $22 to $24.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on SLM, Raises Price Target to $24

President Joe Biden is canceling yet another round of student loan debt amounting to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/student-loans">more than $7.4 billion</a>. 
What Happened: Roughly another 277,000 borrowers, especially public sector workers, are expected to benefit from the revised plan. 
Among the changes that are a part of the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan, include:
<ul>
<li>An income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which bases monthly payment on income and family size.</li>
<li>Payments will now be based on a smaller portion of adjusted gross income.</li>
<li>If you make your full monthly payment, but it is not enough to cover the accrued monthly interest, the government covers the rest of the interest that accrued that month. </li>
<li>This means that the SAVE Plan prevents your balance from growing due to unpaid interest.</li>
<li>As of February, borrowers with $12,000 or less are forgiven after as few as 10 years.</li>
</ul>
More elements of SAVE will go into effect this summer.
The announcement was a follow-up from Monday, April 8, when Biden touted renewed efforts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/04/38112671/as-biden-readies-another-large-scale-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-here-are-stocks-to-watch">offer relief to debt-saddled individuals and families</a>.
&#8220;Too many people feel the strain and stress, wondering if they can get married, have their first child, start a family, because even if they get by, they still have this crushing, crushing debt,&#8221; he said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38158266/joe-biden-and-japans-pm-to-discuss-high-speed-rail-proposal-for-texas-at-summit-report">Joe Biden And Japan&#8217;s PM Discuss High-Speed Rail Proposal For Texas At Summit</a>
Why It Matters: More than 4 million people will benefit from the debt relief.
In total, the Biden administration has OKed some $153 billion in student loan debt — over 9% of all outstanding federal student loan debt.
The plan is not without its Republican critics. GOP officials like Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr say Biden is defying the conservative-leaning Supreme Court. 
Last year, Supreme Justices ruled against Biden&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35482019/biden-has-canceled-billions-in-student-loans-even-after-the-supreme-court-ruled-against-him">original loan forgiveness plan</a>.
Two groups of Republican-led states have even <a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-debt-cancellation-college-forgiveness-f94b9706bd395b32e44d4d1b3f6ff051">filed</a> lawsuits against the Biden administration over the initiative.
&#8220;Despite the Court having already settled this issue, the Biden administration continues to brazenly violate the law,&#8221; Carr <a href="https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-04-09/carr-files-suit-against-president-bidens-latest-lawless-student-loan-plan">said</a>. &#8220;Georgia taxpayers have made it clear that they know it's wrong to be forced to pay off other people's student loans, particularly those with the highest earning potential. This is election-year politics and an egregious example of federal overreach, and we're fighting back yet again.&#8221;
The Education Department clapped back, pointing out how Congress gave the agency power to define terms of repayment plans <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2055/text">in 1993</a>.
&#8220;The Biden-Harris Administration won't stop fighting to provide support and relief to borrowers across the country — no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us,&#8221; the department said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/04/38213007/trumps-changing-stance-on-abortion-arizona-ruling-bring-2024-election-topic-front-and-center-how">How Biden&#8217;s Campaign Is Targeting Trump&#8217;s Changing Stance On Abortion</a>
What&#8217;s Next: Expect Biden to contrast his student loan forgiveness program with the education policies of his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-presidential-election">2024 presidential opponent</a>, former President Donald Trump. 
During a speech in Wisconsin this week, Biden made a subtle jab at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33851310/donald-trump-election-fraud-probe-georgia-grand-jury-reportedly-issues-10-indictments">quadruple-indicted GOP candidate</a>.
&#8220;We plan to cancel debt for borrowers who were cheated by universities that left students with unaffordable and little benefits for students,&#8221; Biden said. &#8220;You know one of those colleges was closed&#8230; I won&#8217;t mention it.&#8221;
The crowd laughed, seemingly in on Biden&#8217;s joke. Trump shut down Trump University in 2011 after multiple investigations, lawsuits and student complaints.
See below.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Biden cancels another round of student debt for over 200,000 more borrowers" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/22GK7wgXlbk?start=174&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
In 2018, a New York judge <a href="https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2018/ag-schneiderman-statement-final-trump-university-settlement">finalized</a> a $25 million settlement between Trump and the Trump University victims. 
Tickers To Watch: Several student loan-related tickers were in the red on Friday.
<ul>
<li>SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>) saw its stock price dip more than 1.96% to $7.49&nbsp;a share as of press time. </li>
<li>SLM Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) was also in the red, trading at $20.70 a share — down by 1.4%.</li>
<li>Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>), currently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/23/09/34618431/is-discover-financial-in-crisis-it-mulls-student-loan-business-sale-after-ceo-resignation">selling its student-loan unit</a>, is down by 1.05% and trading at $121.65 a share.</li>
<li>Navient Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAVI#NASDAQ">NAVI</a>) stock price was down 0.81%, trading at $16.52 a share. </li>
</ul>
At least one student loan servicing company was in the green: Nelnet Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNI#NYSE">NNI</a>). At last check, the Lincoln, Nebraska-based firm was up more than 0.27%, trading at $94.58.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38219940/biden-beats-trumps-record-blacklists-more-chinese-entities-than-ex-president">Biden Beats Trump&#8217;s Record &#8211; Blacklists More Chinese Entities Than Ex-President</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Biden Wipes More Than $7M In Student Debt For 277K Borrowers: 'Too Many People Feel The Strain And Stress'

