NNI

Financial Services

Nelnet, Inc. · Financial - Credit Services · $5B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
45.2
Below Average

Nelnet, Inc. scores 45.2/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Financial Services Sector
NNI
45.2
Sector avg
39.7
Quality
Strong
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Good

What is Nelnet, Inc.?

Nelnet, Inc. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, operating across student loan servicing, education technology, and payment processing. Founded in 2003, Nelnet serves schools, students, and faith communities across the United States and internationally.

Nelnet generates revenue through several distinct business lines. Its loan servicing segment handles student loan administration — from application processing and payment collection to customer service and compliance. The education technology and payment processing segment provides schools with financial management tools, tuition payment plans, billing systems, and campus payment solutions. Nelnet also serves faith communities with giving management and learning platforms, and offers school information system software, admissions tools, and professional development services to educational institutions.

Nelnet was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • Student loan servicing and systems software
  • Tuition payment plans and school billing solutions
  • Campus payment processing — in-person, online, and mobile
  • Education technology and school information systems
  • Faith community giving management and learning platforms

Is NNI a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates NNI as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed profile where business quality stands out but several other pillars weigh on the composite.

Nelnet's strongest pillar is Quality, which ranks among the more favorable readings in its peer group — suggesting the underlying business generates relatively dependable returns. Valuation also comes in at a Good label, meaning the stock does not appear significantly stretched relative to its fundamentals.

The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all carry Weak labels, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and meaningful risk factors that investors should weigh carefully.

Pro members can see the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics behind each label at uqs-score.com. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does NNI pay dividends?

Yes — Nelnet, Inc. pays a dividend.

Nelnet pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among mid-cap financial services companies still managing a legacy loan portfolio. The dividend reflects the company's ability to generate consistent cash flows from its servicing and technology businesses. Income-oriented investors may find the payout relevant, though the overall risk profile of the business warrants consideration alongside the yield.

When does NNI report earnings?

Nelnet reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.

Nelnet's results tend to reflect the interplay between its declining student loan portfolio and the growth trajectory of its education technology and payment processing segments. Shifts in federal student loan policy can meaningfully influence reported figures from quarter to quarter.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Nelnet's investor relations page directly.

NNI Price History

+91.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Nelnet, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$19,623
That's a +96.2% total return, or +14.4% annualized.

Based on Nelnet, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

NNI Long-term Outlook

Nelnet's fundamental outlook is shaped by the tension between a structurally shrinking loan servicing book and the longer-term potential of its education technology and payment processing businesses. The Weak Growth pillar label suggests the market does not yet see a clear acceleration path, while the Weak Risk label indicates that regulatory exposure — particularly around federal student loan policy — remains a meaningful overhang. The Good Valuation label offers some cushion, but the overall trajectory calls for patience rather than near-term optimism.

Growth drivers

  • Expansion of education technology and payment processing revenue
  • Cross-selling financial management tools to existing school clients
  • Growth in faith community engagement and giving platform adoption

Key risks

  • Federal student loan policy changes reducing servicing volume
  • Regulatory and compliance risk across financial services operations
  • Limited competitive differentiation in a fragmented edtech market

NNI vs Peers

Nelnet operates in a competitive landscape that includes other student loan-focused financial services firms, each with a distinct business mix.

JSMNNI scores higher
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543

Navient has historically focused more heavily on private student loan holdings and debt management services, giving it a different revenue composition than Nelnet's technology-forward diversification.

SLMNNI scores lower
SLM Corporation

SLM, commonly known as Sallie Mae, concentrates on originating private student loans rather than servicing federal loans, making its business model more credit-risk-driven than Nelnet's fee-based servicing approach.

CACCNNI scores lower
Credit Acceptance Corporation

Credit Acceptance operates in auto lending rather than student finance, but competes for similar mid-cap financial services investor attention given its focus on consumer credit and payment processing infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nelnet do?

Nelnet is a diversified financial services company that manages student loan servicing, education technology, and payment processing businesses. It helps schools handle tuition billing, campus payments, and financial management, while also serving faith communities with giving and learning platforms.

Does NNI pay dividends?

Yes, Nelnet pays a regular dividend. The company's consistent cash flows from its servicing and technology segments support the payout. Investors focused on income should review the current dividend details on Nelnet's investor relations page, as amounts can change.

When does NNI report earnings?

Nelnet reports earnings quarterly, in line with standard US-listed company practice. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check Nelnet's investor relations page, as our data source does not cover specific upcoming earnings dates.

Is NNI a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates NNI as Below Average overall. While the Quality pillar is Strong and Valuation is Good, the Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all carry Weak labels. Whether that profile fits your portfolio depends on your own risk tolerance and investment goals — the full breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is NNI overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for NNI carries a Good label, suggesting the stock is not obviously overpriced relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation should always be considered alongside the company's growth and risk profile, both of which carry Weak labels in the current UQS assessment.

How does NNI compare to its competitors?

Nelnet's closest peers include SLM Corporation and Navient, both of which are more concentrated in student loan origination or holdings. Nelnet differentiates itself through its education technology and payment processing businesses, which provide fee-based revenue less tied to loan portfolio performance.

What is NNI's market cap bracket?

Nelnet is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap names but less analyst coverage and institutional attention than large-cap financial services firms.

Who founded Nelnet?

Nelnet was founded in 2003. The company's founding history and leadership background are publicly documented on its investor relations and corporate overview pages, which provide the most accurate and current information.

Is NNI a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, NNI's Strong Quality pillar is a positive signal — it suggests the business has generated relatively reliable returns. However, the Weak Moat and Weak Growth labels raise questions about durability and expansion. Long-term investors should weigh all five pillars before drawing conclusions.

What is the main competitive advantage of Nelnet?

Nelnet's primary competitive edge lies in its deep integration with educational institutions through servicing infrastructure, payment systems, and school management software. However, the UQS Moat pillar carries a Weak label, indicating that this advantage may not be strongly defensible against well-resourced competitors.

What sector does NNI belong to?

Nelnet operates in the Financial Services sector, with a particular focus on student loan administration and education-adjacent technology. Its business model blends traditional financial services with software and payment processing, making it somewhat distinct from pure-play lenders or fintech companies.

Is NNI a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, NNI leans toward value territory — the Valuation pillar is Good while the Growth pillar is Weak. This profile is more consistent with a value-oriented holding than a high-growth opportunity, though investors should review the full analysis for context.

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Pro Analysis

NNI — Score History

4045505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 9 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 22, 202645.281.428.033.41.273.2-4.6
May 7, 202649.880.928.033.637.168.7+0.2
May 3, 202649.680.928.033.637.167.6-0.1
Apr 26, 202649.780.928.033.637.167.80.0
Apr 19, 202649.780.928.033.637.168.2-0.3
Apr 18, 202650.080.928.033.637.170.3-2.2
Apr 12, 202652.280.928.033.637.185.0-0.2
Apr 5, 202652.480.928.033.637.186.1-0.1
Apr 2, 202652.580.928.033.637.186.6

NNI — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

81.4/100 (25%)

Nelnet, Inc. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

33.4/100 (20%)

Nelnet, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendStrong

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

1.2/100 (15%)

Nelnet, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

73.1/100 (15%)

Nelnet, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorWeak

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

28/100 (25%)

Nelnet, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for NNI.

Score Composition

Quality
81.4×25%20.4
Growth
33.4×20%6.7
Risk
1.2×15%0.2
Valuation
73.1×15%11.0
Moat
28.0×25%7.0
Total
45.2Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the NNI UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Nelnet, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Nelnet, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Nelnet, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.