Fact based stock research
Nelnet (NYSE:NNI)
US64031N1081
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Nelnet stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with investment alternatives), Nelnet (Consumer Finance, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Nelnet are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 41 (worse than 59% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 33), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 27), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 17, is a sell recommendation based on Nelnet's financial characteristics. As the company Nelnet's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 41), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 33), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 27), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Consumer Finance |
| Index | Sound Pay USA |
| Size class | Large |
27-Feb-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Nelnet
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 45 |
|
53 |
|
43 |
|
41 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 49 |
|
35 |
|
23 |
|
33 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 7 |
|
27 |
|
36 |
|
27 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 83 |
|
16 |
|
32 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 45 |
|
7 |
|
9 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with investment alternatives), Nelnet (Consumer Finance, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Nelnet are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 41 (worse than 59% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 33), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 27), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 17, is a sell recommendation based on Nelnet's financial characteristics. As the company Nelnet's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 41), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 33), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 27), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 45 |
|
53 |
|
43 |
|
41 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 49 |
|
35 |
|
23 |
|
33 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 7 |
|
27 |
|
36 |
|
27 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 12 |
|
17 |
|
16 |
|
17 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 41 (worse than 59% compared with alternatives), Nelnet shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for Nelnet. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 53, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 53% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Nelnet's revenue size. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio), which is more favorable than for 58% of alternatives (42% of peers have a higher ratio). But expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 40 are lower than average (dividends are expected to be lower than 60% of other stocks) while the Price to Profit ratio (or Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio) is higher than average with a Price-to-Profit Rank of 29, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 41, is a hold recommendation based on Nelnet's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Low profits and low dividends as seen here for Nelnet may indicate a restructuring phase. This could be transitory, making the company a good value when profits recover and dividends return to higher levels. If the stock price is compared with the size indicators for revenue and invested capital, it is on the lower side, making this stock a good value investment (apart from current profit and dividend expectations). We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 62 |
|
63 |
|
52 |
|
53 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 35 |
|
44 |
|
32 |
|
29 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 70 |
|
71 |
|
58 |
|
58 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 41 |
|
46 |
|
40 |
|
40 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 45 |
|
53 |
|
43 |
|
41 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 33 (better than 33% compared with alternatives), Nelnet shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Nelnet. Profit Growth has a rank of 77, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 77% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 59 (above 59% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 30, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 70% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 4. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 33, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for Nelnet. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 21 |
|
57 |
|
28 |
|
30 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 25 |
|
12 |
|
77 |
|
77 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 73 |
|
91 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 57 |
|
11 |
|
51 |
|
59 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 49 |
|
35 |
|
23 |
|
33 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 27 (better than 27% compared with alternatives), the company Nelnet has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Nelnet is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Nelnet and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 51, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 51% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 40, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 60% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 14, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 86% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 27 (worse than 73% compared with alternatives), Nelnet has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Nelnet are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with Nelnet and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 12 |
|
24 |
|
38 |
|
40 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 53 |
|
59 |
|
57 |
|
51 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 10 |
|
13 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 7 |
|
27 |
|
36 |
|
27 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
19 |
|
15 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 99 |
|
50 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 79 |
|
23 |
|
45 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 56 |
|
45 |
|
41 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 83 |
|
16 |
|
32 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Nelnet from February 27, 2025.
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