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Navient (NAVI) Soars to 52-Week High, Time to Cash Out?

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Have you been paying attention to shares of Navient (NAVI - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 16.8% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $17.1 in the previous session. Navient has gained 71.8% since the start of the year compared to the 16.5% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 38.5% return for the Zacks Financial - Consumer Loans industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 27, 2021, Navient reported EPS of $1.71 versus consensus estimate of $0.78.

For the current fiscal year, Navient is expected to post earnings of $3.83 per share on $1.05 billion in revenues. This represents a 18.21% change in EPS on a -19.84% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $3.33 per share on $985.95 million in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of -13.1% and -5.75%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

Navient may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Navient has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 4.4X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 4.8X versus its peer group's average of 7.1X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Navient currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Navient meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Navient shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.


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