JSM
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$5.11B
5Y Perf.-18.6%
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Stock Comparison
JSM vs NNI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NNI
Nelnet, Inc.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$1.49B
5Y Perf.+184.9%
JSM vs NNI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | JSM | NNI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $5.11B | $1.49B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.11B | $822M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-60M | $428M |
| Gross Margin | 95.2% | — |
| Operating Margin | 81.7% | — |
| Forward P/E | — | 15.3x |
| Total Debt | $5.07B | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.10B | $2.64B |
JSM vs NNI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
JSM
NNI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | 100 | 81.4 | -18.6% |
| Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) | 100 | 284.9 | +184.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: JSM vs NNI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: JSM leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Nelnet, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
JSM
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543
The Banking Pick
JSM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth -18.4%, EPS growth -168.3%
- -18.4% NII/revenue growth vs NNI's -55.5%
- Better valuation composite
Best for: growth exposure
NNI
Nelnet, Inc.
The Banking Pick
NNI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.59, yield 2.9%
- 288.4% 10Y total return vs JSM's 66.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.59
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JSM | -18.4% NII/revenue growth vs NNI's -55.5% |
| Value | JSM | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | JSM | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs NNI's 0.9% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | NNI | Beta 0.59 vs JSM's 0.66 |
| Dividends | JSM | 3.4% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs NNI's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NNI | +34.2% vs JSM's +13.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JSM | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs NNI's 0.9% |
JSM vs NNI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
JSM vs NNI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNNILAGGINGJSM
JSMNavient Corporation S…
2leads
NNINelnet, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs JSMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
JSM2/3
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
JSM2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NNI5/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NNI6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NNI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JSM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JSM is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.1B annually — 3.8x NNI's $822M. NNI is the more profitable business, keeping 32.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JSM's -2.6%.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.1B | $822M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.4B | $726M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$60M | $428M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $323M | $267M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +95.2% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +81.7% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | +32.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | -9.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.5% | -6.4% |
JSM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
JSM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $1.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.1B | -$1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -22.74x | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 15.27x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.18x | -1.59x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.64x | 1.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.76x | 0.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.59x | — |
JSM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NNI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NNI delivers a 27.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $-2 for JSM. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JSM scores 6/9 vs NNI's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.5% | +27.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.1% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.6% | — |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.11x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | -$2.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $2.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.1B | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.48x | 0.97x |
NNI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NNI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NNI five years ago would be worth $19,218 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,479 for JSM. Over the past 12 months, NNI leads with a +34.2% total return vs JSM's +13.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NNI at 15.3% vs JSM's 7.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -5.5% | +9.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +13.5% | +34.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.5% | +53.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.8% | +92.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.3% | +288.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.9% | +15.3% |
NNI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NNI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NNI is the less volatile stock with a 0.59 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than JSM's 0.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NNI currently trades 97.3% from its 52-week high vs JSM's 90.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.66x | 0.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.65 | $144.38 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.30 | $105.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.3% | +97.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.1 | 61.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 17K | 138K |
NNI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — JSM and NNI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JSM as "Hold" and NNI as "Hold". For income investors, JSM offers the higher dividend yield at 3.45% vs NNI's 2.88%.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | NNINelnet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.50 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 3 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.4% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $4.05 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.2% | +4.7% |
Evenly matched — JSM and NNI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NNI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). JSM leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallNelnet, Inc. (NNI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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JSM vs NNI: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JSM or NNI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) is the stronger pick with -18.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). Analysts rate Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) a "Hold" — based on 2 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — JSM or NNI?
Over the past 5 years, Nelnet, Inc.
(NNI) delivered a total return of +92. 2%, compared to +4. 8% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NNI returned +288. 4% versus JSM's +66. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — JSM or NNI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nelnet, Inc.
(NNI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543's 0. 66β — meaning JSM is approximately 12% more volatile than NNI relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — JSM or NNI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) is pulling ahead at -18.
4% versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nelnet, Inc. grew EPS -100. 0% year-over-year, compared to -168. 3% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — JSM or NNI?
Nelnet, Inc.
(NNI) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 4% net margin versus -2. 6% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 — meaning it keeps 32. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JSM leads at 81. 7% versus 0. 0% for NNI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JSM leads at 95. 2%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — JSM or NNI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 2. 9% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI).
07Is JSM or NNI better for a retirement portfolio?
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%, JSM: +66. 3%), 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.
08What are the main differences between JSM and NNI?
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: JSM is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NNI is a small-cap quality compounder 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.
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