The White House announced this week a new attempt <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/04/38112671/as-biden-readies-another-large-scale-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-here-are-stocks-to-watch">to forgive student debt to almost 30 million Americans</a>.
For 30 years, college tuition prices have increased faster than median incomes. As a result, college graduates are saddled with heavy student debt, impacting their ability to buy homes, start a family, travel, invest or build savings.
This has become an increasingly complex problem for lower- and middle-income Americans.
The Biden administration is now revising a post-pandemic measure that attempted to wipe out $400 billion of student debt, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/33080745/supreme-court-strikes-down-bidens-student-debt-relief-stocks-to-watch">but was blocked last year by the Supreme Court</a>.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38134467/trump-vs-biden-in-surprising-trend-one-candidate-is-gaining-favor-among-younger-voters-over-other">In the context of the 2024 election</a>, the new proposal can be read as a final effort to win the hearts of a significant portion of the population who currently struggles with student debt.
Student debt is not only kept by fresh graduates. The average debt for those aged 35 to 49 is over $42,000 and over $44,000 for those 50 to 61, who add up to about 21 million people between both groups.
With this new, more moderate plan, the administration is hoping to avoid an unconstitutionality ruling by targeting more specific groups of borrowers instead of the entire cohort.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/us/politics/biden-student-debt-plan-explained.html">According</a> to the New York Times, the new plan will be published in the Federal Register and go through a public comment period. 
It's not yet clear if the benefits will take effect before the November election, but some provision could begin to take effect by early fall, according to the administration.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Impact On Stocks</h3>
Most student debt in the U.S. is Federal. But private student loans account for 7.5% of all U.S. student loans as of September last year.
That's a significant amount considering that the total federal student loan currently amounts to $1.7 trillion, according to the Department of Education.
Outstanding student debt owed to private companies is above $130 billion, according to Entreval Analytics.
Better accessibility to federal loans, as well as easier repayment structures, could steal market share from private lenders, and potentially affect their stock prices.
As of Tuesday&#8217;s close:
<ul>
<li>Shares of SLM Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>), also known as Sallie Mae, one of the largest providers of private student loans, was down 1.02%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SoFi Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), which provides student loan refinancing services as well as many other types of borrowing, saw its shares rise by 1.68% on Tuesday, presumably unaffected by the Biden announcement.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navient Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAVI#NASDAQ">NAVI</a>), which manages around $300 billion in student loans for more than 12 million debtors, was down 0.47% on Tuesday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>), parent company of Discover Bank, which also provides student debt refinancing services, was down 0.29%. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Citizens Financial Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>) providing similar services, was up 0.14%.</li>
</ul>
Sallie Mae and Sofi didn't respond to a request for comment on how the new plan might affect their business operations.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Details Behind Biden's New Debt Relief Plan</h3>
With college prices growing 56% in public universities in the last two decades, President Joe Biden is proposing a two-part plan. Those already in debt may receive student debt relief, and benefit from new measures that aim to ease the cost of borrowing for future students.
About 4 million borrowers could see their entire debts completely wiped out, adding to the 4 million that have already received some form of relief, according to the administration, from more than two dozen executive actions. 
These include people who have applied to existing debt forgiveness programs as well as those who qualify <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/07/33466892/biden-administrations-save-plan-beta-website-for-student-loan-repayment-to-be-launched-next-month">for SAVE, which was launched in August last year</a>. It could also apply to those who began repaying their debts more than 20 years ago.
Borrowers who are having trouble repaying their debts because of medical debt or childcare costs could also receive relief.
Student debt could also be canceled for those who enrolled in "low-financial-value programs" like students whose institutions closed half-way through their tuition or those in institutions that were shut down for not providing sufficient value to students.
Invoking a George W. Bush law from 2003 called the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (Heroes) Act, the Biden Administration tried to forgive $400 billion in student debt relief for over 40 million borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June 2023, the conservative Supreme Court <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/33080745/supreme-court-strikes-down-bidens-student-debt-relief-stocks-to-watch">struck down those efforts</a>.
Shutterstock image.

