NNI vs SLM vs NAVI

For growth investors, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the stronger pick with 4.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the better valuation at 6. 5x trailing P/E (7. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SLM Corporation (SLM) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, SLM Corporation is actually cheaper at 7.

2x.

Over the past 5 years, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) delivered a total return of +92. 2%, compared to -29. 8% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NNI returned +288. 4% versus NAVI's +15. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus SLM Corporation's 1. 13β — meaning SLM is approximately 92% more volatile than NNI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SLM Corporation (SLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 19% for Navient Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SLM Corporation (SLM) is pulling ahead at 4.

1% versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SLM Corporation grew EPS 29. 1% year-over-year, compared to -168. 6% for Navient Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 4% net margin versus -2. 5% for Navient Corporation — meaning it keeps 32. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NAVI leads at 77. 1% versus 0. 0% for NNI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NAVI leads at 87. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, SLM Corporation (SLM) trades at 7.

2x forward P/E versus 15. 3x for Nelnet, Inc. — 8. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLM: 30. 9% to $29. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the highest yield at 15. 0%, versus 2. 9% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 59), 2. 9% yield, +288. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NNI: +288. 4%, SLM: +274. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: NNI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SLM is a small-cap deep-value stock; NAVI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.