Sallie Mae Stock Down 15% in a Year, and One Fund Just Dumped Its $5.5 Million Stake

Core Insights - Helix Partners Management LP sold its entire 200,000-share stake in SLM Corporation for approximately $5.54 million, indicating a shift in investment strategy [2][7]. Company Overview - SLM Corporation specializes in providing private education loans and related financial services to students and families in the U.S., generating revenue primarily from interest income and servicing fees [6][10]. - The company reported a total revenue of $1.98 billion and a net income of $744.85 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4]. Financial Performance - SLM Corporation's diluted earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 was $3.46, with a fourth-quarter EPS of $1.12 [7]. - The company has a net interest margin of 5.21% and an efficiency ratio of 34.6%, reflecting solid operational performance [7]. - As of February 12, 2026, SLM shares were priced at $24.76, representing a 14.6% decline over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 27.5 percentage points [9]. Credit Metrics - Delinquencies increased to 4.0% of loans in repayment from 3.7% a year earlier, indicating a normalization of credit conditions [8]. - The company anticipates net charge-offs between $345 million and $385 million in 2026, which may limit growth potential [8]. Strategic Actions - Management has authorized a new $500 million share repurchase program after previously buying back 12.8 million shares for $373 million in 2025, indicating confidence in the company's value [7]. - The reduction of Helix Partners' stake from 3.18% to 0.70% suggests a prioritization of capital returns and credit metrics over short-term trading [11].