Personal Finance

General

30 Million Could Benefit From Biden's New Student Debt Relief Plan — But 5 Public Companies Might Suffer

President Joe Biden isn&#8217;t reneging on promises to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/student-loans">cancel student loan debt</a>. 
What Happened: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/biden-to-make-second-attempt-at-large-scale-student-loan-forgiveness-ef1da5fe?mod=hp_lead_pos3">According</a> to the Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration is expected to announce a renewed proposal to reduce or eliminate student loan debt for millions of borrowers.
The Journal, citing unnamed sources, expects Biden&#8217;s announcement to occur next week.
The move seemingly defies a decision by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35482019/biden-has-canceled-billions-in-student-loans-even-after-the-supreme-court-ruled-against-him">the Supreme Court, which overturned</a> the administration's first debt cancellation plan in 2023. That first attempt would have wiped up to $20,000 in student debt for borrowers making less than $125,000.
However, the Biden administration clapped back in February. It unveiled a forgiveness plan of about $1.2 billion in student loans, relieving <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/02/37231741/biden-forgives-1-2b-in-student-debt-for-150k-borrowers-hit-by-specific-issues">more than 150,000 borrowers</a>.
&#8220;Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration&#8217;s SAVE plan, starting today, the Administration will be cancelling debt for borrowers who are enrolled in the SAVE plan, have been in repayment for at least 10 years and took out $12,000 or less in loans for college,&#8221; the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-cancels-student-debt-for-more-than-150000-student-loan-borrowers-ahead-of-schedule/">announced</a> at the time.
The Biden administration&#8217;s program aims to ease the burden on Americans who have been repaying for at least a decade. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35482019/biden-has-canceled-billions-in-student-loans-even-after-the-supreme-court-ruled-against-him">Biden Has Canceled Billions In Student Loans — Even After The Supreme Court Ruled Against Him</a>
The total amount of relief approved by the Biden administration stands at nearly $138 billion. It benefits more than 4 million borrowers. 
This number may increase as more individuals become eligible for forgiveness under the SAVE program, which currently has 6.9 million participants.
Despite these efforts, they fall short of Biden's initial proposal for broader student loan cancellation, which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last year.
Why It Matters: In 2023, the administration agreed to forgive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/07/33231960/biden-administration-to-forgive-39b-in-student-debt-providing-relief-for-over-800k-borrowers">$39 billion in student debt</a> by updating a technical requirement under an existing program. 
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling against it, the administration flagged $127 billion of federal student loans for potential cancellation. 
According to EducationData.org, the average debt for a four-year bachelor's degree is $34,700. 
Tickers To Watch: Student loan collection companies, like SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), saw modest movement on Friday, April 5, on the heels of the news.
SoFi, which counts student loans as a significant chunk of the company&#8217;s total lending products, saw its stock price go up more than 0.85% to $7.37&nbsp;a share as of press time. 
SLM Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) was also in the green, trading at $21.12 a share — up by 0.31%.
Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>), rumored to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/23/09/34618431/is-discover-financial-in-crisis-it-mulls-student-loan-business-sale-after-ceo-resignation">selling its student-loan unit</a>, is up slightly by 0.1% and trading at $125.11 a share.
Meanwhile, Nelnet Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNI#NYSE">NNI</a>) and Navient Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAVI#NASDAQ">NAVI</a>) were both in the red. Nelnet was down more than 0.65%, trading at $93.05; Navient&#8217;s stock price was down 0.06%, trading at $16.86 a share. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/02/37227959/if-you-invested-1-000-in-donald-trump-nfts-heres-how-much-youd-have-today?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Invested $1,000 In Donald Trump NFTs, Here's How Much You'd Have Today</a>
Image: Shutterstock

