SLM

SLM · NASDAQ

$22.26+$0.69 (+3.20%)TodayMarket closed · Oct 20, 7:30 PM ET

Prev close $21.57

SLM analyst rating

HoldConsensus of 8 analysts over the last 12 months. 50% rate it a buy.

Strong buy0
Buy4
Hold3
Underperform1
Sell0

12-month price target · 12 analysts

Average $29.48 (+32.4% upside)

Low: $23.23
Now: $22.26
High: $36.75

Upgrades and downgrades

The latest rating actions, newest first

SLM analyst upgrades, downgrades and rating actions
Firm	Date	Action	Rating	Price target	Hit rate
Morgan Stanley	Oct 12, 2026	Upgrade	Equal-Weight → Overweight	$28.00 → $30.00	47%
JP Morgan	Oct 12, 2026	Maintains	Underweight	$25.00 → $22.00	56%
RBC Capital	Oct 9, 2026	Maintains	Outperform	$29.00 → $28.00	30%
Morgan Stanley	Jul 20, 2026	Maintains	Equal-Weight	$27.00 → $28.00	47%
JP Morgan	Jul 13, 2026	Maintains	Underweight	$24.00 → $25.00	56%
RBC Capital	Jul 10, 2026	Maintains	Outperform	$28.00 → $29.00	30%
Barclays	Jul 7, 2026	Downgrade	Overweight → Equal-Weight	$30.00 → $26.00	30%
Barclays	Apr 24, 2026	Maintains	Overweight	$27.00 → $30.00	30%
Morgan Stanley	Apr 16, 2026	Maintains	Equal-Weight	$29.00 → $26.00	47%
JP Morgan	Apr 9, 2026	Maintains	Underweight	$26.00 → $22.00	56%

The case for and against

Updated Jul 11, 2025

Bull case

SLM Corp demonstrated solid growth with Private Education Loan (PEL) balances reaching $20.9 billion, representing a 2.2% sequential increase and a 2.9% year-over-year growth, indicating a positive trend in loan origination despite seasonal softness. The company's borrower profile is strengthening, reflected in the increase in the average FICO score to 755 for new loans and a notable rise in the co-sign rate to 88%, which can enhance credit quality and lower risk exposure. Additionally, improved capital flexibility post-CECL phase-in positions SLM Corp favorably for consistent balance sheet growth and the ability to capitalize on future loan sales.

Bear case

SLM Corp reported a 1.8% sequential decrease in its deposits, falling to $21.1 billion, which signals potential liquidity concerns amid a challenging economic environment. Additionally, the Private Education Loan (PEL) yields declined by 25 basis points to 10.54%, indicating reduced profitability in its core lending business while facing pressures on net interest margin (NIM), which is expected to remain under pressure in the near term due to maturing lower-rate funding. Furthermore, ongoing uncertainty regarding student lending reform raises concerns about potential regulatory impacts, which could adversely affect loan volumes and enrollment activity, leading to higher delinquency and loss rates under a weakened macroeconomic scenario.

Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Market data is delayed at least 15 minutes and is provided without warranty. Analyst ratings, price targets and company data come from third-party sources. Past performance does not guarantee future results.