Trailing Dividend / Share
$3.38
SLM Corporation (SLM) Dividend History
Income profile from 1985 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
14.7%
Payout Ratio
94.0%
At Risk
Dividend Streak
2 years
SLM Dividend Income Check
Safety
94.0% payout ratio with at risk safety profile.
Consistency
2 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 4.3% and trend is rising.
SLM Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield14.7%
Trailing DPS$3.38
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout94.0%
Earnings SafetyAt Risk
FCF Payout103.7%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak2 years
3Y CAGR5.7%
5Y CAGR34.1%
Yield on Cost (5Y)4.3%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield8.1%
Total Shareholder Yield22.8%
1Y Total Return-25.7%
5Y Total Return31.4%
Div Contribution (5Y)11.7%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$13,14510Y ago$40,74920Y ago$14,124
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.
SLM Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (35 years of payments)
SLM Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
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Monthly dividend calendar — upcoming ex-dates for stocks you follow.
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
SLM Corporation distributes 94.0% of earnings as dividends (At Risk). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 103.7%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
SLM has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 5.7% and 5-year CAGR of 34.1%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, SLM returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 14.7% dividend yield, 8.1% buyback yield, 22.8% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 4.3% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 31.4%, with dividends contributing 11.7% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $40,749 today.
Elevated payout ratio — dividend sustainability should be monitored closely.
SLM Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$2.26
Avg/Payment$0.1130
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2026Latest | $0.1300 | — | 2.33% | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | $0.1300 | — | 2.61% | Mar 16, 2026 |
| Dec 4, 2025 | $0.1300 | — | 1.72% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Sep 4, 2025 | $0.1300 | — | 1.64% | Sep 15, 2025 |
| Jun 5, 2025 | $0.1300 | — | 1.57% | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Mar 5, 2025 | $0.1300 | — | 1.64% | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Dec 5, 2024 | $0.1300 | ↑ +18.2% | 1.75% | Dec 16, 2024 |
| Sep 5, 2024 | $0.1100 | — | 2.10% | Sep 16, 2024 |
SLM Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#1 yield in peer group
Div Yield
14.7%
#1 of 8
Safety
At Risk
94.0% payout
Streak
2Y
34.1% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
22.8%
#1 of 8
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st SLMSLM Corporation | $4.6B | 14.7% | 94.0% | 2 | At Risk |
2nd  NAVINavient Corporation | $760M | 7.9% | — | 0 | Unknown |
 HFBLHome Federal Bancorp… | $62M | 2.6% | 41.9% | 12 | Sustainable |
 COFCapital One Financia… | $124.8B | 1.6% | 72.1% | 1 | Watch |
 SYFSynchrony Financial | $26.2B | 1.6% | 12.0% | 4 | Sustainable |
3rd  ALLYAlly Financial Inc. | $14.3B | 2.7% | 44.5% | 0 | Sustainable |
 APEIAmerican Public Educ… | $967M | 0.3% | — | 0 | Unknown |
 PRDOPerdoceo Education C… | $2.0B | 1.7% | 23.0% | 3 | Sustainable |
SLM Annual Dividend History (1985–2026)
42 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.26 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2.2% |
| 2025 | $0.52 | 13.0% | 4 | $3.46 | 15.0% | 6.65x | 4.3% |
| 2024 | $0.46 | 4.5% | 4 | $2.68 | 17.2% | 5.83x | 3.8% |
| 2023 | $0.44 | 0.0% | 4 | $2.41 | 18.3% | 5.48x | 3.6% |
| 2022 | $0.44 | 120.0% | 4 | $1.76 | 25.0% | 4.00x | 3.6% |
| 2021 | $0.20 | 66.7% | 4 | $3.61 | 5.5% | 18.05x | 1.7% |
| 2020 | $0.12 | 0.0% | 4 | $2.25 | 5.3% | 18.75x | 1.0% |
| 2019 | $0.12 | — | 4 | $1.34 | 9.0% | 11.17x | 1.0% |
| 2018 | $0.00 | — | 0 | $1.07 | — | — | — |
| 2017 | $0.00 | — | 0 | $0.62 | — | — | — |
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
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Historical Returns
41+ years return with dividends reinvested.
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DCA Calculator
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
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SLM — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SLM stock.
How much dividend does SLM pay per share?
SLM Corporation (SLM) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $3.38 per share, with a current dividend yield of +14.7%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is SLM's next ex-dividend date?
SLM's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. SLM typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is SLM's dividend safe?
SLM's dividend safety is rated "At Risk" based on an earnings payout ratio of +94.0% and FCF payout ratio of +103.7%. The 2-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
How many years has SLM increased its dividend?
SLM has 2 consecutive years of dividend growth. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +34.1%.
How often does SLM pay dividends?
SLM Corporation pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $3.38 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 41+ years from 1985 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in SLM grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in SLM five years ago would be worth approximately $13,145 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is SLM's yield on cost for long-term holders?
SLM's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +4.3% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +14.7% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.