As Biden Readies Another Large-Scale Student Loan Forgiveness Plan, Here Are Stocks To Watch

SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) has been analyzed by 4 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $23.0, a high estimate of $25.00, and a low estimate of $22.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 25.48% increase from the previous average price target of $18.33.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712167220_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive SLM is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Richard Shane</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arren Cyganovich</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Devries</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to SLM. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of SLM compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of SLM's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into SLM's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on SLM analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering SLM: A Closer Look</h2>
SLM Corp is the largest student lender in the country. It makes and holds student loans through the guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program as well as through private channels. It also engages in debt-management operations, including accounts receivable and collections services, and runs college savings programs.
<h3>Key Indicators: SLM's Financial Health</h3>
Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Revenue Growth: SLM's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 December, 2023, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 29.99%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: SLM's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 36.96% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): SLM's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 10.3%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): SLM's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 0.56%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21, SLM faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Forecasting The Future: 4 Analyst Projections For SLM

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Gordon Haskett cut the price target for Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dltr#NASDAQ">DLTR</a>) from $150 to $140. Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Dollar Tree shares fell 0.9% to close at $134.73 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DLTR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan increased the price target for SLM Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/slm#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) from $20 to $22. JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintained a Neutral rating. SLM shares fell 0.8% to close at $21.16 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Gordon Haskett slashed Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/five#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>) price target from $210 to $200. Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom downgraded the stock from Buy to Accumulate. Five Below shares fell 4.3% to close at $171.13 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FIVE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan raised the price target for American Express Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/axp#NYSE">AXP</a>) from $214 to $240. JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintained an Overweight rating. American Express shares fell 0.9% to close at $225.53 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities boosted Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/grmn#NYSE">GRMN</a>) price target from $120 to $165. B of A Securities analyst Ronald Epstein maintained a Neutral rating. Garmin shares fell 1.1% to close at $145.74 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GRMN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Baird increased Shopify Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/shop#NYSE">SHOP</a>) price target from $85 to $87. Baird analyst Colin Sebastian maintained an Outperform rating. Shopify shares fell 0.1% to close at $78.12 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHOP/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Telsey Advisory Group cut the price target for PVH Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pvh#NYSE">PVH</a>) from $155 to $140. Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintained an Outperform rating. PVH shares fell 22.2% to close at $108.68 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PVH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity cut Nuvei Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvei#NASDAQ">NVEI</a>) price target from $40 to $34. Canaccord Genuity analyst Joseph Vafi downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Nuvei shares fell 0.5% to close at $32.26 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVEI/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods raised Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/coin#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) price target from $160 to $230. Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Kyle Voigt maintained a Market Perform rating. Coinbase shares fell 2.5% to close at $245.84 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COIN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>HSBC cut Globant S.A. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/glob#NYSE">GLOB</a>) price target from $275 to $270. HSBC analyst Phani Kanumuri maintained a Buy rating. Globant shares fell 2% to close at $197.72 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLOB/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38062517/investor-sentiment-declines-dow-falls-for-second-session"> Investor Sentiment Declines, Dow Falls For Second Session </a>

COIN

DLTR

FIVE

GLOB

GRMN

NVEI

SHOP

Shopify To Rally Around 12%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday

JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $20 to $22.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on SLM, Raises Price Target to $22

SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) underwent analysis by 9 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $20.28, with a high estimate of $25.00 and a low estimate of $16.00. This upward trend is apparent, with the current average reflecting a 16.55% increase from the previous average price target of $17.40.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1706202071_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The perception of SLM by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arren Cyganovich</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Devries</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Shane</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vincent Caintic</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Chiaverini</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Kaye</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Devries</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Moshe Orenbuch</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$17.50</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to SLM. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of SLM compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of SLM's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of SLM's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on SLM analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About SLM</h2>
SLM Corp is the largest student lender in the country. It makes and holds student loans through the guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program as well as through private channels. It also engages in debt-management operations, including accounts receivable and collections services, and runs college savings programs.
<h3>Financial Milestones: SLM's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Challenges: SLM's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 30 September, 2023, the company experienced a decline of approximately -12.0%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: SLM's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 6.05%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): SLM's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 1.59%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.09%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: SLM's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 3.56, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Key Takeaways From SLM Analyst Ratings

RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintains SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $21 to $22.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on SLM, Raises Price Target to $22

SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) reported its Q4 earnings results on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 04:30 PM.
Here's what investors need to know about the announcement.
<h3>Earnings</h3>
SLM missed estimated earnings by 19.1%, reporting an EPS of $0.72 versus an estimate of $0.89.
Revenue was up $4.57 million from the same period last year.
<h3>Past Earnings Performance</h3>
Last quarter the company missed on EPS by $0.2 which was followed by a 1.31% increase in the share price the next day.
Here's a look at SLM's past performance:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q3 2023</th>
<th>Q2 2023</th>
<th>Q1 2023</th>
<th>Q4 2022</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>0.31</td>
<td>1.07</td>
<td>0.35</td>
<td>0.47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>0.11</td>
<td>1.10</td>
<td>0.47</td>
<td>-0.33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Revenue Estimate</td>
<td>361.81M</td>
<td>370.99M</td>
<td>375.43M</td>
<td>362.59M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Revenue Actual</td>
<td>384.63M</td>
<td>386.63M</td>
<td>405.07M</td>
<td>381.43M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

To track all earnings releases for SLM <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/earnings">visit their earnings calendar here.</a> 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SLM: Q4 Earnings Insights

Guidance&#x2A; For 2024, the company expects the following: • Full-year diluted Non-GAAP "Core Earnings" per common share of $2.60 - $2.70.&#x2A;&#x2A; • Full-year Private Education Loan originations year-over-year growth of 7% - 8%. • Full-year total loan portfolio net charge-offs of $340 million - $370 million, or 2.2% - 2.4% of average loans in repayment. • Full-year non-interest expenses of $635 million - $655 million

SLM Corporation Sees FY24 EPS $2.60-$2.70 Vs $2.73 Est.

SLM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.72 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.89 by 19.1 percent. This is a 318.18 percent increase over losses of $(0.33) per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $386.00 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $378.36 million by 2.02 percent. This is a 1.20 percent increase over sales of $381.43 million the same period last year.

SLM Q4 Adj $0.72 Misses $0.89 Estimate, Sales $386.00M Beat $378.36M Estimate

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Sallie Mae GAAP EPS of $1.27 beats by $0.19, revenue of $561M beats by $190.92M

SLM Corporation 2024 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
SLM (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/slm-stock-quote/">SLM</a>) just reported results for the first quarter of 2024.<ul><li>SLM reported earnings per share of $1.27. This was above the analyst estimate for EPS of $1.07.</li><li>The company reported revenue of $387.00 million.</li><li>This was 0.23% worse than the analyst estimate for revenue of $387.89 million.</li></ul><div>InvestorPlace Earnings is a project that leverages data from <a href="https://www.tradesmith.com">TradeSmith</a> to automate coverage of quarterly earnings reports. InvestorPlace Earnings distills key takeaways including earnings per share and revenue, as well as how a company stacks up to analyst estimates. These articles are published without human intervention, allowing us to inform our readers of the latest figures as quickly as possible. To report any concerns or inaccuracies, please contact us at <a href="mailto:editor@investorplace.com">editor@investorplace.com</a>.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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	The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/earning-results/2024/04/slm-stock-earnings-slm-for-q1-of-2024/">SLM Stock Earnings: SLM Beats EPS, Misses Revenue for Q1 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

SLM Stock Earnings: SLM Beats EPS, Misses Revenue for Q1 2024

SLM Corporation (SLM) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

In a report released yesterday, Sanjay Sakhrani from KBW maintained a Buy rating on SLM (SLM – Research Report), with a price target of $25.00. The...

SLM (SLM) Receives a Buy from KBW

In a report released today, David Chiaverini from Wedbush maintained a Buy rating on SLM (SLM – Research Report), with a price target of $28.00. Da...

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RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintained a Buy rating on SLM (SLM – Research Report) yesterday and set a price target of $25.00. The company's s...

RBC Capital Keeps Their Buy Rating on SLM (SLM)

Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Financial sector with new ratings on SLM (SLM – Research Report), Cvb Financial (CVBF – Research Report...

Analysts' Opinions Are Mixed on These Financial Stocks: SLM (SLM), Cvb Financial (CVBF) and First Bancorp Puerto Rico (FBP)

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