Trailing Dividend / Share
$0.45
SLM Corporation (SLM) Dividend History
Income profile from 1985 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.4%
Payout Ratio
16.3%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
6 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
16.3% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
6 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 4.3% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield2.4%
Trailing DPS$0.45
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout16.3%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF PayoutN/A
FCF SafetyUnknown
Piotroski F-Score4/9
Growth
Growth Streak6 years
3Y CAGR5.7%
5Y CAGR34.1%
Yield on Cost (5Y)4.3%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield6.6%
Total Shareholder Yield9.0%
1Y Total Return-36.2%
5Y Total Return30.6%
Div Contribution (5Y)12.9%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$13,05710Y ago$36,02820Y ago$10,938
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 (35 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
SLM Corporation distributes 16.3% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable).
Piotroski F-Score: 4/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
SLM has raised its dividend for 6 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: 2.4% dividend yield, 6.6% buyback yield, 9.0% 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 30.6%, with dividends contributing 12.9% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $36,028 today.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$2.16
Avg/Payment$0.1080
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5, 2026Latest | $0.1300 | — | 2.77% | 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 |
| Jun 6, 2024 | $0.1100 | — | 2.12% | Jun 17, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Student Loan Lending and Servicing
#4 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.4%
#4 of 5
Safety
Sustainable
16.3% payout
Streak
6Y
34.1% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
9.0%
#2 of 5
Annual Dividend History
42 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.13 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1.1% |
| 2025 | $0.52 | 13.0% | 4 | — | — | — | 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 | — | — | — |
See SLM's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does SLM pay per share?
SLM Corporation (SLM) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $0.45 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.4%. Payments are made 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 Annual.
Is SLM's dividend safe?
SLM's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +16.3% and FCF payout ratio of N/A. The 6-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
Is SLM a Dividend Payer?
Yes, SLM Corporation is classified as a Dividend Payer with 6 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +34.1%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does SLM pay dividends?
SLM Corporation pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $0.45 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 $13,057 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 +2.4% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.