SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) Shares Sold by Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of SLM Co. (NASDAQ:SLM) by 29.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 528,792 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 219,558 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned about 0.25% of SLM worth $14,584,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC acquired a new position in shares of SLM in the 4th quarter valued at $140,442,000. Pertento Partners LLP acquired a new position in shares of SLM in the fourth quarter valued at about $48,451,000. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its holdings in shares of SLM by 17.0% in the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 32,000 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $883,000 after purchasing an additional 4,661 shares during the period. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of SLM in the fourth quarter worth about $536,000. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of SLM during the fourth quarter worth about $68,603,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.94% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert S. Strong sold 40,000 shares of SLM stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.57, for a total transaction of $1,142,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 43,163 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,233,166.91. This trade represents a 48.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of SLM from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of SLM from $34.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Compass Point increased their price target on SLM from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on SLM from $32.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on SLM from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $31.45.

SLM Trading Down 2.8 %

Shares of SLM stock opened at $28.90 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37. SLM Co. has a twelve month low of $19.39 and a twelve month high of $32.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.08 billion, a PE ratio of 10.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.23. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $29.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $26.49.

SLM (NASDAQ:SLM) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The credit services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.06). SLM had a net margin of 20.73% and a return on equity of 31.66%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that SLM Co. will post 3.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

SLM Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th were paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 5th. SLM’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.62%.

SLM Company Profile

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.