•
Dec 31, 2019

SLM Q4 2019 Earnings Report

Sallie Mae reported fourth-quarter earnings.

Key Takeaways

Sallie Mae reported a GAAP net income attributable to common stock of $137 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019. The company plans $3 billion of private education loan sales to fund expected $600 million in share repurchases in 2020.

Net interest income increased to $419 million, up 9% from the prior year.

Private education loan originations totaled $717 million, a decrease of 2% from the prior year.

Average private education loans outstanding were $23.2 billion, up 13.8% from the prior year.

Non-GAAP Operating Efficiency Ratio was 33.6%.

Total Revenue
$419M
Previous year: $383M
+9.5%
EPS
$0.33
Previous year: $0.31
+6.5%
Net Interest Margin
5.41%
Private Ed Loan Originations
$717M
CET1 Risk-Based Capital
12.2%
Cash and Equivalents
$5.56B
Previous year: $2.56B
+117.4%
Total Assets
$32.7B
Previous year: $26.6B
+22.7%

SLM

SLM

Forward Guidance

For 2020, the company expects full-year diluted ā€œCore Earningsā€ per share of $1.85 - $1.91 and full-year Private Education Loan originations year-over-year growth of 6%.

Positive Outlook

  • Full-year diluted ā€œCore Earningsā€ per share of $1.85 - $1.91
  • Full-year provisions for credit losses of $285 million - $305 million
  • Full-year total portfolio net charge-offs of $275 million - $285 million
  • Full-year Private Education Loan originations year-over-year growth of 6%
  • Full-year non-interest expenses of $570 million - $580 million

Challenges Ahead

  • Impact of CECL on the provisions for credit losses
  • Company discontinued new Personal Loan originations in the fourth quarter of 2019
  • Company expects to sell approximately $3 billion in loans in 2020, dependent upon market conditions.
  • Company expects to remain well capitalized during the phase-in of regulatory capital following the implementation of CECL
  • Implementation of CECL will have a material impact on how the company records and reports its financial condition and results of operations and on regulatory capital