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Sallie Mae Q3 Earnings Lag on Higher Expenses, Provisions Decline Y/Y
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Key Takeaways
Sallie Mae's Q3 EPS of $0.63 missed estimates but improved from last year's loss.
Higher expenses offset gains from rising net interest and non-interest income.
Provisions for credit losses fell 33.8% year over year, easing some pressure.
Sallie Mae (SLM - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of 63 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company reported a loss of 23 cents per share.
The quarterly results were affected by an increase in expenses. Nonetheless, a rise in net interest income (NII) and non-interest income, along with lower provisions for credit losses, offered some support.
The company’s GAAP net income was $136 million against the net loss of $45 million in the prior-year quarter.
Sallie Mae’s NII & Expenses Rise
Third-quarter NII totaled $372.9 million, up 3.8% year over year. However, the reported figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%. The quarterly net interest margin was 5.18%, up 18 basis points from the prior-year quarter's level.
Non-interest income amounted to $172.7 million, significantly up from $24.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Non-interest expenses rose 4.9% year over year to $180.4 million.
SLM’s Credit Quality: Mixed Bag
Provision for credit losses was $179.4 million, down 33.8% million from the prior-year quarter.
Net charge-offs for private education loans were $78 million, up 1.3% year over year.
Private education loans held for investment net charge-offs, as a percentage of average private education loans held for investment in repayment (annualized), were 1.95%. The figure contracted 13 basis points year over year.
Sallie Mae’s Balance Sheet Position: Mixed Bag
As of Sept. 30, 2025, deposits were $20 billion, down 2.3% sequentially.
Private education loans held for investment were $21.6 billion, up 5.6% from the prior-year quarter.
In the reported quarter, the company’s private education loan originations increased 6% from the year-ago quarter.
SLM’s Share Repurchase Update
In the third quarter, SLM repurchased 5.6 million shares for $166 million under its 2024 share buyback program.
Sallie Mae’s 2025 Outlook Reaffirmed
The company expects diluted earnings per share in the range of $3.20-$3.30.
SLM anticipates total loan portfolio net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment of 2.0%-2.2%.
Private education loan originations are expected to grow 5%-6% year over year.
SLM’s non-interest expenses are expected to be in the range of $655-$675 million.
Final Thoughts on SLM
Sallie Mae’s overall financial performance seems decent. Robust loan origination, a rise in net interest income, and higher non-interest income were encouraging. However, a rise in expenses is a major near-term headwind.
Hancock Whitney Corp.’s (HWC - Free Report) third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41. Further, the bottom line rose 12% from the prior-year quarter.
HWC’s results benefited from an increase in non-interest income and net interest income (NII) alongside lower provisions. Also, higher loans were another positive. However, higher adjusted expenses alongside lower deposit balances were headwinds.
Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $1.46, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.36 per share. This compares favorably with earnings of $1.23 per share a year ago.
SNV’s results benefited from strong year-over-year growth in NII and non-interest revenues, along with a fall in provisions for credit losses. Also, improving loan balances was a tailwind. However, an increase in expenses was a major headwind.
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Sallie Mae Q3 Earnings Lag on Higher Expenses, Provisions Decline Y/Y
Key Takeaways
Sallie Mae (SLM - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of 63 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company reported a loss of 23 cents per share.
The quarterly results were affected by an increase in expenses. Nonetheless, a rise in net interest income (NII) and non-interest income, along with lower provisions for credit losses, offered some support.
The company’s GAAP net income was $136 million against the net loss of $45 million in the prior-year quarter.
Sallie Mae’s NII & Expenses Rise
Third-quarter NII totaled $372.9 million, up 3.8% year over year. However, the reported figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%. The quarterly net interest margin was 5.18%, up 18 basis points from the prior-year quarter's level.
Non-interest income amounted to $172.7 million, significantly up from $24.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Non-interest expenses rose 4.9% year over year to $180.4 million.
SLM’s Credit Quality: Mixed Bag
Provision for credit losses was $179.4 million, down 33.8% million from the prior-year quarter.
Net charge-offs for private education loans were $78 million, up 1.3% year over year.
Private education loans held for investment net charge-offs, as a percentage of average private education loans held for investment in repayment (annualized), were 1.95%. The figure contracted 13 basis points year over year.
Sallie Mae’s Balance Sheet Position: Mixed Bag
As of Sept. 30, 2025, deposits were $20 billion, down 2.3% sequentially.
Private education loans held for investment were $21.6 billion, up 5.6% from the prior-year quarter.
In the reported quarter, the company’s private education loan originations increased 6% from the year-ago quarter.
SLM’s Share Repurchase Update
In the third quarter, SLM repurchased 5.6 million shares for $166 million under its 2024 share buyback program.
Sallie Mae’s 2025 Outlook Reaffirmed
The company expects diluted earnings per share in the range of $3.20-$3.30.
SLM anticipates total loan portfolio net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment of 2.0%-2.2%.
Private education loan originations are expected to grow 5%-6% year over year.
SLM’s non-interest expenses are expected to be in the range of $655-$675 million.
Final Thoughts on SLM
Sallie Mae’s overall financial performance seems decent. Robust loan origination, a rise in net interest income, and higher non-interest income were encouraging. However, a rise in expenses is a major near-term headwind.
SLM Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
SLM Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | SLM Corporation Quote
Currently, SLM carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performances of Other Banks
Hancock Whitney Corp.’s (HWC - Free Report) third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41. Further, the bottom line rose 12% from the prior-year quarter.
HWC’s results benefited from an increase in non-interest income and net interest income (NII) alongside lower provisions. Also, higher loans were another positive. However, higher adjusted expenses alongside lower deposit balances were headwinds.
Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $1.46, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.36 per share. This compares favorably with earnings of $1.23 per share a year ago.
SNV’s results benefited from strong year-over-year growth in NII and non-interest revenues, along with a fall in provisions for credit losses. Also, improving loan balances was a tailwind. However, an increase in expenses was a major headwind.