Fintel reports that on October 3, 2023, Morgan Stanley maintained coverage of SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) with a Overweight recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 41.50% Upside
As of August 31, 2023, the average one-year price target for SLM is 18.78. The forecasts range from a low of 16.16 to a high of $21.00. The average price target represents an increase of 41.50% from its latest reported closing price of 13.27.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for SLM is 1,468MM, an increase of 30.35%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 2.64.
SLM Declares $0.11 Dividend
On July 25, 2023 the company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share ($0.44 annualized). Shareholders of record as of September 1, 2023 received the payment on September 15, 2023. Previously, the company paid $0.11 per share.
At the current share price of $13.27 / share, the stock's dividend yield is 3.32%.
Looking back five years and taking a sample every week, the average dividend yield has been 1.90%, the lowest has been 0.59%, and the highest has been 5.42%. The standard deviation of yields is 1.08 (n=236).
The current dividend yield is 1.31 standard deviations above the historical average.
Additionally, the company's dividend payout ratio is 0.26. The payout ratio tells us how much of a company's income is paid out in dividends. A payout ratio of one (1.0) means 100% of the company's income is paid in a dividend. A payout ratio greater than one means the company is dipping into savings in order to maintain its dividend - not a healthy situation. Companies with few growth prospects are expected to pay out most of their income in dividends, which typically means a payout ratio between 0.5 and 1.0. Companies with good growth prospects are expected to retain some earnings in order to invest in those growth prospects, which translates to a payout ratio of zero to 0.5.
The company's 3-Year dividend growth rate is 2.67%, demonstrating that it has increased its dividend over time.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 766 funds or institutions reporting positions in SLM. This is a decrease of 46 owner(s) or 5.67% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to SLM is 0.22%, an increase of 0.79%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 7.68% to 252,769K shares. 
The put/call ratio of SLM is 0.75, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Impactive Capital holds 20,000K shares representing 8.85% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 23,544K shares, representing a decrease of 17.72%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SLM by 16.80% over the last quarter.
Massachusetts Financial Services holds 15,876K shares representing 7.02% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 18,118K shares, representing a decrease of 14.12%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SLM by 11.16% over the last quarter.
Ubs Asset Management Americas holds 14,206K shares representing 6.28% ownership of the company. No change in the last quarter.
Boston Partners holds 10,011K shares representing 4.43% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 10,195K shares, representing a decrease of 1.84%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SLM by 216.86% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 7,526K shares representing 3.33% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 7,390K shares, representing an increase of 1.80%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SLM by 23.76% over the last quarter.
SLM Background Information
(This description is provided by the company.)
Sallie Mae believes education and life-long learning, in all forms, help people achieve great things. As the leader in private student lending, the company provides financing and know-how to support access to college and offer products and resources to help customers make new goals and experiences, beyond college, happen.
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.
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