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Navient (NAVI) Gains From Cost Control, Inorganic Growth Efforts
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Navient Corporation (NAVI - Free Report) continues to benefit from its strong position in the educational loan industry as well as cost-control efforts. Further, the company’s plans to bolster the top line through new loan originations and strengthening the business processing segment bodes well.
The company’s earnings estimates have been revised 32.1% upward for the current year, over the past 60 days. As a result, the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), at present.
Shares of the company have gained 97% in the past six months compared with 60.5% growth recorded by the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Navient is the biggest portfolio holder of Private Education Loans and education loans insured or guaranteed under the FFELP. Also, its efforts to fortify the asset recovery and business process outsourcing capabilities are likely to aid the top line. Further, the company continues to deploy its technology platform and digital marketing tools to attract originations that bode well for financials.
Moreover, Navient’s involvement in inorganic growth strategies to improve its business seems impressive. In 2017, the company acquired Earnest and Duncan Solutions, which helped the lender extend its reach beyond educational loans. Thus, its efforts to tap growth opportunities are likely to enhance the business.
Its cost-control efforts are encouraging, as it witnessed stable expenses in the last three years (ended 2019) despite incurring restructuring expenses. Navient seeks to improve operating efficiency by undertaking cost-control initiatives. Notably, costs declined in 2020 on lower operating expenses. We expect such efforts to support the company’s bottom-line growth.
Furthermore, the stock seems undervalued as its price-to-book (P/B) and price-to-earnings (P/E) (F1) ratios are below the respective industry averages. Additionally, it has a Value Score of B.
However, the company faces re-pricing risks related to its assets. This is because interest earned on FFELP loans and private education loans is primarily indexed to 1-month LIBOR rates and either 1-month LIBOR rates or 1-month Prime rates, respectively, whereas cost of funds is primarily indexed to 3-month LIBOR rates.
Bank of Hawaii Corporation’s (BOH - Free Report) shares have gained 15.5% so far this year. Further, the company’s earnings estimates for the ongoing year have moved 15.8% north in the past 60 days. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF - Free Report) has witnessed 26.2% upward estimates revision for the current year in the past 60 days. Shares of this Zacks #2 Ranked stock have gained 40.8% so far this year.
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Navient (NAVI) Gains From Cost Control, Inorganic Growth Efforts
Navient Corporation (NAVI - Free Report) continues to benefit from its strong position in the educational loan industry as well as cost-control efforts. Further, the company’s plans to bolster the top line through new loan originations and strengthening the business processing segment bodes well.
The company’s earnings estimates have been revised 32.1% upward for the current year, over the past 60 days. As a result, the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), at present.
Shares of the company have gained 97% in the past six months compared with 60.5% growth recorded by the industry.
Navient is the biggest portfolio holder of Private Education Loans and education loans insured or guaranteed under the FFELP. Also, its efforts to fortify the asset recovery and business process outsourcing capabilities are likely to aid the top line. Further, the company continues to deploy its technology platform and digital marketing tools to attract originations that bode well for financials.
Moreover, Navient’s involvement in inorganic growth strategies to improve its business seems impressive. In 2017, the company acquired Earnest and Duncan Solutions, which helped the lender extend its reach beyond educational loans. Thus, its efforts to tap growth opportunities are likely to enhance the business.
Its cost-control efforts are encouraging, as it witnessed stable expenses in the last three years (ended 2019) despite incurring restructuring expenses. Navient seeks to improve operating efficiency by undertaking cost-control initiatives. Notably, costs declined in 2020 on lower operating expenses. We expect such efforts to support the company’s bottom-line growth.
Furthermore, the stock seems undervalued as its price-to-book (P/B) and price-to-earnings (P/E) (F1) ratios are below the respective industry averages. Additionally, it has a Value Score of B.
However, the company faces re-pricing risks related to its assets. This is because interest earned on FFELP loans and private education loans is primarily indexed to 1-month LIBOR rates and either 1-month LIBOR rates or 1-month Prime rates, respectively, whereas cost of funds is primarily indexed to 3-month LIBOR rates.
Stocks to Consider
Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL - Free Report) witnessed a 19.6% upward estimate revision in the past 60 days. The company’s shares have rallied 70.6% so far this year. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks (Strong Buy) here.
Bank of Hawaii Corporation’s (BOH - Free Report) shares have gained 15.5% so far this year. Further, the company’s earnings estimates for the ongoing year have moved 15.8% north in the past 60 days. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF - Free Report) has witnessed 26.2% upward estimates revision for the current year in the past 60 days. Shares of this Zacks #2 Ranked stock have gained 40.8% so far this year.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
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