Trailing Dividend / Share
$4.05
Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) Dividend History
Income profile from 2007 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
3.1%
Payout Ratio
N/A
Unknown
Dividend Streak
12 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
Payout ratio data not available yet.
Consistency
12 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 1.7% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield3.1%
Trailing DPS$4.05
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings PayoutN/A
Earnings SafetyUnknown
FCF PayoutN/A
FCF SafetyUnknown
Piotroski F-Score3/9
Growth
Growth Streak12 years
3Y CAGR6.7%
5Y CAGR7.7%
Yield on Cost (5Y)1.7%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield5.0%
Total Shareholder Yield8.2%
1Y Total Return7.0%
5Y Total Return81.9%
Div Contribution (5Y)7.2%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$18,18710Y ago$36,76120Y ago$34,367
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (20 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Nelnet, Inc. has limited earnings payout data (Unknown).
Piotroski F-Score: 3/9 — weak financial health.
Growth Track Record
NNI has raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 6.7% and 5-year CAGR of 7.7%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, NNI returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 3.1% dividend yield, 5.0% buyback yield, 8.2% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 1.7% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 81.9%, with dividends contributing 7.2% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $36,761 today.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$5.36
Avg/Payment$0.2680
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026Latest | $0.3300 | — | 95.78% | Mar 13, 2026 |
| Dec 1, 2025 | $0.3300 | ↑ +10.0% | 91.59% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Sep 2, 2025 | $0.3000 | ↑ +7.1% | 89.52% | Sep 16, 2025 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | $0.2800 | — | 96.24% | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Feb 28, 2025 | $0.2800 | — | 91.51% | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | $0.2800 | — | 1.02% | Dec 16, 2024 |
| Aug 30, 2024 | $0.2800 | — | 96.90% | Sep 13, 2024 |
| May 31, 2024 | $0.2800 | — | 1.06% | Jun 14, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Student Loan Lending and Servicing
#3 yield in peer group
Div Yield
3.1%
#3 of 5
Safety
Unknown
— payout
Streak
12Y
7.7% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
8.2%
#3 of 5
Annual Dividend History
25 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.33 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.5% |
| 2025 | $1.19 | 6.3% | 4 | $0.00 | — | — | 1.7% |
| 2024 | $1.12 | 5.7% | 4 | $5.02 | 22.3% | 4.48x | 1.6% |
| 2023 | $1.06 | 8.2% | 4 | $2.39 | 44.4% | 2.25x | 1.5% |
| 2022 | $0.98 | 8.9% | 4 | $10.63 | 9.2% | 10.85x | 1.4% |
| 2021 | $0.90 | 9.8% | 4 | $10.20 | 8.8% | 11.33x | 1.3% |
| 2020 | $0.82 | 10.8% | 4 | $9.02 | 9.1% | 11.00x | 1.2% |
| 2019 | $0.74 | 12.1% | 4 | $3.54 | 20.9% | 4.78x | 1.1% |
| 2018 | $0.66 | 13.8% | 4 | $5.57 | 11.8% | 8.44x | 1.0% |
| 2017 | $0.58 | 16.0% | 4 | $4.14 | 14.0% | 7.14x | 0.8% |
See NNI's True Return
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Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does NNI pay per share?
Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $4.05 per share, with a current dividend yield of +3.1%. Payments are made Annual.
When is NNI's next ex-dividend date?
NNI's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. NNI typically pays dividends Annual.
Is NNI's dividend safe?
NNI's dividend safety is rated "Unknown" based on an earnings payout ratio of N/A and FCF payout ratio of N/A. With 12 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is NNI a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Nelnet, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 12 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +7.7%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does NNI pay dividends?
Nelnet, Inc. pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $4.05 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 19+ years from 2007 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in NNI grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in NNI five years ago would be worth approximately $18,187 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is NNI's yield on cost for long-term holders?
NNI's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +1.7% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +3.1% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.