Nelnet, Inc. (NNI)
Valuation Overview•Is Nelnet, Inc. Overvalued or Undervalued?
Commands a peer premium multiple, but this multiple is justified by a strong intrinsic cash flow value.
Moderate quality score of 64/100, reflecting stable operating margins and manageable leverage.
Wall Street forecasts a balanced outlook with consensus price targets near the current price.
Verdict: Solid fundamental quality, though solvency presents a headwind.
Wall Street sentiment is generally neutral. This is paired with healthy capital returns, driven predominantly by aggressive share repurchases.
NNI demonstrates strong business quality with robust profitability and healthy margins. However, the balance sheet carries elevated leverage, requiring careful monitoring of debt servicing capabilities.
The company maintains stable top-line performance paired with stable bottom-line earnings. This growth is supported by elite operational efficiency, sustaining an impressive 36.3% operating margin.
| Financial Metric | Trend (12Q) | Latest Qtr | 1Y Growth | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $525.5M | +22.6% | — | — | +7.4% | |
| EBITDA | $216.5M | — | +20.2% | — | — | |
| Net Income | $71.1M | +132.8% | +1.7% | — | +4.8% | |
| EPS (Diluted) | $1.97 | +130.7% | +2.9% | +5.1% | +7.0% | |
| Free Cash Flow | $61.6M | -38.2% | -14.0% | +11.0% | — |
| Metric | TTM | 3Y Avg | 5Y Avg | 10Y Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 80.8% | 66.7% | 72.6% | 67.5% |
| Operating Margin | 36.3% | 22.2% | 26.0% | 24.3% |
| Net Margin | 19.5% | 11.3% | 16.8% | 16.8% |
| FCF Margin | 17.3% | 24.0% | 27.2% | 20.2% |
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | EPS | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2'26Latest | $2.66 | $1.94 | -27.1% | ||
| Q1'26 | $1.63 | $1.56 | -4.3% | ||
| Q4'25 | $1.52 | $2.95 | +94.1% | ||
| Q3'25 | $1.91 | $5.05 | +164.4% | ||
| Q2'25 | $1.92 | $2.39 | +24.5% | ||
| Q1'25 | $1.23 | $1.44 | +17.1% | ||
| Q4'24 | $1.36 | $0.34 | -75.0% | ||
| Q3'24 | $1.33 | $1.23 | -7.5% |
Total return is +16.1% (1Y), lagging the benchmark by -8.9%
| Period | Total Return | vs S&P 500 (Alpha) | Dividend Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.6% | -7.7% | — |
| 1Y | +16.1% | -8.9% | +1.1% |
| 3YCAGR | +10.5% | -9.4% | +3.5% |
| 5YCAGR | +12.8% | -0.5% | +7.3% |
| 10YCAGR | +15.2% | +1.8% | — |
The S&P 500 is at 31.3x trailing P/E — Expensive relative to historical averages.
Quick answers to common questions about Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) valuation, health, and returns.
Nelnet, Inc. is estimated to be undervalued under our discounted cash flow framework. relative multiples indicate the stock is Expensive versus peers compared to industry peers. undervalued (implying +17.2% upside to DCF intrinsic value of $152.81)
Nelnet, Inc. has multiple valuation anchors: DCF Intrinsic Value: $152.81 | Peer Relative Fair Value: $59.64. A convergence of these signals offers higher conviction.
Nelnet, Inc. displays good financial health with a composite quality score of 64/100, supported by a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 7.5%.
Nelnet, Inc. pays a 0.9% dividend yield, covered by a 10% payout ratio with 11 years of growth, supplemented by a 1.5% buyback yield.
Nelnet, Inc.'s current growth trajectory is Accelerating. The company achieved +22.6% 1Y revenue growth and +130.7% 1Y EPS growth, compared to its 3Y revenue CAGR of N/A.
Wall Street consensus is Hold based on 3 analysts, beating EPS expectations in 42% of recent quarters with a -2-quarter streak. The consensus price target represents a N/A change from current levels.
Investment risks for Nelnet, Inc. include: -15.3% 1-year max drawdown. Volatility risk is characterized by a beta of 0.36x.
No. These computations are purely quantitative model outputs for informational purposes. They do not account for qualitative management shifts or macro events. Always consult a licensed RIA before buying or selling shares.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All valuation models, scores, and target estimates are automated computations under stated assumptions and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any investment decision.