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Side-by-side financial comparison of NELNET INC (NNI) and SLM Corp (SLM). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
SLM Corp is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($560.0M vs $107.1M, roughly 5.2× NELNET INC). SLM Corp runs the higher net margin — 55.0% vs 53.9%, a 1.1% gap on every dollar of revenue. Over the past eight quarters, SLM Corp's revenue compounded faster (22.7% CAGR vs 20.1%).
Nelnet, Inc. is a United States–based conglomerate that primarily focuses on financial services including student and consumer loan origination and servicing. Additionally, the company operates an investing arm, an internet bank and has a 26% stake in Allo Fiber, a cable and internet provider. The company is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nikon SLM Solutions AG, headquartered in Lübeck, Germany, is a manufacturer of 3D metal printers listed on the stock market and co-owner of the word mark SLM. The shares of SLM Solutions Group AG have been listed in Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since May 9, 2014.
NNI vs SLM — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 2025 vs Q1 2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $107.1M | $560.0M |
| Net Profit | $57.8M | $308.0M |
| Gross Margin | 50.5% | — |
| Operating Margin | — | — |
| Net Margin | 53.9% | 55.0% |
| Revenue YoY | 33.8% | — |
| Net Profit YoY | -8.8% | 1.0% |
| EPS (diluted) | $1.62 | $1.54 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q1 26 | — | $560.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | $107.1M | $377.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $85.3M | $373.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $79.4M | $376.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $82.7M | $375.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $80.1M | $362.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $72.2M | $359.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $66.4M | $372.2M |
| Q1 26 | — | $308.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | $57.8M | $233.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $106.7M | $135.8M | ||
| Q2 25 | $181.5M | $71.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $82.6M | $304.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $63.4M | $111.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.4M | $-45.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $45.1M | $252.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 50.5% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 29.6% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 29.8% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 30.5% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 13.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.1% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 27.3% | — |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 83.8% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 49.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 23.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 97.7% | 36.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | -3.1% | -16.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 88.0% | 91.0% |
| Q1 26 | — | 55.0% | ||
| Q4 25 | 53.9% | 61.8% | ||
| Q3 25 | 125.1% | 36.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 228.4% | 18.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 99.8% | 81.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 79.1% | 30.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.3% | -12.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 67.9% | 67.7% |
| Q1 26 | — | $1.54 | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.62 | $1.11 | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.94 | $0.63 | ||
| Q2 25 | $4.97 | $0.32 | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.26 | $1.40 | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.75 | $0.53 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.07 | $-0.23 | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.23 | $1.11 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $296.0M | $5.2B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $7.8B | $6.2B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.7B | $2.4B |
| Total Assets | $14.1B | $29.4B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 2.11× | 2.53× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $5.2B | ||
| Q4 25 | $296.0M | $4.2B | ||
| Q3 25 | $216.4M | $3.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $225.8M | $4.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | $220.5M | $3.7B | ||
| Q4 24 | $194.5M | $4.7B | ||
| Q3 24 | $219.7M | $4.5B | ||
| Q2 24 | $145.5M | $5.3B |
| Q1 26 | — | $6.2B | ||
| Q4 25 | $7.8B | $5.4B | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.8B | $6.8B | ||
| Q2 25 | $7.9B | $6.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $8.7B | $6.1B | ||
| Q4 24 | $8.3B | $6.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $8.9B | $6.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $9.6B | $5.4B |
| Q1 26 | — | $2.4B | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.7B | $2.5B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.7B | $2.3B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.6B | $2.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.4B | $2.4B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.3B | $2.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.3B | $2.1B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.3B | $2.3B |
| Q1 26 | — | $29.4B | ||
| Q4 25 | $14.1B | $29.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | $13.9B | $29.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $13.7B | $29.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $14.2B | $28.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $13.8B | $30.1B | ||
| Q3 24 | $14.1B | $30.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $14.5B | $28.8B |
| Q1 26 | — | 2.53× | ||
| Q4 25 | 2.11× | 2.19× | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.14× | 2.92× | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.21× | 2.70× | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.53× | 2.56× | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.48× | 2.98× | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.72× | 2.83× | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.90× | 2.37× |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $137.6M | — |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $130.1M | — |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 121.5% | — |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 7.0% | — |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 2.38× | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $396.7M | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $137.6M | $-64.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $112.4M | $-49.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $81.8M | $-138.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $91.2M | $-146.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $180.5M | $4.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $137.0M | $-113.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $133.4M | $-143.8M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $130.1M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $100.8M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $78.1M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $87.8M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $163.2M | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $132.6M | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $122.8M | — |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 121.5% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 118.2% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 98.3% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 106.1% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 203.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 183.8% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 184.9% | — |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 7.0% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 13.7% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 4.7% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.1% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 21.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 6.2% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 16.0% | — |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 2.38× | -0.28× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.05× | -0.36× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.45× | -1.95× | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.10× | -0.48× | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.85× | 0.04× | ||
| Q3 24 | 57.39× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.96× | -0.57× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
NNI
| Reinsurance Premiums Earned | $33.5M | 31% |
| Tuition Payment Plan Services | $32.2M | 30% |
| Private Education And Consumer Loan Servicing | $24.8M | 23% |
| Software Services | $11.4M | 11% |
| Solar Construction Revenue | $3.4M | 3% |
| Investment Advice | $1.4M | 1% |
SLM
| Net Interest Income | $375.0M | 67% |
| Noninterest Income | $185.0M | 33% |
